Genesis 35:1–14

Jacob Returns to Bethel

35Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to honor me. That’s where I appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau.”

²So Jacob spoke to his family and to everyone who was with him. He said, “Get rid of the strange gods you have with you. Make yourselves pure, and change your clothes. ³Come, let’s go up to Bethel. There I’ll build an altar to honor God. He answered me when I was in trouble. He’s been with me everywhere I’ve gone.”

⁴So they gave Jacob all of the strange gods they had. They also gave him their earrings. Jacob buried them under the oak tree at Shechem.

⁵Then Jacob and everyone who was with him started out. The terror of God fell on the towns all around them. So no one chased them.

⁶Jacob and all of the people who were with him came to Luz. Luz is also called Bethel. It’s in the land of Canaan. ⁷Jacob built an altar at Luz. He named the place El Bethel. There God made himself known to Jacob when he was running away from his brother.

⁸Rebekah’s attendant Deborah died. They buried her body under the oak tree below Bethel. So it was called Allon Bacuth.

⁹After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again. And God blessed him. ¹⁰God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. But you will not be called Jacob anymore. Your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel.

¹¹God said to him, “I am the Mighty God. Have children and increase your numbers. A nation and a community of nations will come from you. Kings will come from your body. ¹²I am giving you the land I gave to Abraham and Isaac. I will also give it to your children after you.”

¹³Then God left him at the place where he had talked with him.

¹⁴Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him. He poured out a drink offering on it. He also poured oil on it.