And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
- Go to Bethel, "The house of God", and God is the God of Bethel (Genesis 31:13)
- Jacob named it that from the former name Luz, because that is what he recognized it as after God gave him the promise in the dream with the ladder to heaven
- Jacob was instructed to live (dwell) there, not just to go and then pass through
- Jacob vowed that if God took care of him, He would be His God.
- Jacob then anointed the rock he used for his pillow and made it into a pillar and anointed it
- There are many altars and many gods, but this is THE Altar to the Only One Holy, True God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,(Israel)
(Genesis 31:13)
I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
(Genesis 28:17)
And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
(Genesis 28:19-21)
And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
(Genesis 28:22)
And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
(Genesis 35:2)
Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
- One cannot come to worship the One True God while still worshipping false gods, pagan idols.
- Why did Jacob allow them to still be with them?
- Isaac had charged Jacob to not take wives of the Canaanites (Genesis 28:1)
- It is not recorded that Isaac gave the same charge to Esau
- Jacob gave Esau the same charge, but Esau disobeyed, went to Ishmael and took a pagan Ishmaelite as his wife anyways (Genesis 28:9)
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
(Genesis 28:1)
And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan
(Genesis 28:8-9)
And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
(Genesis 35:3)
And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
- We will now arise, go to the house of God (Beth + El), make an altar, because He saved me and is now with me
- This is no different for us, and for the very same reason spiritually, only we do not need an altar
(Genesis 35:4)
And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
- He buried them, not as storage, but as dead
- This is Jacob......in the flesh
- At the very least they would be left behind, for now anyways
- Earrings were a sign of worshippers of pagan gods, as they are today.
- These earrings may have been not just rings, but things upon which tinny idols hung, or were shaped as idols, etc.
(Genesis 35:5)
And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
- Notice that this terror is God, not of Israel. It is a supernatural terror
- "The sons of Jacob" is still their name, which is about to be changed permanently (verse ten)
- The enemy in the spiritual realm will act the same way if God wants
- God repeatedly said later to Moses and others in the Law and the prophets that this would happen when they as a nation, corporately, obeyed Him or disobeyed Him
(James 4:7)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(Genesis 35:6-7)
So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
- The mention of the phrase "The land of Canaan" appears sixty four times in Scripture, thirty four times in Genesis alone
- This land was theirs to take later on, to be adopted as their own, given by God the rightful owner
- God said "Go and build an altar to me", Jacob said, "Let's go build an altar to God", so now here they are completing the command
- Elbethel is "The God of the House of God"
(Genesis 35:8)
But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.
- This is the "oak of weeping"
- This nurse was not any longer a "wet nurse" because Rebekah (Jacob's mother) was done with childbearing, and possibly even passed away, so she was apparently kept as a token of grace and gratitude, or needed perhaps for another reason
- The nurse who would have been there for the birth of all of the twelve tribes of Israel, buried in "the House of God"
(Genesis 35:9)
And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
- Israel as a name is obscure, but may mean "Struggle with God", which is what Jacob did when he wrestled with God (Genesis 32)
- This is the Pre-Incarnate appearance of the LORD Jesus Christ, God the Son
- This verse in Scripture is the origin of the name "Israel", which is until today their name
- Padanaram is "the plains of Aram"
- God sent Jacob here to find his wife, to Laban the Syrian
(John 6:46)
Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
(John 14:9)
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
ARAM:
- Aram was a son of Shem
- Aram was the area of the Syrians
- Asshur his brother was where the Assyrians came from
- Different nations? Not by enough to really matter, certainly not to Israel as a nation, as all of them hated Israel and still do.
- Assyria had an empire, and Syria has a country with a president today
The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
(Genesis 10:23)
And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.
(Genesis 25:20)
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
(Genesis 28:2)
Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
(Genesis 28:5)
And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.
(Genesis 28:6)
When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;
(Genesis 28:7)
And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;
(Genesis 31:18)
And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
(Genesis 33:18)
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.
(Genesis 35:11)
And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
- Because He is God, He gets to command mankind,; He makes the rules
- This command has been to all of mankind since the fall, and now specifically to Israel to multiply
- To have as a couple two children is to DUPLICATE. To MULTIPLY means to have more than two
- The kings were future.....God was their King, but they wanted an earthly king (Saul), God gave them David through whom came Jesus Christ, on a throne forever
- Not only would the kings of Israel and Judah come from him, but THE King of Kings, the LORD Jesus Christ
- This is a prophecy, in other words.
(Genesis 35:12)
And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.
- The same land to them is to him because the promise is binding on all three of them
- That same land is not inherited today completely; only a fraction is
- Only the rightful owner can give the land, and God gave this to Israel. Period.
- Today, this promise and fulfillment is in dispute by nearly all of the people of the world, including the United Nations, the European Union, the entire Muslim world, the entire Communist/Fasxcist/ Socialist regime (worldwide), and many people in the U.S., especially academia, including liberal Jews.
(Genesis 35:13)
And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
- Some sort of ascension happened here
- Again, being that this is a Pre-incarnation of Jesus Christ, he is naturally called God here.
(Genesis 35:14)
And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
- The first mention of a drink offering, which was a hin of wine
(Genesis 35:15)
And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
- Bethel is Beth + El, House of God
(Genesis 35:16)
And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
- Ephrath is the same area as Bethlehem
- Later people from there would be called "Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah"
- David was one, as was his father Jesse
- Micah prophesied the Messiah would be from here
(Genesis 48:7)
And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.
(Ruth 1:2)
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
(1 Samuel 17:12)
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
(Micah 5:2)
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
(Genesis 35:17)
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
- The child was destined to be born.......Rachel was finished with her work on earth
- No reason to fear........you are in God's Hands now and, when you depart, forever
- This needs to be our attitude hourly, always in this life
(Genesis 35:18)
And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
- His name Benoni means "Son of my sorrow"
- His name Benjamin means "Son of my right hand"
- Joseph and Benjamin were the two outstanding boys, to two "good ones"
(Genesis 35:19)
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
- This tomb ("Rachel's Tomb") is supposedly still there today as a tourist attraction. No one knows if it is the real and original one
- The first son born in the actual land
- The previous children of Jacob (Israel) were born in Aram, Assyria
(Genesis 35:20)
And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
- Pillars were used to mark graves, memorials, etc, and incorporated into the tabernacle
PILLARS
- Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt-Genesis 19
- Jacob made a pillar from his stone pillow in Luz (Bethel)-Genesis 28
- Jacob made a pillar of stones after Laban confronted Jacob, because Jacob too his family and possessions and departed to Canaan-Genesis 31
- God went before Israel in a pillar of a cloud-Exodus 13-14
- Moses made twelve pillars, one for each tribe of Israel, after they agreed to obey the commandments God gave him-Exodus 24
- Moses was instructed by God to make various amounts pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold for the tabernacle (Exodus 26-27, ch. 36, ch. 38)
- God's pillar of a cloud entered the tabernacle (Exodus 33, 35-40)
And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.
- The first instance of actually calling Jacob the man and not just the nation personally by his own new name of Israel
- What is interesting to note that this first time is right after the death of Rachel.
- This tower was very close to Bethlehem, so he is close now
- The "Tower of Edar" means "Migdal Edar" and, according to Jewish tradition and record keeping, a tower to watch over the flocks which were to be used for sacrifices
- This tower was used for military scouting from above. Having just had his sons slaughter a bunch of Shechem in enemy territory, a little prudence might not have hurt. But God had their back anyways...
- the Targum states that this specific area is where the Messiah will reveal Himself in the last days
"Migdal Edar is also mentioned by the Jewish Targums and is translated "The Anointed One of the flock of Israel". The Targum Yonatan, cited by Rabbi Munk, paraphrases Genesis 35:23 and Micah 4:8, "He spread his tent beyond Migdal Edar, the place where King Messiah will reveal Himself at the end of days."
The Targum is an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible (Tanak) which was written during Israel's seventy year captivity in Babylon. Source
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
- This was a common pagan custom, a thing that was done, but ought not be done in Israel!
- Perhaps his motive was to supplant his father as the patriarch with having his own heirs
- This causes him to lose his birthright (Genesis 49), and be cursed
- Even Paul mentions this sort of sin
(Genesis 49:3-4)
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
(1 Corinthians 5:1)
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
(Leviticus 18:8)
The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.
(Deuteronomy 27:20)
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
(Genesis 35:23-26)
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.
- This is the first, but certainly not the last, nor the only listing of the twelve tribes (they differ), which vary all of the way through to Revelation, due to sin
- So Leah is the mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Isaachar and Zebulun, six in total
- Rachel is the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two in total
- Bilhah is the mother of Dan and Naphtali, two in total
- Zilpah is the mother of Gad and Asher two in total
- Joseph later has two children in Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim, who Jacob adopts, not as his grandchildren, but rather as his own children, which is extremely significant in the listings of the twelve tribes later on.
And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
THE CHARGE, THE PROPHECY OF THE SONS OF JACOB(ISRAEL)
Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. (Genesis 35:27)
And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
- Earlier, Jacob had built an altar to God here in Mamre (Genesis 13:18)
- Mamre was an Amorite (Genesis 14:13)
- Mamre was where God told Abraham and Sarah would have a child, and Sarah laughed (Genesis 18)
- Mamre was also, at the same time, God told Abraham He would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18)
- Mamre was where Abraham buried Sarah, in the field of Ephron in Machpelah (Genesis 23)
- Isaac and Rebekah were buried there (Genesis 35
- Jacob also buried Leah there
- Mamre was where Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham when he died, in the same cave(Genesis 25)
- Isaac and Rebekah were buried there (Genesis 49)
- Rachel was not buried there, but Leah was, according to Jacob (Genesis 49)
(Genesis 35:28)
And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.
- That is 180 years old
- The ages of the patriarchs is now dropping from nearly 1,000 to today, under 100 for the most part, with exceptions
(Genesis 35:29)
And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
- The two twins are together
- Esau becomes the Edomites, sworn enemies of Israel
- Herod himself was an Edomite
