Genesis 35

1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”

2 So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.

Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.

3 Then let us arise and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”

Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”

4 So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem.

They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

5 As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons.

They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

6 So Jacob and everyone with him arrived in Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan.

So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.

7 There Jacob built an altar, and he called that place El-bethel, because it was there that God had revealed Himself to Jacob as he fled from his brother.

He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

8 Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak below Bethel. So Jacob named it Allon-bachuth.

Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.

9 After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.

God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him.

10 And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob, you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.” So God named him Israel.

God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel.

11 And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.

God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body.

12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”

The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you I will give the land.”

13 Then God went up from the place where He had spoken with him.

God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.

14 So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil.

Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.

15 Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.

Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him “Bethel”.

16 Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.

They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.

17 During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”

When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for now you will have another son.”

18 And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.

As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.

19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).

20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.

Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

21 Israel again set out and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder.

Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.

22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

23 The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

25 The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.

The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali.

26 And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.

27 Jacob returned to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.

Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.

28 And Isaac lived 180 years.

The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.

29 Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.