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.”

Then God told Jacob, “Get ready to go to Bethel and live there. Build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau.”

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.

So Jacob told his family and everyone who was with him, “Get rid of the pagan idols you have with you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes.

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.”

We have to get ready and go to Bethel so I can build an altar to God who answered me in my time of trouble. He has been with me wherever 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 handed over to Jacob all the pagan idols they had, as well as their earrings, and he buried them under the oak tree at Shechem.

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

As they left on their journey, the terror of God spread over all the surrounding towns, so nobody tried to retaliate against Jacob's sons.

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

Jacob and everyone with him arrived at Luz (also known as Bethel) in the country of Canaan.

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-Bethel, because that was where God had appeared to him when he was running away from his brother Esau.

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 was buried under the oak near Bethel. So it was named “the oak of weeping.”

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

God appeared to Jacob again and blessed him after his return from Paddan-aram.

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 told him, “Jacob will not be your name any longer. Instead of Jacob your name will be Israel.” So God called 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.

Then God said, “I am God Almighty! Reproduce, increase, and you will become a nation—in fact a group of nations—and kings will be among your descendants.

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.”

I will give to you and to your descendants the land I also gave to Abraham and Isaac.”

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

Then God left the place where he had been speaking to Jacob.

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.

Afterwards Jacob set up a stone pillar where God had spoken with him. He poured out a drink offering on it, and also olive oil.

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

Jacob called the place Bethel, because he had spoken with God there.

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.

Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor and had great difficulty giving birth.

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

When she was in the worst birth-pains, the midwife told her, “Don't give up—you have another son!”

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

But she was dying, and with her last breath 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 known as Bethlehem).

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

Jacob set up a stone memorial over Rachel's grave, and it's still there to this day.

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

Israel moved on and camped beyond the watch tower at 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:

During the time he was living there, Reuben went and slept with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Israel found out about it. These were the twelve sons of Jacob:

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 Rachel's personal maid Bilhah: 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 Leah's personal maid Zilpah: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him while 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 returned home to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (also known as Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had lived.

28 And Isaac lived 180 years.

Isaac lived to be 180

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.

when he breathed his last and died at an old age. He had lived a full life, and now he joined his forefathers in death. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.