Jacobs return to Bethel: Genesis Chapter 35-36 Bible Study

Introduction 

Hello and welcome to the Daily Manna! 

Today we will read Genesis chapters 35 and 36. These chapters will cover Jacob's return to Bethel (chapter 28 where he had a dream of a stairway from heaven to earth and set up a pillar) after God instructed him to go back. He and his people are protected from the neighboring nations out of fear of God. A few other things follow including the death of Rachel in childbirth. 

Please read Genesis Chapters 35 and 36 before you continue on with this Bible study and this is a study companion and can't replace the word of God. 

Summary of Genesis Chapter 35 and 36

Verses 1-4 God tells Jacob to go back to Bethel. Jacob then relays what God says to his household and tells them to get rid of their foreign gods and purify themselves and change their clothes. Then Jacob buried all of the foreign gods and rings in their ears under the oak at shechem. This is to symbolize getting rid of pagan practices. 

Verses 5- 8 the terror of God fell on the town's all around Jacob and his household so that no one pursued them. When they arrived at Bethel Jacob built an altar and called The place El Bethel because it was where God revealed himself in chapter 28. And then Deborah Rebecca's nurse dies and is buried under the oak outside of Bethel. 

Verses 9-15 God appears to Jacob and blesses him again he renews the Covenant promise he made with Abraham and his descendants. After God was done speaking with him Jacob set up a stone pillar where God had talked to him and he poured out a drink offering onto it and oil. 

Verses 16-26 Rachel has great difficulty during childbirth and she dies giving birth to Benjamin. Issac died and was buried with his fathers. 

Chapter 36 shows the descendents of Esau. 

Key Themes and Meanings 

Obedience 

Genesis 35:1-2, 4 NIV

[1] Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” [2] So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 

[4] So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. 

https://bible.com/bible/111/gen.35.1-4.NIV

At the beginning of this chapter we see that God tells Jacob to go to Bethel, which is a place he encountered God in chapter 28. In verse 2 we see Jacob telling his household to get rid of all the foreign gods and to purify themselves and change their clothes. This symbolized getting rid of or shedding all their pagan ways. 

I would like to point out that we see immediately Jacob obeys God without any question he just does what is asked. In turn because of his obedience his household also obeys. They gave Jacob all their foreign gods and rings in their ears and then Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. This means that they shed their pagan ways. 

God's Faithfulness and Grace.

Genesis 35:3, 5 NIV

[3] Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” 

[5] Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.

https://bible.com/bible/111/gen.35.3-5.NIV

Chapter 35 is rich in God's faithfulness and grace. As we learned in the previous chapter 34 with Dinah and the Shechemites, Jacob's sons had allowed their passions of anger to be given in and they killed the Shechemites for the degradation of their sister. And although they had done an evil thing by murdering, God was still with them. Not only was he with them but we see in verse 5 that the terror of God fell on all the towns around them so that no one pursued them. This is Grace which is an undeserved favor. 

After Jacob and his household arrive at Bethel, which is in the land of Canaan, he built an altar because that's where God revealed himself to him before. And then we see God appear to him again and bless him. He blesses him the same way that he blessed Abraham and Isaac. From here we see Jacob set up a stone pillar and a quarter drink offering on it and then also poured oil as an anointing. 

Chapter 36 highlights

     There's really not much to point out in chapter 36 as this is Esau's descendants. There are two points to this chapter. The first is that Esau and his sons were born in Canaan. The second is that you saw his other name is Edom. This is where the Edomites will come from which will fight with Israel later in the Bible. A fun little fact is that Herod the Great, the one that pursued Jesus, was actually an Edomite. 

     I'd also like to point out that in verses 6 through 8 we see that Jacob and Esau had to move apart because of their possessions being too great. In verse 12 we see where the amalekites come from, which would be from amalek which was one of the sons Esau's concubines had birthed. 

     We also see in verse 39 the name “Baal- Hanan” this means “Baal is gracious” which means there was worship of the Canaanite deity Baal among the Edomites at this time. For those who are not familiar with this false idol, you will be later on through the old testament as the Israelites will start to worship it. 

Reflections for Today 

What idols do you feel you have that God is asking you to put away? 

In what ways has God shown you undeserved favor or grace in your life? 

In what ways do you feel you need to surrender to God's plan for your life? 

Conclusion 

In chapter 35 we learn that God is a God of grace and faithfulness. His blessings have nothing to do with our actions. He blesses simply because he is good and it pleases him. He directs us where we need to go and he is patient with our limited human knowledge. 

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being so good to us all the time even when we fall short. Thank you for leading us and protecting us from harm. In Jesus name, Amen