Genesis 35

I am positively blessed to see that Jacob considered Bethel to be his spiritual birthplace. This is where he struggled with God and prevailed. Whatever happened there it seems that his heart was changed. He came to see God as his God. He realized that God loved him and was taking care of him. This care was a real sign of God concern for him. Jacob saw God as very personal to him.

Here at Bethel God ceased to be the God of his fathers but his own God as well. Of course this is important for all of us. We cannot live vicariously through someone else's faith. We must find our own.

God found Jacob and fought for him. God does the same for all of us, each in a unique way.

Here in this passage God tells Jacob to move back to Bethel and renew his relationship with him. Jacob responds by doing some cleansing. He requires that everyone in his band give up all their other idols. Also they are to purify themselves and put on new clean clothes. This seems to be the first time any of the patriarchs did anything like this aside of the mark of circumcision.

God responds to this act of obedience and reverence by appearing to Jacob again and giving him a new name, Israel. Abraham was given a new name and he was never referred to by his old name again. However in Jacob's case Israel seems more of a second name, a nickname. It refers to his role as patriarch. After this Jacob is still referred to as Jacob most of the time. He is sometimes referred to as Israel perhaps to underscore his role. But this new name is not like the new name Abram got. Henceforth he was called Abraham. Jacob is still mostly called Jacob.

It is precious that the included here is the death of the nurse of Rachel. She is otherwise never mentioned. What is the reason for this? Is it her missing expertise that explains Rachel's death in childbirth soon after?

We then get the notice that Isaac has died. It seems Jacob, Esau, and Isaac all live separately with their own flocks and servants. Since we started the story of Jacob and Esau as adults Isaac has not been mentioned until now. It appears that from now on Esau and Jacob get along. There is no fear between them, only filial love. Because of the size of their flocks Esau decides to move away to Seir. He understands this land is not his because Jacob has the blessing and the birthright. His behavior is commendable. He refuses to be bitter or hold a grudge, it seems.