Genesis 31:13

31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the sacred stone and made a vow to me. Now leave this land immediately and return to your native land.’”

Genesis 35:1

The Return to Bethel

35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up at once to Bethel and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

Genesis 35:3

35:3 Let us go up at once to Bethel. Then I will make an altar there to God, who responded to me in my time of distress 10  and has been with me wherever I went.” 11 


map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

sn You anointed the sacred stone. In Gen 28:18 the text simply reported that Jacob poured oil on top of the stone. Now that pouring is interpreted by the Lord as an anointing. Jacob had consecrated the place.

sn And made a vow to me. The second clause reminds Jacob of the vow he made to the Lord when he anointed the stone (Gen 28:20-22). God is now going to take him back to the land, and so he will have to fulfill his vow.

tn Heb “arise, leave!” The first imperative draws attention to the need for immediate action.

sn Leave this land immediately. The decision to leave was a wise one in view of the changed attitude in Laban and his sons. But more than that, it was the will of God. Jacob needed to respond to God’s call – the circumstances simply made it easier.

tn Heb “arise, go up.” The first imperative gives the command a sense of urgency.

map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

sn God is calling on Jacob to fulfill his vow he made when he fled from…Esau (see Gen 28:20-22).

tn Heb “let us arise and let us go up.” The first cohortative gives the statement a sense of urgency.

tn The cohortative with the prefixed conjunction here indicates purpose or consequence.

10 tn Heb “day of distress.” See Ps 20:1 which utilizes similar language.

11 tn Heb “in the way in which I went.” Jacob alludes here to God’s promise to be with him (see Gen 28:20).