Discovery BoxGenesis 31:13 
Context31:13 I am the God of Bethel, 1 where you anointed 2 the sacred stone and made a vow to me. 3 Now leave this land immediately 4 and return to your native land.’”
Genesis 35:1
Context35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up at once 5 to Bethel 6 and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 7
Genesis 35:3
Context35:3 Let us go up at once 8 to Bethel. Then I will make 9 an altar there to God, who responded to me in my time of distress 10 and has been with me wherever I went.” 11
1 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
2 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
3 sn And made a vow to me. The second clause reminds Jacob of the vow he made to the
4 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.
5 tn Heb “arise, go up.” The first imperative gives the command a sense of urgency.
6 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
7 sn God is calling on Jacob to fulfill his vow he made when he fled from…Esau (see Gen 28:20-22).
8 tn Heb “let us arise and let us go up.” The first cohortative gives the statement a sense of urgency.
9 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).
