Question 1

Why does God tell Jacob to go back to Bethel and build an altar?

Accepted Answer

God sends Jacob back to Bethel to remind him of the first time God appeared to him when he was running from Esau. Back then, Jacob had made a vow that if God kept him and brought him back in peace, he would worship God there. By saying, “Arise, go up to Bethel,” God is both guiding and gently calling Jacob to keep that earlier promise. The altar at Bethel would be a clear act of worship and remembrance, showing that Jacob trusts the God who protected him in his distress and still watches over him.

Question 2

Why does Jacob tell his family to put away strange gods and change their clothes?

Accepted Answer

Jacob knows they are about to meet God in a special way at Bethel, so he calls his whole household to get ready. Putting away strange gods means removing idols and anything linked with false worship. Washing and changing garments are outward signs of an inward turning back to God. It is a way of saying, “We want to be clean before the Lord.” This shows that true worship is not casual. It involves repentance, leaving old sins, and coming to God with a sincere heart, not just going through motions.

Question 3

What is the meaning of the terror of God on the surrounding cities in this passage?

Accepted Answer

After Jacob deals with the idols and obeys God’s command to go to Bethel, the text says that “the terror of God was upon the cities” around them. This means God caused a holy fear to fall on the nearby people so they did not attack or chase Jacob’s family, even though they might have wanted revenge after what happened at Shechem. It shows that God can move the hearts of others and protect His people when they walk in obedience. Jacob had been afraid before, but now his enemies are the ones who fear.

Question 4

Why does God change Jacob’s name to Israel again at Bethel?

Accepted Answer

Jacob had already been told his new name would be Israel after wrestling with the mysterious man. At Bethel, God repeats this and clearly says, “Thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name.” This is like a fresh confirmation. Jacob is not just the old “heel-grabber” anymore, he is the one who has striven with God and lives under God’s promise. The new name is tied to the renewed covenant: God will make from him a nation, even many nations, and kings will come from his line.

Question 5

What does God’s promise “be fruitful and multiply” mean for Jacob here?

Accepted Answer

When God says “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply,” He is reminding Jacob that He has the power to carry out every promise. God tells Jacob that a nation and a company of nations will come from him, and that kings will be among his descendants. He also repeats that the land promised earlier to Abraham and Isaac will belong to Jacob and his children after him. So this word is not just about having more children, it is about God’s whole plan for a people, a land, and a future that flows from Jacob’s family.

Question 6

Why is Rachel’s death during Benjamin’s birth included in this story?

Accepted Answer

Rachel’s death comes right after a high point at Bethel, and the passage holds both together. On the way from Bethel to Ephrath, she goes into hard labor. The midwife encourages her, telling her she will have this son also. As she dies, she calls him Ben-oni, meaning “son of my sorrow,” but Jacob calls him Benjamin, “son of my right hand.” Her grave is marked with a pillar, which remained known for generations. This shows that even when God’s promises are being fulfilled, life still includes deep loss and grief.

Question 7

What does Reuben’s sin with Bilhah show about Jacob’s family?

Accepted Answer

Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, sleeps with Bilhah, his father’s concubine. This is a serious and shameful act. It shows that Jacob’s family, even though chosen by God, is far from perfect. Their standing with God is not based on their goodness but on God’s mercy and His decision to work through them. The text simply says, “Israel heard it,” hinting at the pain and dishonor this brought. Yet the very next line reminds us that the sons of Jacob were twelve, pointing ahead to how God will still build the twelve tribes out of this flawed family.

Question 8

Why are the deaths of Deborah and Isaac mentioned in this chapter?

Accepted Answer

Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, dies and is buried under an oak near Bethel, which is called the oak of weeping. This shows how loved she was in the family and how grief sits alongside worship and promise. Later, the story records Isaac’s long life and peaceful death, saying he was “old and full of days,” and that Esau and Jacob buried him together. These deaths mark the passing of an older generation and the steady flow of God’s plan. Even as people die, God’s covenant with the family continues and is being passed on.

Question 9

How can Jacob’s return to Bethel help someone think about their own walk with God?

Accepted Answer

Jacob’s return to Bethel is like going back to the place where God first met him and helped him. He had delayed, carried idols in his household, and faced trouble, but God still called him back and met him again. Someone reading this can see that God does not forget His word, even when we are slow to respond. Turning from “strange gods” in our lives, whatever takes God’s place, and coming back to worship with a sincere heart is always the right step. God is able to protect, restore, and remind us of His promises.

Genesis 35:1

God said to Jacob, “Go to the city of Bethel and live there. Make an altar to the God who appeared to you there. This was when you were running away from your brother Esau.”

Jacob Returns to Bethel

Jacob Moves to Bethel

Jacob Is Named Israel

Benjamin Born, Rachel Dies

The Sons of Jacob

The Sons of Israel

The Death of Isaac

Jacob Returns to Bethel

Jacob Moves to Bethel

Cross References

Genesis 35:1

God said to Jacob, “Go to the city of Bethel and live there. Make an altar to the God who appeared to you there. This was when you were running away from your brother Esau.”

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Jacob Returns to Bethel

Jacob Moves to Bethel

Jacob Is Named Israel

Benjamin Born, Rachel Dies

The Sons of Jacob

The Sons of Israel

The Death of Isaac

Jacob Returns to Bethel

Jacob Moves to Bethel

Cross References