Verses 1–3: The city of Shechem was devastated after Dinah’s brothers took revenge for her rape. It’s no longer safe for Jacob and his family to stay there, so God instructs him to move to Bethel (north of present-day Jerusalem) and settle there. His family’s recent actions signal a much-needed change: Jacob needs to clean house spiritually. He asks everyone to get rid of any foreign gods they’ve been worshiping, set themselves apart again as faithful followers of God, and change their clothing (an outward symbol of their inward change).
They’re returning to Bethel, the place where God first met Jacob as he was fleeing from his murderous brother, Esau. There, God promised to faithfully walk with Jacob and provide for all his needs. Now God is asking them to return to this place of promise, both geographically and spiritually. Jacob determines to build an altar as a sign of his family’s renewed commitment to God.
4–8: Jacob’s family relinquishes and buries all the remnants of their waywardness, and they all set out for Bethel. God instills fear in the hearts of the surrounding peoples who might otherwise attack them on their journey; God’s hand of protection is on them. When they arrive at Bethel, Jacob builds an altar in honor of God’s kindness and faithfulness to them.
Scripture isn’t clear how Deborah, the nurse of Jacob’s mother Rebekah, came to live in Jacob’s household.* But when she dies, the family deeply mourns her loss. (Allon Bacuth means “oak of weeping.”**)
9–15: Jacob sets up a stone pillar in renewed affection for and commitment to God, (signified by the offering and oil poured out on it). God again confirms His promise to bless Jacob with many descendants and a homeland. He’ll be the father to kings and nations, and all will be blessed through him. Bethel, the “house of God,”** would become a reminder of all the good God had for Jacob in life, and all the good he has in store for us if we’re willing to receive it.
16–20: Jacob continues his sojourn home and Rachel (now pregnant) enters into difficult labor on the way. As she lay dying, she names their son Ben-Oni, or “son of my trouble.”** Jacob wisely renames him Benjamin—”son of my right hand”**—or one who is precious and highly valued.*** Within only a two days’ journey of his father Isaac in Hebron, his beloved Rachel dies. In remembrance, Jacob establishes a pillar over her tomb in Bethlehem, where visitors can see her enshrined today.****
21–26: Jacob moves on to Migdal Eder and lives there for an unknown time frame. His eldest son, Reuben, adds to his sorrow by sleeping with his concubine Bilhah. With the birth of Benjamin, Jacob’s family is complete with twelve sons and a daughter. He’s ready to finally introduce his new family to his father.
27–29: Upon his return to Isaac in Mamre of Hebron, Jacob is roughly sixty years old, and Isaac one hundred twenty. In God’s kindness, father and son are able to share another sixty years together before Isaac dies at the age of one hundred eighty. Since Jacob and Esau are finally reconciled, they are able to bury their father together, in peace.****
