“Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God…”
Just slaughtered the city, need to move away. Also, build an altar.
“Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.”
All the women and children just captured probably still have their own gods. Also, there might be others within the family who have been trying not to be ‘intolerant.’ But now it’s time for a clean start, so Jacob buries everything, and they move out.
Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no on pursued them.
With God with them, no need to fight at all. People just look, and know that’s a group not to mess with.
So he named him Israel.
God blesses him and reaffirms the new name.
“I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number.”
Still the same from Adam and Eve.
“The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”
Why does God keep repeating so much? Because people are stupid. And forget. And God’s promise to their fathers isn’t enough. And he’s showing that he is the same God, he’s sticking with the family, and he WILL keep his promise.
And then Rachel has another child, although she dies in childbirth.
12 – Benjamin – “Don’t be afraid, for you have another son.”
Jacob set up a pillar…
Jacob. Not Israel. This is about to lead into the first real section where we get to see both names, and try to understand some of what is going on. Basically, we have two separate personalities, and while he answers to either name, they are generally used in relation to what’s going on. Right now, he’s burying his wife. The wife he worked 14 years for, as Jacob. Trickster, deceiver, yes. But also a hard worker, and definitely in love with Rachel.
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.
Israel. Not Jacob. This is a matter which will concern the family line. Although Israel doesn’t seem to do anything to punish Reuben here, he does withhold the blessing from him. Reuben will not be the ‘chosen one’ to continue the line. Also, after their episode slaughtering the city, Simeon and Levi also forfeit their rights to this honor. Which brings us to Judah as the 4th oldest, who will eventually be the one to carry on the line to Jesus.
Jacob had twelve sons:
Immediately after Israel hearing of Reuben’s treachery, we see that Jacob still has twelve sons. Regardless of how these sons have screwed up, or what blessings they might miss out on because of their actions, they are still part of the family, and no one is getting disowned. Israel is forming God’s nations through all of Jacob’s sons.
Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Just like Ishmael and Isaac buried Abraham together, even though they didn’t exactly get along, Esau and Jacob come together to do the same thing. To put aside whatever conflicts they have had, and honor a father.
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