Genesis 35

1And God-EL [The Powerful Living Word] said unto Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of), Arise, go up to Beit-El (The House of the Powerful One), and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God-El [The Powerful Living Word], that appeared unto youi when youi fled from the face of ‘Esav (hairy) youri brother.

2Then Ya’akov said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, Put away the strange gods that [are] among you, and be clean, and change youri garments:

3And let us arise, and go up to Beit-El (House of EL the Powerful God); and I will make there an altar unto God-EL [The Powerful Living Word], who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

4And they gave unto Ya’akov all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] earrings which [were] in their ears; and Ya’akov hid them under the oak which [was] by Sh’khem [back or shoulder, portion].

5And they journeyed: and the terror of God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] was upon the cities that [were] round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Ya’akov.

6So Ya’akov came to Luz [Almond Tree], which [is] in the land of Kena’an (merchant; trader); or that [is], Beit-El (House of EL the Powerful God), he and all the people that [were] with him.

7And he built there an altar, and called the place El-bet-el (The Powerful House of the Powerful One): because there God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

8But D’vorah [spirited or fiery woman, bee], Rivkah’s (Tied Up; Secured) nurse died, and she was buried beneath Beit-El (House of EL the Powerful God) under an oak: and the name of it was called Alon-Bakhut [oak of weeping].

9And God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] appeared unto Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) again, when he came out of Paddan-aram (a place of height; field; plain), and Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) him.

10And God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] said unto him, youri name [is] Ya’akov: youri name shall not be called any more Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of), but Isra’el (he who holds onto God [EL], Prince with the Powerful God) shall be youri name: and he called his name Isra’el (he who holds onto God [EL], Prince with the Powerful God).

11And God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] said unto him, I am God-El Shaddai [God Almighty, The Powerful Living Word]: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of youi, and kings shall come out of youri waist;

12And the land which I gave Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] and Yitz’chak [Laughter], to youi I will give it, and to youri seed after youi will I give the land.

13And God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

14And Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, [even] a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

15And Ya’akov called the name of the place where God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] spoke with him, Beit-El (House of EL the Powerful God).

16And they journeyed from Beit-El (House of EL the Powerful God); and there was but a little way to come to Efrat (ash-heap: place of fruitfulness): and Rachel (ewe) travailed, and she had hard labour.

17And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; youi shall have this son also.

18And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni (This Son Is My Progeny, some: grief): but his father called him Binyamin (This Son Is Strength).

19And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Efrat, which is Beit-Lechem (House of Bread, emphasizing: House of Battle).

20And Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) set a pillar upon her grave: that [is] the pillar of Rachel’s [ewe] (ewe) grave unto this day.

21And Isra’el (he who holds onto God-The Creator) journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Migdal-’Edar (tower of the flock).

22And it came to pass, when Isra’el (he who holds onto God-The Creator) dwelt in that land, that Re’uven (behold a son) went and lay with Bilhah (troubled; timid) his father’s concubine: and Isra’el (he who holds onto God-The Creator) heard [it]. Now the sons of Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) were twelve:

23The sons of Le’ah (weary; grieved); Re’uven (behold a son), Ya’akov’s (he who holds onto the heel of), firstborn, and Shim’on (heard; he who hears; man of hearing), and Levi (Levite) [Joined to] (joined), and Y’hudah (Let the Powerful One be Praised [Yah]), and Yissakhar (there is recompense), and Z’vulun (exalted; Glorious Dwelling Place):

24The sons of Rachel (ewe); Yosef (Increaser; May God the Powerful One add [Yah]), and Binyamin (This Son Is Strength):

25And the sons of Bilhah (troubled; timid), Rachel’s [ewe] (ewe), Rachel’s [ewe] female servant; Dan (Judge), and Naftali (My Wrestling):

26And the sons of Zilpah (a tickling; a sprinkle), Le’ah’s (weary; grieved), female servant; Gad (troop; good fortune with much effort), and Asher (happy): these [are] the sons of Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of), which were born to him in Paddan-aram (a place of height; field; plain).

27And Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) came unto Yitz’chak [Laughter] his father unto Mamre (firmness; fatling (fat cattle) offering), unto the city of Kiryat-Kiryat-Arba [City of Arba (fourth)] (Town of the Four Giants), which is Hevron (Place/Town Of Alliance), where Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] and Yitz’chak [Laughter] detained (held).

28And the days of Yitz’chak [Laughter] were an hundred and eighty years.

29And Yitz’chak [Laughter] gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, [being] old and full of days: and his sons ‘Esav (hairy) and Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of) buried him.

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Genesis 35

Jacob in Bethel

1God said to Jacob, “Go to the town of Bethel.#35:1 Bethel A town in Israel. This name means “God’s house.” That is where I appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau. Live there and make an altar to honor me as El,#35:1 El A Hebrew name for God. the God who appeared to you.”

2So Jacob told his family and all the other people with him, “Destroy all these foreign gods that you have. Make yourselves pure. Put on clean clothes. 3We will leave here and go to Bethel. There I will build an altar to the God who has always helped me during times of trouble. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”

4So the people gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had, and they gave him all the rings they were wearing in their ears. He buried everything under an oak tree near the town called Shechem.

5Then Jacob and his sons left that place. The people in the surrounding cities wanted to follow and kill them, but God filled them with such great fear that they did not go after them. 6So Jacob and his people went to Luz, which is now called Bethel. It is in the land of Canaan. 7Jacob built an altar there. He named the place “El Bethel.”#35:7 El Bethel A name that means “the God of Bethel.” Jacob chose this name because that is the place where God first appeared to him when he was running from his brother.

8Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died there. They buried her under the oak tree at Bethel. They named that place Allon Bacuth.#35:8 Allon Bacuth This name means “the oak tree of sadness.”

Jacob’s New Name

9When Jacob came back from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again. God blessed Jacob 10and said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but I will change that name. You will no longer be called Jacob. Your new name will be Israel.#35:10 Israel This name might mean “he fights for God,” “he fights with God,” or “God fights.”” So God named him Israel.

11God said to him, “I am God All-Powerful,#35:11 God All-Powerful Literally, “El Shaddai.” and I give you this blessing: Have many children and grow into a great nation. Other nations and other kings will come out of you. 12I gave Abraham and Isaac some special land. Now I give the land to you and to all your people who will live after you.” 13Then God left that place. 14-15Jacob set up a memorial stone there. He made the rock holy by pouring wine and oil on it. This was a special place because God spoke to Jacob there, and Jacob named the place Bethel.

Rachel Dies Giving Birth

16Jacob and his group left Bethel. Before they came to Ephrath, Rachel began giving birth to her baby. 17She was having a lot of trouble with this birth. She was in great pain. When her nurse saw this, she said, “Don’t be afraid, Rachel. You are giving birth to another son.”

18Rachel died while giving birth to the son. Before dying, she named the boy Benoni.#35:18 Benoni This name means “son of my suffering.” But Jacob called him Benjamin.#35:18 Benjamin This name means “right-hand” or “favorite son.”

19Rachel was buried on the road to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20Jacob put a special rock on Rachel’s grave to honor her. That special rock is still there today. 21Then Israel continued his journey. He camped just south of Eder tower.#35:21 Eder tower Or “Migdal Eder.”

22Israel stayed there for a short time. While he was there, Reuben slept with Israel’s slave woman Bilhah. Israel heard about this, and he was very angry.#35:22 and he was very angry These words are from the ancient Greek translation. They are not in the standard Hebrew text. See Gen. 49:4.

The Family of Israel (Jacob)

These are the names of Jacob’s twelve sons:

23His firstborn son was Reuben, whose mother was Leah. Jacob’s other sons by Leah were Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

24His sons by Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

25His sons by Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, were Dan and Naphtali.

26His sons by Zilpah, Leah’s maid, were Gad and Asher.

These were Jacob’s sons who were born in Paddan Aram.

27Jacob went to his father Isaac at Mamre in Kiriath Arba (Hebron). This is where Abraham and Isaac had lived. 28Isaac lived 180 years. 29Then Isaac became weak and died and went to be with his people. He had lived a long and full life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

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