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Dios bendice a Jacob en Betel

35 Dios le dijo a Jacob: «Levántate y vete a vivir a Betel. En ese lugar harás un altar al Dios que se te apareció cuando huías de tu hermano Esaú.» Entonces Jacob dijo a su familia y a todos los que lo acompañaban:

—Saquen todos los dioses extraños que hay entre ustedes, báñense y cámbiense de ropa. Vámonos pronto a Betel, pues allá voy a construir un altar en honor del Dios que me ayudó cuando yo estaba afligido, y que me ha acompañado por dondequiera que he andado.

Ellos le entregaron a Jacob todos los dioses extraños que tenían y los aretes que llevaban en las orejas, y Jacob los enterró debajo de una encina que estaba cerca de Siquem. Cuando ellos salieron, Dios hizo que todos los pueblos vecinos tuvieran mucho miedo, y por eso no persiguieron a los hijos de Jacob.

Jacob y toda la gente que iba con él llegaron a Luz, ciudad que también se llama Betel y que está en Canaán. Y construyó un altar, y llamó al lugar El-betel, porque cuando huía de su hermano, Dios se le había aparecido allí. También allí murió Débora, la mujer que había cuidado a Rebeca, y la enterraron debajo de una encina, cerca de Betel. Jacob llamó a este lugar «La encina del llanto».

Cuando Jacob regresaba de Padán-aram, Dios se le apareció otra vez y lo bendijo 10 de esta manera:

«Tú te llamas Jacob,
pero ya no te llamarás así;
desde hoy tu nombre será Israel.»

Después que Dios le cambió el nombre, 11 le dijo:

«Yo soy el Dios todopoderoso;
ten muchos hijos y descendientes.
De ti saldrá una nación y muchos pueblos,
y entre tus descendientes habrá reyes.
12 La tierra que les di a Abraham y a Isaac,
también te la doy a ti,
y después de ti se la daré a tus descendientes.»

13 Cuando Dios se fue del lugar en donde había hablado con Jacob, 14 éste tomó una piedra y la puso de pie, como un pilar, en el lugar donde Dios le había hablado; luego la consagró derramando aceite y vino sobre ella, 15 y llamó Betel a aquel lugar.

Muerte de Raquel

16 Después se fueron de Betel; pero todavía estaban un poco lejos de Efrata cuando Raquel dio a luz, y tuvo un parto muy difícil. 17 En el momento más difícil, la partera le dijo: «No tengas miedo, que has dado a luz otro varón.» 18 Pero ella estaba a punto de morir, y en sus últimos suspiros llamó Ben-oní al niño, aunque su padre lo llamó Benjamín.

19 Así fue como Raquel murió, y la enterraron en el camino de Efrata, que ahora es Belén. 20 Jacob levantó un monumento sobre su sepulcro, y éste es el monumento que todavía señala el sepulcro de Raquel.

21 Israel siguió su camino, y acampó más allá de la torre de Éder. 22 Estando ya establecido Israel en ese lugar, Rubén fue y se acostó con Bilhá, que era concubina de su padre. Y cuando éste lo supo, se enojó muchísimo.

Los hijos de Jacob(A)

Los hijos de Jacob fueron doce. 23 Los que tuvo con Lía fueron Rubén, su hijo mayor; Simeón, Leví, Judá, Isacar y Zabulón. 24 Los que tuvo con Raquel fueron José y Benjamín. 25 Los que tuvo con Bilhá, la esclava de Raquel, fueron Dan y Neftalí; 26 y los que tuvo con Zilpá, la esclava de Lía, fueron Gad y Aser. Éstos fueron los hijos de Jacob, que nacieron en Padán-aram.

Muerte de Isaac

27 Jacob fue a ver a su padre Isaac en Mamré, la ciudad que también se llama Arbá o Hebrón. Allí habían vivido Abraham e Isaac. 28 Isaac tenía ciento ochenta años cuando murió. 29 Fue a reunirse con sus antepasados cuando ya era muy anciano, y sus hijos Esaú y Jacob lo sepultaron.

Jacob Moves to Bethel

35 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you [in a distinct manifestation] when you fled [years ago] from Esau your brother.”(A) Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the [idols and images of] foreign gods that are among you, and ceremonially purify yourselves and change [into fresh] clothes; then let us get up and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” So they gave Jacob all the [idols and images of the] foreign gods they had and the rings which were in their ears [worn as charms against evil], and Jacob buried them under the [a]oak tree near Shechem.

As they journeyed, there was a great [supernatural] terror [sent from God] on the cities around them, and [for that reason] the Canaanites did not pursue the sons of Jacob. So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. There he built an altar [to worship the Lord], and called the place El-bethel (God of the House of God), because there God had revealed Himself to him when he escaped from his brother. Now Deborah, [who once was] Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried below Bethel under the oak; and the name of it was called Allon-bacuth (Oak of Weeping).

Jacob Is Named Israel

Then God [in a visible manifestation] appeared to Jacob again when he came out of Paddan-aram, and declared a blessing on him.(B) 10 Again God said to him,

“Your name is Jacob;
You shall no longer be called Jacob,
But Israel shall be your name.”

So he was called [b]Israel. 11 And God said to him,

“I am [c]God Almighty.
Be fruitful and multiply;
A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,
And kings shall be born of your [d]loins.
12 
“The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac
I will give to you,
and to your descendants after you I will give the land.”

13 Then God ascended from Jacob in the place where He had spoken with him. 14 Jacob set up a pillar (memorial, monument) in the place where he had talked with God, a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering [of wine] on it; he also poured oil on it [to declare it sacred for God’s purpose]. 15 So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel (the House of God).

16 Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath (Bethlehem), Rachel began to give birth and had difficulty and suffered severely. 17 When she was in hard labor the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid; you now have another son.” 18 And as her soul was departing, (for she died), she named him Ben-oni (son of my sorrow); but his father called him Benjamin ([e]son of the right hand). 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Jacob set a pillar (memorial, monument) on her grave; that is the [f]pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21 Then Israel (Jacob) journeyed on and pitched his tent on the other side of the tower of Eder [the lookout point used by shepherds].

22 While Israel was living in that land, Reuben [his eldest son] went and lay with Bilhah his father’s [g]concubine, and Israel heard about it.

The Sons of Israel

Now Jacob had twelve sons— 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; 24 and the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; 25 and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali; 26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob born to him in Paddan-aram.

27 Jacob came to Isaac his father at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had lived temporarily.

28 Now the days of Isaac were a hundred and eighty years. 29 Isaac’s spirit departed and he died and was [h]gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death], an old man full of days (satisfied, fulfilled); his sons Esau and Jacob buried him [in the cave of Machpelah with his parents Abraham and Sarah].

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 35:4 This appears to have been a special tree of uncertain type, perhaps a terebinth tree that had significance for pagan worship.
  2. Genesis 35:10 “He who strives with God” or “God strives” or “Prince of God.”
  3. Genesis 35:11 Heb El Shaddai, the sufficient and powerful One.
  4. Genesis 35:11 The midsection of the body between the lower ribs and the hips. Often a euphemism for the human genitals.
  5. Genesis 35:18 This had a positive meaning, like a “right-hand man,” a son in a position of importance and honor.
  6. Genesis 35:20 This pillar was still visible at the time when Moses lived.
  7. Genesis 35:22 See note 22:24.
  8. Genesis 35:29 See note 25:8.

35 “Move on to Bethel now, and settle there,” God said to Jacob, “and build an altar to worship me—the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

So Jacob instructed all those in his household to destroy the idols they had brought with them, and to wash themselves and to put on fresh clothing. “For we are going to Bethel,” he told them, “and I will build an altar there to the God who answered my prayers in the day of my distress, and was with me on my journey.”

So they gave Jacob all their idols and their earrings, and he buried them beneath the oak tree near Shechem. Then they started on again. And the terror of God was upon all the cities they journeyed through, so that they were not attacked. Finally they arrived at Luz (also called Bethel), in Canaan. And Jacob erected an altar there and named it “the altar to the God who met me here at Bethel”[a] because it was there at Bethel that God appeared to him when he was fleeing from Esau.

Soon after this[b] Rebekah’s old nurse, Deborah, died and was buried beneath the oak tree in the valley below Bethel. And ever after it was called “The Oak of Weeping.”

Upon Jacob’s arrival at Bethel, en route from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him once again and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “You shall no longer be called Jacob (‘Grabber’), but Israel (‘One who prevails with God’). 11 I am God Almighty,” the Lord said to him, “and I will cause you to be fertile and to multiply and to become a great nation, yes, many nations; many kings shall be among your descendants. 12 And I will pass on to you the land I gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and to your descendants.”

13-14 Afterwards Jacob built a stone pillar at the place where God had appeared to him; and he poured wine over it as an offering to God and then anointed the pillar with olive oil. 15 Jacob named the spot Bethel (“House of God”), because God had spoken to him there.

16 Leaving Bethel, he and his household traveled on toward Ephrath (Bethlehem). But Rachel’s pains of childbirth began while they were still a long way away. 17 After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Wonderful—another boy!” 18 And with Rachel’s last breath (for she died) she named him “Ben-oni” (“Son of my sorrow”); but his father called him “Benjamin” (“Son of my right hand”).

19 So Rachel died, and was buried near the road to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem). 20 And Jacob set up a monument of stones upon her grave, and it is there to this day.

21 Then Israel journeyed on and camped beyond the Tower of Eder. 22 It was while he was there that Reuben slept with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and someone told Israel about it.

Here are the names of the twelve sons of Jacob:

23 The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s oldest child, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun.

24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph, Benjamin.

25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant girl: Dan, Naphtali.

26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant girl: Gad, Asher.

All these were born to him at Paddan-aram.

27 So Jacob came at last to Isaac his father at Mamre in Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron), where Abraham too had lived. 28-29 Isaac died soon afterwards, at the ripe old age of 180. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 35:7 the God who met me here at Bethel, literally, “the God of Bethel.”
  2. Genesis 35:8 Soon after this, implied.

Jacob Returns to Bethel

35 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel(A) and settle there, and build an altar(B) there to God,(C) who appeared to you(D) when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”(E)

So Jacob said to his household(F) and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods(G) you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.(H) Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God,(I) who answered me in the day of my distress(J) and who has been with me wherever I have gone.(K) So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears,(L) and Jacob buried them under the oak(M) at Shechem.(N) Then they set out, and the terror of God(O) fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.(P)

Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz(Q) (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan.(R) There he built an altar,(S) and he called the place El Bethel,[a](T) because it was there that God revealed himself to him(U) when he was fleeing from his brother.(V)

Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse,(W) died and was buried under the oak(X) outside Bethel.(Y) So it was named Allon Bakuth.[b]

After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram,[c](Z) God appeared to him again and blessed him.(AA) 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob,[d] but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.[e](AB) So he named him Israel.

11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty[f];(AC) be fruitful and increase in number.(AD) A nation(AE) and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.(AF) 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.(AG)(AH) 13 Then God went up from him(AI) at the place where he had talked with him.

14 Jacob set up a stone pillar(AJ) at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering(AK) on it; he also poured oil on it.(AL) 15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.[g](AM)

The Deaths of Rachel and Isaac(AN)

16 Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath,(AO) Rachel(AP) began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17 And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife(AQ) said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.”(AR) 18 As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni.[h](AS) But his father named him Benjamin.[i](AT)

19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath(AU) (that is, Bethlehem(AV)). 20 Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day(AW) that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb.(AX)

21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder.(AY) 22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine(AZ) Bilhah,(BA) and Israel heard of it.

Jacob had twelve sons:

23 The sons of Leah:(BB)

Reuben the firstborn(BC) of Jacob,

Simeon, Levi, Judah,(BD) Issachar and Zebulun.(BE)

24 The sons of Rachel:

Joseph(BF) and Benjamin.(BG)

25 The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah:(BH)

Dan and Naphtali.(BI)

26 The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah:(BJ)

Gad(BK) and Asher.(BL)

These were the sons of Jacob,(BM) who were born to him in Paddan Aram.(BN)

27 Jacob came home to his father Isaac(BO) in Mamre,(BP) near Kiriath Arba(BQ) (that is, Hebron),(BR) where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.(BS) 28 Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years.(BT) 29 Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people,(BU) old and full of years.(BV) And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.(BW)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 35:7 El Bethel means God of Bethel.
  2. Genesis 35:8 Allon Bakuth means oak of weeping.
  3. Genesis 35:9 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia; also in verse 26
  4. Genesis 35:10 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he deceives.
  5. Genesis 35:10 Israel probably means he struggles with God.
  6. Genesis 35:11 Hebrew El-Shaddai
  7. Genesis 35:15 Bethel means house of God.
  8. Genesis 35:18 Ben-Oni means son of my trouble.
  9. Genesis 35:18 Benjamin means son of my right hand.