And God said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants – Genesis 35:11
SUMMARY
In Genesis 35, God told Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar, where He had appeared to him when Jacob fled from Esau. Jacob instructed his household to get rid of their foreign gods and purify themselves. They journeyed to Bethel, and Jacob buried the foreign gods at Shechem. God protected them from harm as they traveled. In Bethel, Jacob built an altar and named the place El Bethel, for God had revealed Himself there. God reaffirmed Jacob’s name as Israel and promised that many nations and kings would come from his descendants, also renewing the promise of the land given to Abraham and Isaac. Afterward, Rachel died during childbirth, giving birth to Benjamin, and was buried on the way to Bethlehem. Jacob set up a pillar to mark her tomb. Jacob’s family continued to move, and during this time, his eldest son, Reuben slept with Bilhah, Rachel’s servant and the mother of some of Jacob’s children Eventually, Jacob returned to Hebron, where his father Isaac lived. Isaac lived to 180 years, and when he passed away, he was buried by his sons, Esau and Jacob.
Genesis 36 recounts the family lineage of Esau, also known as Edom. Esau married several women from Canaan, including Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah, who was the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite, and Basemath, who was the daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth. Together, these women bore Esau five sons: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. Due to the large size of their families and livestock, Esau decided to move his family, which included his sons, daughters, and possessions, to the hill country of Seir, as the land they shared with his brother Jacob could not support them both. The chapter describes the descendants of Esau, who became chiefs in the region. It also details the Horite chiefs living in Seir at the time, who were the original inhabitants of the area. Furthermore, it outlines the kings who ruled Edom before any king ruled over Israel. This history establishes Esau as the father of the Edomites and connects his family to the broader narrative of the region.
In Genesis 37, Jacob lived in Canaan, where he had twelve sons, one of whom was Joseph, a seventeen-year-old boy who tended flocks with his half-brothers. Jacob favoured Joseph, giving him an ornate robe, which caused his brothers to resent him. Joseph had two dreams that suggested he would one day rule over his family, increasing their jealousy. When Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers grazing near Shechem, they conspired to kill him upon seeing him approach. Reuben intervened, suggesting they throw Joseph into a cistern instead. While they ate, a caravan of Ishmaelites passed by, and Judah proposed selling Joseph to them, which the brothers did for twenty shekels of silver. They deceived Jacob by showing him Joseph’s bloodied robe, leading him to believe that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Jacob mourned deeply for his son, while Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your promises and faithfulness throughout generations. Help me to seek Your guidance in my life, just as Jacob did when he returned to Bethel. Give me the strength to face jealousy and adversity, as Joseph did, and help me to remain faithful and compassionate toward others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Disclaimer: The daily summaries of biblical chapters provided here are designed to support and enhance your Bible study experience. While these summaries aim to present the key themes and events accurately, interpretations can vary, and there is a possibility of errors. For a deeper understanding and context, it is recommended to read the full text and consult additional religious or scholarly resources. These summaries are intended to complement, not replace, personal study and spiritual reflection.