Genesis 35:15

¹⁴So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil. ¹⁵Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.

Sermons

(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5

Chuck Smith

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Summary

In this verse, Jacob named the place where Rachel was buried 'Bethel,' which means 'house of God.' This act symbolized Jacob's acknowledgment of God's presence and protection throughout his life, even in times of sorrow and loss. By associating God's house with the memory of his beloved wife, Jacob demonstrated his faith and trust in God's sovereignty. The naming of Bethel serves as a reminder that even in the midst of personal grief, God's presence and comfort are ever-present for His people.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. He confirmed the name he had before given it, when he went to Mesopotamia, and now upon his return renews and establishes it; or he gave this name more especially to that particular spot where God conversed with him, and on which he erected a pillar, and consecrated it to religious worship, and so made it God's house, as he promised he would, Gen 28:22, both building an altar for sacrifice, and setting up a pillar, which was beginning an house for God. , both building an altar for sacrifice, and setting up a pillar, which was beginning an house for God. Genesis 35:16 gen 35:16 gen 35:16 gen 35:16And they journeyed from Bethel,.... Jacob and his family; how long they stayed there is not certain, some say four months (z); hence they removed towards Bethlehem, which was twelve miles from Bethel (a), in their way to Hebron: and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath; or Bethlehem, as it was also called, Gen 35:19; a mile off of it, according to the Targums of Onkelos and Jerusalem; or about a mile, as Saadiah Gaon; for it was not a precise exact mile, but something less than a mile, as Ben Melech observes; and so Benjamin of Tudela, who was on the spot, says (b), that Rachel's grave is about half a mile from Bethlehem. Ben Gersom thinks the word here used signifies cultivated land, and that the sense is, that there were only fields, vineyards, and gardens to go through to the city, see Gen 48:7, and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour; the time of childbirth was come, and which came suddenly upon her, as travail does, even while journeying, which obliged them to stop; and her pains came upon her, and these very sharp and severe, so that she had a difficult time of it: pains and sorrow in childbearing are the fruit of sin, and more or less attend all in such a circumstance; but, in some, labour is more painful than in others, and more at one time than at another, and is the most painful in women than in other creatures. (z) Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 1. (a) Bunting's Travels, p. 72. (b) Itinerar. p. 47.