Ge 37:1 Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
2 This is the history of Jacob.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here the contrast between Esau and Jacob. "Esau dwelt in Mount Seir." Gen. 36:8 but Jacob dwelt in the Promise Land. The purpose again is to encourage them to follow the example of their father Jacob. Go to the land, possess it and dwell in it.
Friday, November 17, 2017
Ge 36:31 Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel:
32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
33 And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
34 When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
35 And when Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith.
36 When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
37 And when Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth-by -the-River reigned in his place.
38 When Saul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
39 And when Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadar reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
40 And these were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,
41 Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon,
42 Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,
43 Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites.
It was prophesied in Genesis 17:16 that Sarai, whose name was changed into Sarah (meaning princess of the multitude) that from her would come kings of nations.
Ge 17:15 Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
16 "And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her."
Now, the point of the writer here is to show how God fulfilled His promise to Sarah. She eventually became the mother of the nation Israel and other nations. Here, she is shown as to how she became the mother of nations in Esau's line.
This is to encourage the original Israelite readers again to go and possess the land and dwell in it. For just as God fulfilled His promise to Sarah and Esau, He will also fulfill His promise to them --- they too would become a nation.
32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
33 And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
34 When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
35 And when Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith.
36 When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
37 And when Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth-by -the-River reigned in his place.
38 When Saul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
39 And when Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadar reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
40 And these were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,
41 Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon,
42 Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,
43 Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites.
It was prophesied in Genesis 17:16 that Sarai, whose name was changed into Sarah (meaning princess of the multitude) that from her would come kings of nations.
Ge 17:15 Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
16 "And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her."
Now, the point of the writer here is to show how God fulfilled His promise to Sarah. She eventually became the mother of the nation Israel and other nations. Here, she is shown as to how she became the mother of nations in Esau's line.
This is to encourage the original Israelite readers again to go and possess the land and dwell in it. For just as God fulfilled His promise to Sarah and Esau, He will also fulfill His promise to them --- they too would become a nation.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Ge 36:20 These were the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.
22 And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan's sister was Timna.
23 These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24 These were the sons of Zibeon: both Ajah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the water in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon.
25 These were the children of Anah: Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
26 These were the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
27 These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
28 These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
29 These were the chiefs of the Horites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon, Chief Anah,
30 Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer, and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.
Here is the record of the men whom Esau subjugated. The point that Moses wants to show here to his original Israelite readers is that Esau and his descendants took over the territory of the Horites, fulfilling God's promise that Esau would become a nation as prophesied in Genesis 25:23.
This should encourage Israel about their prospects. Surely, they too will become a nation in the Promise Land since Jacob, their father, was promised by God that he too would become a nation. And so, to the land they must go and possess it.
21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.
22 And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan's sister was Timna.
23 These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24 These were the sons of Zibeon: both Ajah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the water in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon.
25 These were the children of Anah: Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
26 These were the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
27 These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
28 These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
29 These were the chiefs of the Horites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon, Chief Anah,
30 Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer, and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.
Here is the record of the men whom Esau subjugated. The point that Moses wants to show here to his original Israelite readers is that Esau and his descendants took over the territory of the Horites, fulfilling God's promise that Esau would become a nation as prophesied in Genesis 25:23.
This should encourage Israel about their prospects. Surely, they too will become a nation in the Promise Land since Jacob, their father, was promised by God that he too would become a nation. And so, to the land they must go and possess it.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Ge 36:10 These were the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau.
11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.
12 Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.
13 These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.
14 These were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau's wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. And she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.
15 These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz,
16 Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah.
17 These were the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.
18 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau's wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs who descended from Aholibamah, Esau's wife, the daughter of Anah.
19 These were the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these were their chiefs.
What became of Esau is what Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here. In these verses, we read that Esau multiplied and developed into an emerging nation. Moses is showing that the prophecy of God that Esau would become a nation is being fulfilled.
Ge 25:23 And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger."
Just as God fulfilled His promise about Esau, so He will fulfill His promise about Israel becoming a nation in the land.
11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.
12 Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.
13 These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.
14 These were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau's wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. And she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.
15 These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz,
16 Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah.
17 These were the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.
18 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau's wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs who descended from Aholibamah, Esau's wife, the daughter of Anah.
19 These were the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these were their chiefs.
What became of Esau is what Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here. In these verses, we read that Esau multiplied and developed into an emerging nation. Moses is showing that the prophecy of God that Esau would become a nation is being fulfilled.
Ge 25:23 And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger."
Just as God fulfilled His promise about Esau, so He will fulfill His promise about Israel becoming a nation in the land.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Ge 36:1 Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom.
2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
3 and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
4 Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel.
5 And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
6 Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob.
7 For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock.
8 So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here that Esau's sons, who were Canaanites and Ishmaelites, respectively, through their mothers, moved out of the land of Canaan, the Promise Land, with Esau.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers that the history of Jacob and Esau establishes the fact that the Israelites has a just claim on the land and not the Canaanites, since it was Esau who moved out of the Promise Land while Jacob remained.
2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
3 and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
4 Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel.
5 And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
6 Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob.
7 For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock.
8 So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here that Esau's sons, who were Canaanites and Ishmaelites, respectively, through their mothers, moved out of the land of Canaan, the Promise Land, with Esau.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers that the history of Jacob and Esau establishes the fact that the Israelites has a just claim on the land and not the Canaanites, since it was Esau who moved out of the Promise Land while Jacob remained.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Ge 35:27 Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.
28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years.
29 So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers that Jacob did make it back to his father Isaac in peace. In Genesis 28:20-21, Jacob said: "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God."
Now, just as Jacob promised that if God would bring him back in the land, back into his father's house, that God would be his God, so Israel must follow Jacob's example. God is bringing them back into the land of their fathers, now, they must acknowledge and recognize God as their God. They should have no other gods but Him.
28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years.
29 So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers that Jacob did make it back to his father Isaac in peace. In Genesis 28:20-21, Jacob said: "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God."
Now, just as Jacob promised that if God would bring him back in the land, back into his father's house, that God would be his God, so Israel must follow Jacob's example. God is bringing them back into the land of their fathers, now, they must acknowledge and recognize God as their God. They should have no other gods but Him.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Ge 35:22 ...Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
23 the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun;
24 the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin;
25 the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali;
26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.
Moses here found it necessary to rehearse again the list of Jacob's sons because of the birth of Benjamin. Moreover, he is also showing that the promise of God of descendants to Jacob is in the works and being progressively fulfilled. At this point, they were twelve, but later on become the nation Israel itself.
The emphasis here is the fact that they were of Jacob. It is stated at the end of verse 22 and restated again, for emphasis, at the end of verse 26. Since they were of Jacob, they must follow his steps in returning back to the land promised to him with all the other attendant promises to be fulfilled there.
23 the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun;
24 the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin;
25 the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali;
26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.
Moses here found it necessary to rehearse again the list of Jacob's sons because of the birth of Benjamin. Moreover, he is also showing that the promise of God of descendants to Jacob is in the works and being progressively fulfilled. At this point, they were twelve, but later on become the nation Israel itself.
The emphasis here is the fact that they were of Jacob. It is stated at the end of verse 22 and restated again, for emphasis, at the end of verse 26. Since they were of Jacob, they must follow his steps in returning back to the land promised to him with all the other attendant promises to be fulfilled there.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Ge 35:16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor.
17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear; you will have this son also."
18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.
21 Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
22 And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard about it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Moses here is explaining to his original Israelite readers as to why the tribe of Benjamin received the land inheritance they had and why the tribe of Reuben forfeited the leadership in Israel. Between Bethel and Ephrath-Bethlehem lie the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. Why was the tribe given this part of the Promise Land? Because Benjamin was born there. Rachel, Benjamin's mother who gave birth to him there, died and was buried there.
1 Sa 10:2 "When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah..."
Reuben was the firstborn of the tribes of Israel. He should have received the leadership of the tribes but that was given to Judah. Why? Reuben forfeited this privilege because of what he did here "... Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine..."
Simeon and Levi, both the second and third son's respectively, were bypassed because of their violence and treachery at Shechem. The privilege went from the first son to the fourth son, Judah.
17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear; you will have this son also."
18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.
21 Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
22 And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard about it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Moses here is explaining to his original Israelite readers as to why the tribe of Benjamin received the land inheritance they had and why the tribe of Reuben forfeited the leadership in Israel. Between Bethel and Ephrath-Bethlehem lie the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. Why was the tribe given this part of the Promise Land? Because Benjamin was born there. Rachel, Benjamin's mother who gave birth to him there, died and was buried there.
1 Sa 10:2 "When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah..."
Reuben was the firstborn of the tribes of Israel. He should have received the leadership of the tribes but that was given to Judah. Why? Reuben forfeited this privilege because of what he did here "... Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine..."
Simeon and Levi, both the second and third son's respectively, were bypassed because of their violence and treachery at Shechem. The privilege went from the first son to the fourth son, Judah.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Ge 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother."
2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
3 "Then let us arise 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 in the way which I have gone."
4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem.
5 And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.
6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
7 And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.
8 Now Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth.
9 Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him.
10 And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel.
11 Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.
12 "The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land."
13 Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him.
14 So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.
15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here that God blessed Jacob when he wholly obeyed God. Jacob delayed in fulfilling his vow he made to God in Genesis 28:19-22 thirty years ago. Instead, after serving Laban for twenty years, he went to Shechem, not Bethel, and dwelt there for ten years.
As discipline, God permitted the sad story of Dinah, his daughter, and the scandalous story of the violence and treachery of his sons in Shechem. Now, Jacob was reminded of his vow and was ready to leave Shechem and go to Bethel.
Jacob's commitment and full obedience are seen in his words: "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Then let us arise 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 in the way which I have gone."
And because of this the blessing of God was upon him. God protected them by striking the cities with fear with the result that no one came to harm them in their journey. In Bethel, Jacob fulfilled his vow. The result? God blessed him by reconfirming and expanding His promise to him. His name "Israel" speaks of his blessed status and position before God. The promise of numerous descendants, along with kings from his line, with further assurance of the land was given to him. All these because Jacob now fully obeyed.
In the same way, the nation Israel will be so blessed if they obeyed God fully and wholeheartedly. That's Moses' point here.
2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
3 "Then let us arise 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 in the way which I have gone."
4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem.
5 And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.
6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
7 And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.
8 Now Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth.
9 Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him.
10 And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel.
11 Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.
12 "The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land."
13 Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him.
14 So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.
15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.
Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here that God blessed Jacob when he wholly obeyed God. Jacob delayed in fulfilling his vow he made to God in Genesis 28:19-22 thirty years ago. Instead, after serving Laban for twenty years, he went to Shechem, not Bethel, and dwelt there for ten years.
As discipline, God permitted the sad story of Dinah, his daughter, and the scandalous story of the violence and treachery of his sons in Shechem. Now, Jacob was reminded of his vow and was ready to leave Shechem and go to Bethel.
Jacob's commitment and full obedience are seen in his words: "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Then let us arise 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 in the way which I have gone."
And because of this the blessing of God was upon him. God protected them by striking the cities with fear with the result that no one came to harm them in their journey. In Bethel, Jacob fulfilled his vow. The result? God blessed him by reconfirming and expanding His promise to him. His name "Israel" speaks of his blessed status and position before God. The promise of numerous descendants, along with kings from his line, with further assurance of the land was given to him. All these because Jacob now fully obeyed.
In the same way, the nation Israel will be so blessed if they obeyed God fully and wholeheartedly. That's Moses' point here.
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