GENESIS 35

GOD CHANGES JACOB’S NAME TO ISRAEL 

God tells Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar. Jacob tells his family to get rid of all the household gods and idols they have been carrying and buries them.  

Jacob goes to Bethel and God changes his name from Jacob to Israel. God repeats the promise he made with Abraham and Isaac and speaks it over Jacob/Israel. For the sake of clarity, we will continue to call him Jacob.

Rachel dies in childbirth, leaving Jacob with a twelfth son, Benjamin. 

Jacob’s oldest son, Reuben, sleeps with Jacob's concubine Bilhah, which is a disgrace to Jacob.

Isaac dies at age 180 and Jacob and Esau bury him. 

Genesis 35:10 - And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel.