The Bible Slam: Genesis Chapter 35

God instructs Jacob to go to Elbethel and build an altar.   Jacob tells all who are with him to put aside their strange gods.   These idols, as well as earrings, were buried under the oak near Shechem.

Also at an oak tree, Rebekka's servant Deborah dies, and then Jacob's wife Rachel dies in childbirth.   He names the son Benjamin.

Jacob again erects a pillar and calls it Bethel (he had previously done so in Genesis Chapter 28, and it was already called Bethel in Chapters 12 and 13).   God again renames Jacob as Israel (see Genesis 32 for the first time; yet, he is still called Jacob throughout Genesis).

His oldest son Reuben (whose mother was Leah) sleeps with his concubine, and then he visits his father Isaac, who dies at 180 years old. Jacob and Esau bury him.

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Talking Points.

Polygamy and Incest.   As enumerated in this Genesis Chapter 35, Jacob had 12 sons from his two wives and their two servants.   His oldest son has sex with one of the servants.   Why is this mentioned?

Moses the only author? Common belief is that Moses authored the first five books of the bible; yet, it seems that there may be more than one author, given the repeated and sometimes contradictory references to the naming of Bethel and Jacob's new name, Israel.

Another unfulfilled promise from God. God said in Genesis 6 that mankind can only live up to 120 years old.   Isaac lived until 180 years old.

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