So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments. So Jacob told his household and all who were with him,Jacob acted as the spiritual head of an extended household that included his family, servants, and others under his care. As he prepared to return to Bethel, where God had first appeared to him, he called everyone connected with his household to renewed devotion.
Gen 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will…
Deu 6:7 And you shall teach them diligently to your children…
“Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Idols had entered the camp through the influence of surrounding peoples and through possessions taken from Shechem. Jacob required their complete removal, recognizing that worship of the Lord could not be joined with pagan practices.
Jos 24:23 “Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods…
1Sa 7:3 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel,…
Purify yourselves Those traveling to Bethel were to cleanse themselves in preparation for appearing before God. The outward act represented repentance and separation from defilement associated with idolatry.
Jas 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.…
2Co 7:1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises,…
and change your garments. Clean garments marked a fresh beginning as the household left behind its former practices. Jacob led them to approach God with outward and inward readiness for worship.
Zec 3:4-5 So the angel said to those standing before him…
Isa 52:1 Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion!…
Persons / Places / Events 1. JacobThe patriarch of the Israelite tribes, Jacob is the central figure in this passage. He is leading his family back to Bethel, a place of significant spiritual encounter with God. 2. Jacob's HouseholdThis includes his wives, children, and servants. They are instructed by Jacob to rid themselves of foreign gods and purify themselves. 3. Foreign GodsThese are idols or deities worshiped by people outside of the covenant community. Jacob's command to remove them signifies a return to exclusive worship of Yahweh. 4. PurificationA ritual act of cleansing, often involving washing and changing clothes, symbolizing a spiritual renewal and dedication to God. 5. BethelA significant location in Jacob's life where he previously encountered God. It represents a place of divine promise and covenant. Teaching Points Call to HolinessJust as Jacob instructed his household to purify themselves, believers today are called to live holy lives, setting aside anything that competes with their devotion to God. Exclusive WorshipThe removal of foreign gods underscores the importance of worshiping God alone. Believers must examine their lives for modern-day idols that may distract from their relationship with God. Spiritual RenewalChanging garments symbolizes a fresh start and a renewed commitment to God. Christians are encouraged to regularly seek spiritual renewal through repentance and dedication. Leadership in FaithJacob's role as a spiritual leader in his family highlights the responsibility of leading others in faith and setting an example of devotion to God. Returning to GodBethel represents a return to a place of spiritual significance. Believers are reminded to return to their spiritual roots and remember God's faithfulness in their lives. Bible Study Questions 1. What are some "foreign gods" or idols in your life that may be hindering your relationship with God, and how can you remove them? 2. How does the concept of purification in Genesis 35:2 relate to the New Testament teachings on holiness and sanctification? 3. In what ways can you lead your family or community in a deeper commitment to God, similar to Jacob's leadership? 4. Reflect on a "Bethel" moment in your life where you encountered God in a significant way. How can you return to that place of spiritual renewal? 5. How do the themes of exclusive worship and covenant faithfulness in Genesis 35:2 connect with the broader biblical account of God's relationship with His people? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20:3-4The commandment against idolatry connects with Jacob's instruction to remove foreign gods, emphasizing the exclusive worship of Yahweh. Joshua 24:14-15Joshua's call to the Israelites to serve the Lord and put away foreign gods echoes Jacob's directive, highlighting a recurring theme of covenant faithfulness. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18Paul's teaching on being separate from idols and purifying oneself as God's temple aligns with the call to holiness seen in Jacob's command. | Jacob's Preparation for Acceptable Worship | F. Hastings | Genesis 35:2 | | Spiritual Renovation | J.F. Montgomery | Genesis 35:1, 2 | | A Call to Religious Observances | D. Wilson, M. A. | Genesis 35:1-15 | | At Bethel Again | W. S. Smith, B. D. | Genesis 35:1-15 | | Family Reformation; Or, Jacob's Second Visit to Bethel | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Genesis 35:1-15 | | Forgetfulness of God's Goodness | The Evangelical Preacher | Genesis 35:1-15 | | God with Us | R.A. Redford | Genesis 35:1-15 | | Jacob Returning to Bethel | J. Bradley, M. A. | Genesis 35:1-15 | | Jacob Sent to Bethel | Homilist | Genesis 35:1-15 | | Jacob's Return to Bethel | M. Braithwaite. | Genesis 35:1-15 | | Jacob's Second Journey to Bethel | T. H. Leale. | Genesis 35:1-15 | | Lessons | A. F. Barfield. | Genesis 35:1-15 | | Lessons from the Life of Jacob | G. Deane, B. Sc. | Genesis 35:1-15 | | The Forgotten Vow | | Genesis 35:1-15 | | The Revival | E Craig. | Genesis 35:1-15 | | The Second Journey of Jacob to Bethel | F. W. Robertson, M. A. | Genesis 35:1-15 | | A Needed Reformation | A. Fuller. | Genesis 35:2-4 | | Buried Idols | W. L. Watkinson. | Genesis 35:2-4 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. | Genesis 35:2-4 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. | Genesis 35:2-4 | | The Putting Away of Idols | F. B. Meyer, B. A. | Genesis 35:2-4 |
People Allon, Aram, Arba, Asher, Benjamin, Benoni, Bilhah, Dan, Deborah, Eder, Ephrath, Esau, Gad, Isaac, Issachar, Jacob, Joseph, Leah, Levi, Mamre, Naphtali, Rachel, Rebekah, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun, ZilpahPlaces Allon-bacuth, Bethel, Bethlehem, Canaan, Eder, El-bethel, Ephrath, Hebron, Kiriath-arba, Luz, Mamre, Paddan-aram, ShechemTopics Aside, Change, Clean, Cleanse, Clothes, Clothing, Foreign, Garments, Gods, Household, Jacob, Midst, Purify, Rid, Strange, Stranger, Turn, YourselvesDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 35:2 5218 authority, in home
8466 reformation
8769 idolatry, in OT Genesis 35:1-2 7416 purification Genesis 35:1-5 5095 Jacob, life Genesis 35:2-4 7384 household gods
8410 decision-making, examples
8799 polytheism Library February the Eighth Revisiting Old Altars
"I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress." --GENESIS xxxv. 1-7. It is a blessed thing to revisit our early altars. It is good to return to the haunts of early vision. Places and things have their sanctifying influences, and can recall us to lost experiences. I know a man to whom the scent of a white, wild rose is always a call to prayer. I know another to whom Grasmere is always the window of holy vision. Sometimes a particular pew in a particular church …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling YearOur Last ChapterConcluded with the Words, "For Childhood and Youth are Vanity"...
Our last chapter concluded with the words, "For childhood and youth are vanity": that is, childhood proves the emptiness of all "beneath the sun," as well as old age. The heart of the child has the same needs--the same capacity in kind--as that of the aged. It needs God. Unless it knows Him, and His love is there, it is empty; and, in its fleeting character, childhood proves its vanity. But this makes us quite sure that if childhood can feel the need, then God has, in His wide grace, met the …
F. C. Jennings—Old Groans and New Songs The Death of Abraham
'Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.'--GENESIS xxv. 8. 'Full of years' does not seem to me to be a mere synonym for longevity. That would be an intolerable tautology, for we should then have the same thing said three times over--'an old man,' 'in a good old age,' 'full of years.' There must be some other idea than that in the words. If you notice that the expression is by no means a usual one, that it is only …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Trials and visions of Devout Youth
'And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The National Oath at Shechem
'And Joshua said unto the people. Ye cannot serve the Lord: for He is an holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 20. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that He hath done you good. 21. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord. 22. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves, that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve Him. And they said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). In our last chapter we considered at some length the much debated and difficult question of the human will. We have shown that the will of the natural man is neither Sovereign nor free but, instead, a servant and slave. We have argued that a right conception of the sinner's will-its servitude-is essential to a just estimate of his depravity and ruin. The utter corruption and degradation of human nature is something which …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God The Birth of Jesus.
(at Bethlehem of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke II. 1-7. ^c 1 Now it came to pass in those days [the days of the birth of John the Baptist], there went out a decree [a law] from Cæsar Augustus [Octavius, or Augustus, Cæsar was the nephew of and successor to Julius Cæsar. He took the name Augustus in compliment to his own greatness; and our month August is named for him; its old name being Sextilis], that all the world should be enrolled. [This enrollment or census was the first step …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 35:2 NIVGenesis 35:2 NLTGenesis 35:2 ESVGenesis 35:2 NASBGenesis 35:2 KJV
Genesis 35:2 Commentaries
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