“And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.”
This verse is a part of the account of Jacob’s journey to Bethel, which is a significant event in his life. To understand the context of Genesis 35:7, let’s explore the preceding verses as well.
In Genesis 35, Jacob and his family were instructed by God to go to Bethel and dwell there. Before their journey, Jacob commanded his household to put away the foreign gods and purify themselves. They buried their idols and changed their garments, symbolizing a turning away from the false gods they had accumulated during their travels.
Verse 7 highlights Jacob’s response upon reaching Bethel. He built an altar there and named the place Elbethel, which means “God of Bethel.” This act of building an altar signifies Jacob’s desire to worship and honor God in that location. Altars were often used as places of sacrifice and offerings, where people could seek God’s presence and express their devotion to Him.
The reason Jacob named the place Elbethel is explained in the latter part of the verse. It refers to the earlier encounter Jacob had with God at Bethel when he fled from his brother Esau. This incident is recorded in Genesis 28:10-22. At that time, Jacob had a dream in which he saw a ladder reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. In that dream, God reaffirmed the covenant He had made with Jacob’s grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. Jacob woke up and declared that God was present in that place, calling it Bethel, which means “house of God.”
So, in Genesis 35:7, Jacob recalls the previous encounter with God at Bethel and acknowledges that God appeared to him there. It was a significant moment in Jacob’s life when he encountered the divine presence and received divine promises. By building the altar and naming the place Elbethel, Jacob is expressing his gratitude and reverence for God’s faithfulness and protection throughout his life’s journey.
