“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.”
Cross references: : Gen. 28:13 God is ever at hand to succor his in their troubles.
“Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:”
That by this outward act they should show their inward repentance.
“And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.”
For therein was some sign of superstition, as in tablets and Agnus deis.
“And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.”
Thus, notwithstanding the inconvenience that came before, God delivered Jacob.
“And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.”
As God is said to descend when he showeth some sign of his presence: so he is said to ascend when vision is ended.
“And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. a little: Heb. a little piece of ground”
The Hebrew word signifieth as much ground as one may go from baite to baite, which is taken for half a day’s journey.
“And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.”
The ancient fathers used this ceremony to testify their hope of the resurrection to come, which was not generally revealed.
“And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve :”
This teacheth that the fathers were not chosen for their merits, but by God’s only mercies, whose election by their faults was not changed. Gen. 49:4