וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב ק֛וּם עֲלֵ֥ה בֵֽית־אֵ֖ל וְשֶׁב־שָׁ֑ם וַעֲשֵׂה־שָׁ֣ם מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לָאֵל֙ הַנִּרְאֶ֣ה אֵלֶ֔יךָ בְּבָרְחֲךָ֔ מִפְּנֵ֖י עֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִֽיךָ׃

God said to Jacob: Arise, ascend to Beit El, and settle there; and make there an altar to the God who appeared to you when you fled from Esau your brother.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמּ֑וֹ הָסִ֜רוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַנֵּכָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּתֹכְכֶ֔ם וְהִֽטַּהֲר֔וּ וְהַחֲלִ֖יפוּ שִׂמְלֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, including his slaves and maidservants: Remove the foreign gods that are in your midst that were looted from Shekhem or belonged to people who accompanied their camp. And furthermore, purify yourselves by immersion in water and change your garments.

וְנָק֥וּמָה וְנַעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־שָּׁ֣ם מִזְבֵּ֗חַ לָאֵ֞ל הָעֹנֶ֤ה אֹתִי֙ בְּי֣וֹם צָֽרָתִ֔י וַיְהִי֙ עִמָּדִ֔י בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָלָֽכְתִּי׃

And we will arise and ascend to Beit El; and I will make there an altar to the God who answers me on the day of my distress. He was with me on the path upon which I went.

וַיִּתְּנ֣וּ אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֗ב אֵ֣ת כָּל־אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַנֵּכָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָדָ֔ם וְאֶת־הַנְּזָמִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּאָזְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּטְמֹ֤ן אֹתָם֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב תַּ֥חַת הָאֵלָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִם־שְׁכֶֽם׃

They indeed gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that were in their possession, and even the rings that were in their ears, hich were not actually objects of idol worship but some of which were decorated with such articles. Alternatively, this is referring to the rings that were in the ears of the idols. And Jacob interred them beneath the terebinth tree that is near Shekhem.

וַיִּסָּ֑עוּ וַיְהִ֣י ׀ חִתַּ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֗ים עַל־הֶֽעָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם וְלֹ֣א רָֽדְפ֔וּ אַחֲרֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יַעֲקֹֽב׃

They traveled; and despite Jacob’s fear that the cities surrounding Shekhem might try to avenge the deaths of the people of Shekhem, nevertheless, the dread of God, an inexplicable sensation of alarm, was upon the cities that were surrounding them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. There were also sound logical reasons for the hesitation of the neighboring cities: They did not know the size of Jacob’s camp, and when they heard that two of his sons had destroyed Shekhem, the residents were afraid of them. Presumably, the residents were not aware of the entire background of the event. Furthermore, it may be assumed that the relationships between different cities were weak, as their residents were not from the same nation. Consequently, many of these local inhabitants were certainly indifferent to the affair, and chose to refrain from getting involved in a matter that was not their concern.

וַיָּבֹ֨א יַעֲקֹ֜ב ל֗וּזָה אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן הִ֖וא בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל ה֖וּא וְכָל־הָעָ֥ם אֲשֶׁר־עִמּֽוֹ׃

Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, it is Beit El, he and all the people who were with him.

וַיִּ֤בֶן שָׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ וַיִּקְרָא֙ לַמָּק֔וֹם אֵ֖ל בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל כִּ֣י שָׁ֗ם נִגְל֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים בְּבָרְח֖וֹ מִפְּנֵ֥י אָחִֽיו׃

He erected there an altar, and he called the place of the altar El Beit El, the God of Beit El. El is the name by which God identified Himself to Jacob in Haran. Jacob called the place by this name because it was there that God was revealed to him when he fled from his brother.

וַתָּ֤מָת דְּבֹרָה֙ מֵינֶ֣קֶת רִבְקָ֔ה וַתִּקָּבֵ֛ר מִתַּ֥חַת לְבֵֽית־אֵ֖ל תַּ֣חַת הָֽאַלּ֑וֹן וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ אַלּ֥וֹן בָּכֽוּת׃ (פ)

The Torah relates incidentally that Deborah, Rebecca’s nurse, died. Deborah was clearly very old at the time, as many years had passed since she had accompanied Rebecca from Haran to the land of Canaan. As Rebecca’s lifelong associate, she had a higher status in the family than that of the other maidservants and was therefore accorded respect and treated with great affection. And she was buried below the hill upon which Beit El was located, beneath the oak tree that stood there; and he called its name Alon Bakhut, Tree of Weeping, as a sign of mourning for her.

וַיֵּרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹב֙ ע֔וֹד בְּבֹא֖וֹ מִפַּדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֑ם וַיְבָ֖רֶךְ אֹתֽוֹ׃

God appeared to Jacob again, already upon his arrival from Padan Aram, and He blessed him. God appeared to him in Beit El, in the same location as when he left for Haran.

וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ל֥וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים שִׁמְךָ֣ יַעֲקֹ֑ב לֹֽא־יִקָּרֵא֩ שִׁמְךָ֨ ע֜וֹד יַעֲקֹ֗ב כִּ֤י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה שְׁמֶ֔ךָ וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

God said to him: Your name is currently Jacob. However, your name shall no longer be called Jacob; rather, Israel shall be your name; and He called his name Israel. Although Jacob had already been informed of the change of his name (32:29), at that stage he had heard it only from an angel, and in the context of a struggle. Now, the new name is confirmed by God Himself. Similarly, Ishmael’s name was originally announced before his birth by an angel (16:11) and was later given to him officially (16:15).

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ ל֨וֹ אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֲנִ֨י אֵ֤ל שַׁדַּי֙ פְּרֵ֣ה וּרְבֵ֔ה גּ֛וֹי וּקְהַ֥ל גּוֹיִ֖ם יִהְיֶ֣ה מִמֶּ֑ךָּ וּמְלָכִ֖ים מֵחֲלָצֶ֥יךָ יֵצֵֽאוּ׃

God said to him: I am God Almighty. This name alludes to God’s might and His power to grant offspring. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and an assembly of nations shall be from you, and kings shall emerge from your loins. Your offspring will merit greatness.

וְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֛תִּי לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם וּלְיִצְחָ֖ק לְךָ֣ אֶתְּנֶ֑נָּה וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֥ אַחֲרֶ֖יךָ אֶתֵּ֥ן אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

And the land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.

וַיַּ֥עַל מֵעָלָ֖יו אֱלֹהִ֑ים בַּמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

God ascended from upon him in the place that He spoke with him.

וַיַּצֵּ֨ב יַעֲקֹ֜ב מַצֵּבָ֗ה בַּמָּק֛וֹם אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ מַצֶּ֣בֶת אָ֑בֶן וַיַּסֵּ֤ךְ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ נֶ֔סֶךְ וַיִּצֹ֥ק עָלֶ֖יהָ שָֽׁמֶן׃

Apparently, Jacob did not sacrifice an offering as soon as he reached Beit El, but only after he had stayed there a while. Jacob established a monument in the place that He spoke with him, a monument of stone, and he poured out a libation of wine upon it , and poured oil upon it in commemoration of this further revelation.

וַיִּקְרָ֨א יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבֶּ֨ר אִתּ֥וֹ שָׁ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בֵּֽית־אֵֽל׃

Jacob again called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Beit El, to reiterate that the place was a house of God where the Divine Presence rested (see 28:17–22). The city of Beersheba is likewise named twice.

וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית אֵ֔ל וַֽיְהִי־ע֥וֹד כִּבְרַת־הָאָ֖רֶץ לָב֣וֹא אֶפְרָ֑תָה וַתֵּ֥לֶד רָחֵ֖ל וַתְּקַ֥שׁ בְּלִדְתָּֽהּ׃

They traveled south from Beit El; and it was still some distance to when they would arrive at the city of Efrat; and Rachel was in childbirth, and she had difficulty in her childbirth.

וַיְהִ֥י בְהַקְשֹׁתָ֖הּ בְּלִדְתָּ֑הּ וַתֹּ֨אמֶר לָ֤הּ הַמְיַלֶּ֙דֶת֙ אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּֽי־גַם־זֶ֥ה לָ֖ךְ בֵּֽן׃

It was as she was having difficulty in her childbirth, that the midwife said to her: Fear not, for this too is a son for you.

וַיְהִ֞י בְּצֵ֤את נַפְשָׁהּ֙ כִּ֣י מֵ֔תָה וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ בֶּן־אוֹנִ֑י וְאָבִ֖יו קָֽרָא־ל֥וֹ בִנְיָמִֽין׃

It was with the departure of her soul, for she was dying in childbirth, that she called his name Ben Oni, son of my pain and anguish. And yet his father did not wish to call him by that name. Instead, he chose to interpret his wife’s statement in a positive manner, that oni meant my might, rather than my anguish. He therefore called him Benjamin, the right-hand son, or the strong son.

וַתָּ֖מָת רָחֵ֑ל וַתִּקָּבֵר֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֶפְרָ֔תָה הִ֖וא בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃

Rachel died, and she was buried on the path to Efrat, it is Bethlehem. Had Rachel given birth in a populated area, people might have been able to help her. However, she died on the road, and Jacob buried her there rather than in the city.

וַיַּצֵּ֧ב יַעֲקֹ֛ב מַצֵּבָ֖ה עַל־קְבֻרָתָ֑הּ הִ֛וא מַצֶּ֥בֶת קְבֻֽרַת־רָחֵ֖ל עַד־הַיּֽוֹם׃

Jacob established a monument upon her grave; it is the monument of Rachel’s grave until today. This monument lasted for many generations. Although its appearance possibly changed over the course of time, it remained standing and is mentioned elsewhere.

וַיִּסַּ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֣ט אָֽהֳלֹ֔ה מֵהָ֖לְאָה לְמִגְדַּל־עֵֽדֶר׃

Israel traveled, and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder, south of Bethlehem.

וַיְהִ֗י בִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֔וא וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ רְאוּבֵ֔ן וַיִּשְׁכַּ֕ב֙ אֶת־בִּלְהָ֖ה֙ פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ אָבִ֑֔יו וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵֽ֑ל (פ) וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יַעֲקֹ֖ב שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃

It was when Israel dwelled in that land, Canaan, on his way to his father’s home, that Reuben went and lay with Bilha, his father’s concubine. The fact that the verse calls her a concubine might be a reflection of Reuben’s opinion, as he perhaps did not consider Bilha, who was presumably younger than his mother, his father’s legal wife. And Israel heard. Although he was clearly distressed and humiliated by this deed, Jacob chose not to react immediately. Only on his deathbed did he respond by cursing Reuben (49:3–4). The verse concludes: The sons of Jacob were twelve. Jacob did not banish his sinful son; he continued to be counted among his sons.

בְּנֵ֣י לֵאָ֔ה בְּכ֥וֹר יַעֲקֹ֖ב רְאוּבֵ֑ן וְשִׁמְעוֹן֙ וְלֵוִ֣י וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר וּזְבוּלֻֽן׃

The chapter lists all of Jacob’s sons. The sons of Leah were Reuben, who is still Jacob’s firstborn, although on his deathbed Jacob will dismiss him from this status, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

בְּנֵ֣י רָחֵ֔ל יוֹסֵ֖ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃

The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

וּבְנֵ֤י בִלְהָה֙ שִׁפְחַ֣ת רָחֵ֔ל דָּ֖ן וְנַפְתָּלִֽי׃

The sons of Bilha, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naftali.

וּבְנֵ֥י זִלְפָּ֛ה שִׁפְחַ֥ת לֵאָ֖ה גָּ֣ד וְאָשֵׁ֑ר אֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻלַּד־ל֖וֹ בְּפַדַּ֥ן אֲרָֽם׃

And the sons of Zilpa, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Padan Aram, apart from Benjamin, who was born in the land of Canaan.

וַיָּבֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ אֶל־יִצְחָ֣ק אָבִ֔יו מַמְרֵ֖א קִרְיַ֣ת הָֽאַרְבַּ֑ע הִ֣וא חֶבְר֔וֹן אֲשֶׁר־גָּֽר־שָׁ֥ם אַבְרָהָ֖ם וְיִצְחָֽק׃

Jacob continued southward and came to Isaac his father at Mamre, Kiryat Ha’arba, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac resided. The verse records Jacob’s return to his father’s home, but relates nothing about their reunion or any events that transpired in Isaac’s last years.

וַיִּֽהְי֖וּ יְמֵ֣י יִצְחָ֑ק מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֖ה וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃

The days of Isaac were one hundred years and eighty years.

וַיִּגְוַ֨ע יִצְחָ֤ק וַיָּ֙מָת֙ וַיֵּאָ֣סֶף אֶל־עַמָּ֔יו זָקֵ֖ן וּשְׂבַ֣ע יָמִ֑ים וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ עֵשָׂ֥ו וְיַעֲקֹ֖ב בָּנָֽיו׃ (פ)

Isaac expired, and he died, and he was gathered to his people. When a person passes away, he returns, as it were, to the souls of his parents and family. Isaac died old and full of days; he had reached a very advanced age. Esau and Jacob his sons buried him. Esau came from the land of Se’ir to bury his father together with Jacob, in the Cave of Makhpela in Hebron.