May 13, 2018 - Day 35 - Genesis 35

I am writing from my hotel room in Koloa, HI; on the island of Kauai.

Genesis 35:

We open with God telling Jacob to return to Bethel; then also telling him in third person to build an altar to God.

Jacob tells his household to get rid of all their foreign gods they have with them.  What does this mean?  Are the following other gods?  Or is it like the previous chapter where a 'god' appeared to be something they owned?  Or do this means that other gods exist, but only one should be followed?  This is interesting and unclear.

So they gave away their foreign gods (whatever this means) and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them.  And then all the towns they went to were basically afraid of them.  Jacob and all of his clan came to Bethel.  Deborah (Rebekah's nurse) dies and we are reminded that God has renamed Jacob, and he is now Israel.

God does this standard ancient blessing where many nations will come from Jacob (Israel) and blah blah blah all the good stuff for seemingly no reason.  This lineage has apparently been chosen completely randomly.  Sucks for everyone else lol.

Jacob sets up a pillar and pours some drink and oil on it because this does stuff.

Rachel dies in childbirth and Reuben sleeps with one of his dad's concubines.  Hmm.

Boring lineage and then Isaac dies.  Another short one.

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