Genesis 35: 14-20: “And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.”
Jacob completed his offering of worship by giving a drink offering to the Lord. He gave the Lord oil, that is, he offered the Lord something that was precious to him. He reminded himself that the place where he first met God was called Bethel. This does not represent two different traditions being edited together to try and explain the place name for Bethel. Jacob promised the Lord that if the Lord brought him back then the Lord would be his God (see Gen 28: 19-22 “And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”). After all, Jacob poured the oil on the stone that he had previously called Bethel and poured oil on the same stone. He was keeping the promise that he had made all those years before. After this Rachel had her second son and she died soon after the birth. She was aware that a son was born and called him “son of my sorrow”. When Jacob heard that name he changed it to “son of my strength”. This reminds us that people who deny themselves and follow the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour may easily face hardship rather than a life of pleasant prosperity. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12: 2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”) If we follow Him we may be called upon to follow His example.
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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