Genesis 35:16-29
God’s covenant purposes continue through grief, sin, and death, because His promises are not overturned by human frailty.
16 They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.
17 When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”
18 As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
19 Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).
20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.
21 Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali.
26 The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
27 Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.
28 The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.
29 Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.
God’s covenant purposes continue through grief, sin, and death, because His promises are not overturned by human frailty.
To record the painful transitions in Jacob’s household, including Rachel’s death in childbirth, Reuben’s defilement, the full listing of Jacob’s sons, and Isaac’s death.
God Calls Jacob Back to Bethel, Purifies His House, Renews the Covenant, and Marks the Passing of a Generation
After the corruption of Shechem, God calls Jacob’s house to purification and renewed worship at Bethel, reaffirms the covenant to Israel, and carries the promise forward through sorrow, death, and unresolved household sin.