Genesis 12:8

12:8 Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel 1  and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and worshiped the Lord. 2 

Genesis 35:1

The Return to Bethel

35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up at once 3  to Bethel 4  and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 5 

1 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

2 tn Heb “he called in the name of the Lord.” The expression refers to worshiping the Lord through prayer and sacrifice (see Gen 4:26; 13:4; 21:33; 26:25). See G. J. Wenham, Genesis (WBC), 1:116, 281.

3 tn Heb “arise, go up.” The first imperative gives the command a sense of urgency.

4 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

5 sn God is calling on Jacob to fulfill his vow he made when he fled from…Esau (see Gen 28:20-22).