13:3 And he journeyed from place to place 1 from the Negev as far as Bethel. 2 He returned 3 to the place where he had pitched his tent 4 at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai.
1 tn Heb “on his journeys”; the verb and noun combination means to pick up the tents and move from camp to camp.
2 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.
3 tn The words “he returned” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
4 tn Heb “where his tent had been.”
5 sn Called the name of the place. In view of the previous naming of Bethel in Gen 28:19, here Jacob was confirming or affirming the name through an official ritual marking the fulfillment of the vow. This place now did become Bethel, the house of God.
6 tn The name Bethel means “house of God” in Hebrew.