3. We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”
4. So they gave Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings, and he buried them under the great tree near Shechem.
5. As they set out, a terror from God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked Jacob’s family.
6. Eventually, Jacob and his household arrived at Luz (also called Bethel) in Canaan.
7. Jacob built an altar there and named the place El-bethel (which means “God of Bethel”), because God had appeared to him there when he was fleeing from his brother, Esau.
8. Soon after this, Rebekah’s old nurse, Deborah, died. She was buried beneath the oak tree in the valley below Bethel. Ever since, the tree has been called Allon-bacuth (which means “oak of weeping”).
9. Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him,
10. saying, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel.
11. Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants!