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They then journeyed on, and a great terror came upon the people who lived in that area, so they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

Jacob and all the people who were with him arrived in Luz, that is, Bethel, which is in the land of Canaan. Here he built an altar and called the place El-Bethel, because God had revealed himself there, when he had fled from his brother.

Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah, died there, and she was buried below Bethel, beneath an oak. This is why that place is called the Weeping Oak.

God appeared another time to Jacob, when he returned from Paddan-aram, and he blessed him. 10 God said to him,

“Your name is Jacob.
    You shall no longer be called Jacob,
    but Israel shall be your name.”

Thus, he was called Israel.

11 God said to him,

“I am God Almighty.
    Be fruitful and become numerous.
People and assemblies of people shall come from you.
Kings shall come forth from your loins.

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