Genesis 35:4
So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The earrings weren't just jewelry; they were often imbued with superstitious significance, acting as amulets or talismans, which is why they are listed alongside the "strange gods" Jacob's family surrendered. Jacob hiding them under a large tree highlights how deeply ingrained these practices were, as such trees were themselves often sites of pagan worship, making it a symbolic place for burial and obscuring them from view.
After the traumatic events at Shechem, God calls Jacob and his household to purify themselves and return to Bethel, the place where God had first appeared to him. As part of this purification, Jacob's family surrenders their foreign gods and jewelry, which Jacob then buries near Shechem as a sign of their repentance and commitment to the Lord. This act signifies a decisive break from the idolatry and lingering pagan influences that had infiltrated his household.
Jacob's family had accumulated 'strange gods' and earrings. Why were these objects so problematic, and what did it cost them?
Jacob's family had taken on the detritus of their surroundings, collecting foreign gods and superstitious earrings. These weren't just trinkets; they represented a turning away from the one true God. The 'strange gods' were direct rivals to Yahweh, and the earrings were often worn as amulets or inscribed with idolatrous symbols. This syncretism was a spiritual poison, threatening the purity of their covenant relationship.
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Jacob didn't just collect the idols; he hid them. What does this action reveal about his understanding of true worship?
Jacob's response to the collected idols and earrings wasn't to destroy them immediately (as Moses later did with the golden calf), but to bury them. This act, though perhaps seeming less decisive than outright destruction, was a crucial step in cleansing his household and recommitting to God.
Understand the original words
elah · Hebrew Noun
A large, prominent tree often associated with significant historical or religious events in the Old Testament, sometimes serving as a landmark for covenantal actions.
The act of burying idols and earrings in Shechem, directly following the violent incident involving Dinah and the city's prince, is a powerful, visceral symbol of Jacob's household purging itself from the corrupting influences encountered in Canaan. This isn't just a ritual cleansing; it's a desperate act to appease God and re-establish their covenant standing after a traumatic event, highlighting the tension between embracing the promised land and its surrounding impurities.
c. 1800 BC
Abraham's Covenant
God establishes a foundational covenant with Abraham, promising land and descendants, setting the stage for the lineage that includes Jacob and his family.
c. 1750 BC
Jacob's Vision at Bethel
Fleeing his brother Esau, Jacob has a pivotal dream at Bethel where God reaffirms the Abrahamic covenant, promising protection and return.
c. 1740 BC
Jacob's Service for Rachel
Jacob serves Laban for fourteen years to marry Rachel, during which time he also acquires wealth and has many children, including those who later inhabit Shechem.
c. 1734 BC— this verse
Rupture at Shechem
Dina, Jacob's daughter, is defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor. In response, Jacob's sons Simeon and Levi violently attack the city, leading to a loss of life and reputation for Jacob's household.
c. 1734 BC
God's Command to Purify
Following the crisis at Shechem, God instructs Jacob to return to Bethel and purify his household, signifying a renunciation of foreign gods and practices.
c. 1734 BC
Jacob Returns to Bethel
Jacob leads his family to Bethel, where they remove and bury all their idols and amulets, symbolizing a renewed commitment to the worship of the one true God.
c. 1734 BC
God Reaffirms Covenant at Bethel
At Bethel, God appears to Jacob again, blesses him, renames him Israel, and reiterates the promises of the covenant concerning land and descendants, strengthening Jacob's faith after the trials.
This passage describes the Israelites giving their gold earrings to Aaron to make the golden calf, highlighting how personal adornments could be directly linked to idolatrous worship, mirroring Jacob's family surrendering their earrings.
Deuteronomy 7:25-26God's command here to burn and destroy the idols and religious objects of the Canaanites, not to covet their silver or gold, directly parallels Jacob's action of hiding these forbidden items rather than destroying them, showing the tension between obedience and lingering attachment.
Joshua 24:14Joshua's charge to the Israelites to 'put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD' echoes the cleansing that Jacob demanded of his household, emphasizing the necessity of a complete break from idolatry for true service.
Hosea 2:13Hosea prophesies judgment against Israel for their idolatry, mentioning that they 'decorated themselves with her rings and her jewels, and went after her lovers,' showing that earrings were indeed used in practices of unfaithfulness to God, much like in Jacob's time.
1 Samuel 15:22-23Samuel's rebuke of Saul for sparing the best of the Amalekite plunder demonstrates that obedience to God's command to utterly destroy forbidden things is better than sacrifice. This underscores the seriousness of Jacob's action of merely hiding the idols instead of destroying them, as God had commanded for the Canaanites.
calvinGenesis 35:1-29: "And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother."
Et filii Zilpah ancillae Leah, Gad et Aser. Isti sunt filii Iahacob, qui nati sunt in Padan Aram.
And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
Et venit Iahacob ad Ishac patrem suum in Mamre civitatem Arbah: h…
pooleGenesis 35:4: "And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem."
Either because they had been abused to idolatry and superstition at Shechem, or elsewhere, and therefore were to be destroyed according to God’s command, now signified to Jacob, and afterwards delivered to his posterity, Deu 7:5 12:3 ; or for fear they should be so abused. For the Scripture seems to insinu…
The earrings weren't just jewelry; they were often imbued with superstitious significance, acting as amulets or talismans, which is why they are listed alongside the "strange gods" Jacob's family surrendered. Jacob hiding them under a large tree highlights how deeply ingrained these practices were, as such trees were themselves often sites of pagan worship, making it a symbolic place for burial and obscuring them from view.
After the traumatic events at Shechem, God calls Jacob and his household to purify themselves and return to Bethel, the place where God had first appeared to him. As part of this purification, Jacob's family surrenders their foreign gods and jewelry, which Jacob then buries near Shechem as a sign of their repentance and commitment to the Lord. This act signifies a decisive break from the idolatry and lingering pagan influences that had infiltrated his household.
After the traumatic events at Shechem, God calls Jacob and his household to purify themselves and return to Bethel, the place where God had first appeared to him. As part of this purification, Jacob's family surrenders their foreign gods and jewelry, which Jacob then buries near Shechem as a sign of their repentance and commitment to the Lord. This act signifies a decisive break from the idolatry and lingering pagan influences that had infiltrated his household.
"So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem." — The earrings weren't just jewelry; they were often imbued with superstitious significance, acting as amulets or talismans, which is why they are listed alongside the "strange gods" Jacob's family sur…
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