God said, Arise, go up to Beth-el This was a word in season to comfort his disquieted mind, and direct him to a safer place. Make there an altar Consider and pay thy vows there, made in the time of thy distress. Jacob had said in the day of his distress, If I come again in peace, this stone shall be God's house, Genesis 28:22. God had performed his part, and given Jacob more than he then desired, namely, “bread to eat, and raiment to put on;” but it seems, if he had not forgotten his vow, he had at least deferred the performance of it, waiting, probably, for a fit time for that purpose; or an admonition from God concerning the proper season of paying it. And dwell there That is, he was not only to go himself, but to take his family with him, that they might join with him in his devotions.
Related Commentaries of Genesis 35:1
Genesis 35:1
1 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.