Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 35:1

"And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother." — Genesis 35:1 (ASV)

Arise, go up to Beth-el. — Jacob's position at Shechem had become dangerous; for although the first result of Simeon and Levi's high-handed action was to strike the local inhabitants with terror (Genesis 35:5), yet reprisals might still follow if they had time to learn the comparatively small number of Jacob’s followers. It was necessary, therefore, to move.

Moreover, Beth-el was the goal of the patriarch’s journeyings. He had made a solemn vow there on his journey to Padanaram, and though forty-two years had elapsed, it had not been forgotten . The Divine command to go there was the outward authorisation of what his own conscience dictated.

For this reason, we cannot believe that he had remained long at Shechem. Nomads are remarkably leisurely in their movements. There is nothing of the rush and hurry of city life in their actions or purposes. They are capable of a great effort occasionally, but then they relapse into their usual slowness. And so, when Jacob found good pasture and plenty of room for his cattle at Shechem, he remained there for a while; but he did not abandon his purpose of going first to Beth-el, and finally to Hebron.