Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 35:1-5

"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. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments: and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. And they journeyed: and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob." — Genesis 35:1-5 (ASV)

Bethel was forgotten. But God will remind those He loves of neglected duties, one way or another, by conscience or by providential events. When we have made a vow to God, it is best not to delay paying it; yet it is better late than never. Jacob commanded his household to prepare, not only for the journey and removal, but also for religious services. Masters of families should use their authority to maintain religion in their families, Joshua 24:15. They must put away foreign gods.

In families where there is an appearance of religion and an altar to God, yet often much is amiss, and there are more foreign gods than one might suppose. They must be clean and change their garments. These were only outward ceremonies, signifying the purification and change of the heart. What are clean clothes, and new clothes, without a clean heart and a new heart?

If Jacob had called for these idols sooner, they would have parted with them sooner. Sometimes attempts at reformation succeed better than we might have thought. Jacob buried their images. We must be wholly separated from our sins, just as we are from those who are dead and buried out of sight. He moved from Shechem to Bethel.

Although the Canaanites were very angry with the sons of Jacob for their barbarous treatment of the Shechemites, they were so restrained by Divine power that they could not take the opportunity then offered to avenge them. The way of duty is the way of safety. When we are engaged in God's work, we are under special protection; God is with us while we are with Him; and if He be for us, who can be against us?

God governs the world more by secret terrors on men's minds than we are aware of.