Jacob, who we now call Akobe was in a conundrum. Akobe became concerned with what the rest of the Canaanite families may do against him and his sons because of the savage vengeance performed by Lewi and Simeon. He prayed to the Great Creator what he should do.
The Great Creator commanded Akobe, “Return to Bethel, where I appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau. Make your home there and build an altar for Me.” Akobe then commanded his household to get rid of the foreign deities and the images they carried with them. It was time to change clothes, clean garments are required to serve the Great Creator.
To Bethel, They Went and Removed False Deities
He told them they will go to Bethel, and make an altar to the Great Creator who answers his prayers and has been with him. So everyone gave Akobe their foreign gods or deities, this included earrings, nose rings, and other jewelry. Akobe took them all and buried them under an oak tree near the city of Shechem.
They journeyed and as they traveled, the terror of the Great Creator fell upon the cities around them. In other words, the Canaanites were dreadful of the children of Akobe. In our modern day, we would say they did not want any trouble with them; they did not want any smoke.
This was because of what Lewi and Simeon did to the entire village of the Hivites. Word got out that only two sons of Akobe did this to the entire village of the Hivites. The word that their village men were compromised via circumcision did not travel, so the Canaanites were in fear of the sons of Akobe.
Luz is Bethel
Akobe arrived in Luz, which is also known as Bethel, southwestern side of modern-day Namibia. Luz or Bethel is in the land of Canaan. He built an altar there and called the place “the Great Creator of Bethel.” He did this because the Great Creator appeared to him there when he fled from Esau.
It was at this time Rebeka’s nurse passed away and she was buried beneath a tree in Bethel. They named the place, the Oak of Weeping or Umthi Wokulila. Akobe became concerned with what the rest of the Canaanite families may do against him and his sons because of the savage vengeance performed by Lewi and Simeon. He prayed to the Great Creator what he should do.
Akobe arrived in Luz, which is also known as Bethel, southwestern side of modern-day Namibia. Luz or Bethel is in the land of Canaan. He built an altar there and called the place “the Great Creator of Bethel.” He did this because the Great Creator appeared to him there when he fled from Esau.
Rebeka’s Nurse Passed Away
It was at this time Rebeka’s nurse passed away and she was buried beneath a tree in Bethel. They named the place, the Oak of Weeping or “Umthi Wokulila (Xhosa).” Once again, the Great Creator appeared to Akobe when he returned from PadanAram and endowed Akobe. Akobe was reminded he would become fruitful and have a company of nations and kings come from him. Also, the land the Great Creator gave Abram and Isaaka, he will inherit along with his offspring after him. Akobe set up a pillar where the Great Creator spoke to him and poured a libation and oil upon it.
This is when and where the name of Luz in modern-day Namibia received its name Bethel (meaning house of God or in my native Ufok Abasi). Previously, it was called Luz; today near the western edge of Namibia, we will still find a town coincidently called Luderitz (looking like Luz minus the derit).
After some time, Akobe and his household traveled from Bethel going toward Ephratha. It was on this journey Akobe’s wife Rachel was giving birth to her second child, but it was a difficult labor. Her midwife told her she is okay and would have the boy. Rachel was at the point of death, and right before dying, she said, “Please name him Benoni.”
Benoni Still a Town in South Africa in Bethlehem
Benoni means the son of my sorrow. However, afterward, his father would name him Benjamin, meaning son of my right hand. Rachel died and was buried on a road to leads to Ephratha which is in Bethlehem. Today, Ephratha is known as Etwatwa in (get this), Etwatwa Benoni, South Africa; we cannot make this up! Where Rachel was buried has the name she gave her son before she died during labor.
I am sure they cried immensely at her passing; I’m crying as I type for a myriad of reasons, including learning that the place is still named after the name of the son she gave birth to as she passed. Akobe set up a pillar on her grave and it very well may still be there till this day.
From there, Akobe traveled and settled just past the tower of Edar.
While there, Reuben (Rawaban), the firstborn of Akobe from Lea took a romantic interest in his stepmother, Bilha, which was a very inappropriate action. This hindered who the family birthright would fall to when Akobe would go to his forefathers (ancestors). All of Akobe’s children were born in PadanAram when he was in the house of Laban, which is modern-day Nigeria-Cameroon. Only Benjamin was born in the land of Canaan, which is South Africa.
Later on, Akobe went to his father Isaaka at Hebron, which is also called Mamre or Kiriath-Arba (city of Arba), where Isaaka’s father Abrashem had lived as a foreigner. This was about the time when Isaaka gave up the spirit and was gathered to his ancestors. He was full of days and his sons, both Esau and Akobe came to see him off.
To be continued…
Minister Koko
BSM
BibleStudyMinistry.com
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With all love and Spiritual regards