With deep emotion Jacob repeated the story of his first visit to Bethel, when he left his father's tent a lonely wanderer, fleeing for his life, and how the Lord had appeared to him in the night vision. As he reviewed the wonderful dealings of God with him, his own heart was softened, his children also were touched by a subduing power; he had taken the most effectual way to prepare them to join in the worship of God when they should arrive at Bethel. "And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which 206 were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem."

Dybt bevæget fortalte Jakob om sit første besøg i Betel, da han forlod sin faders telt som en ensom vandrer, der flygtede for livet, og om, hvordan Herren havde vist sig for ham om natten i et syn. Idet han så tilbage på Guds vidunderlige handlemåde med ham, blødgjordes hans eget hjerte, og hans børn blev også grebet af en betvingende magt. Han havde brugt den mest virkningsfulde måde for at forberede dem til at tage del i gudstjenesten, når de kom til Betel. De gav så Jakob "alle de fremmede guder, de førte med sig, og alle de ringe, de havde i ørene, og han gravede dem ned under egen ved Sikem".