Jacob ran away from Esau and obeyed his parents' command to not marry a Canaanite woman. On Jacob’s way to Padanaram, the home of Laban, Rebekah’s brother, the Lord spoke with him in a dream about a ladder. In the meantime, Esau, in order to appease his parents’ marital desires for their children, married one of Ishmael’s daughters (v. 6-9). Now let’s see how the events of this chapter unfold.

1. Jacob’s Charge (v.1-2) – Isaac charged Jacob to take a wife from Padanaram, where Rebekah’s family lived and not from the Hamite daughters of Canaan (Gen. 10:6). He did. He ended up marrying 4 wives from there (35:23-26).

2. Jacob’s Blessing (v. 3-5) – Here Isaac blessed Jacob with some things that he left out of the blessing in Gen. 27:28-29.

1. A multiplied seed as promised to Abraham (22:17) and Isaac (26:4, 24).
   
2. An inheritance in the land as promised to Abraham (15:7) and Isaac (26:4).
   

3. Jacob’s Dream (v. 10-12) – Jacob saw a ladder in his dream. This ladder reveals:

1. The Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:51).
   
2. That to get to heaven a man must go by Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6).
   
3. That Jesus is the mediator (1 Tim 2:5) that reaches from earth into heaven (Jn. 3:13, Is. 66:1).
   
4. That Jesus had to descend in order for us to ascend (Eph. 4:8-10).
   
5. That as Jesus ascended, so shall he return (Acts 1:9-11).
   Look at all the strong types of Christ connected with this dream: Light [Luz], Jn. 8:12; Gate [door], Jn. 10:7; Stone, Matt. 21:42-44; Anointing, Ps. 2:2; House of God, 1 Tim. 3:15.
   

4. Jacob’s Promise (v. 13-15) – In this dream, the Lord confirmed Abraham’s blessing that was given to him and the blessings of an inheritance and a multiplied seed. He also promised to protect him by going with him (i.e. Gen. 31:23-24) and promised to bring him back home again (i.e. Gen. 32:1-8).

5. Jacob’s Pillar (v. 16-19) – When Jacob awoke, he changed the name of the place from Luz (meaning "light") to Bethel (meaning "the House of God"). He erected a pillar and anointed it to commemorate the blessing of God. Pillars, just like altars (8:20, 12:7, 13:18, 26:25) and groves (21:33) eventually degenerated into false god worship (2 Sam. 18:18, Dan. 3:1-2, Matt. 24:15).

6. Jacob’s Vow (v. 20-22) – Jacob vowed to give God a tenth of everything he would get if God would protect him, feed him, clothe him and get him safely back to Bethel. God did it (Gen. 35:1-7), but there is no evidence that Jacob ever paid him the tenth. Maybe he gave it to Esau, instead (Gen. 32:13-18, 33:8-10).