Genesis 35:8

Deborah The mention of Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, is surprising. She is mentioned, though not by name, in Genesis 24:59. Probably her name was well known in other Israelite traditions which have not survived. If we relied on the chronology of P, we should have to call attention to the fact that, according to its statements (Genesis 25:20; Genesis 35:28), Deborah had left Haran with Rebekah 140 years before.

below Beth-el On lower ground, probably to the south; cf. 1 Samuel 7:11, "under Beth-car"; 1 Kings 4:12, "beneath Jezreel."

Allon-bacuth That is, the oak of weeping. It is a coincidence, but nothing more, that Deborah, the prophetess, dwelt between Ramah and Bethel, under a palm tree, Judges 4:5. Is this the "oak of Tabor" (1 Samuel 10:3)?

9 15 (P). This passage contains the account of (1) an appearance of God to Jacob, (2) the change of his name to Israel, and (3) the renewal of the Divine promises granted at Bethel. All this is parallel to the narrative in Genesis 28:10-22; it presents P's explanation of the names Israel and Bethel, both of which have already been accounted for in J and E.