Genesis 35:2

Put away the strange gods. The prospect of meeting with God at Bethel led to a thorough work of reform. There was much to be done before Jacob and his household were ready to face the Lord (see Amos 4:12; 1 John 3:3). Out of consideration for his wives Jacob had tolerated the presence of idols in their tents. These strange gods probably included the teraphim Rachel had stolen from her father (Gen. 31:19), the images of his servants, and others which may have come into the possession of his sons with the spoils of Shechem.

Be clean, and change your garments. Since the directives issued by Jacob to the members of his household resemble so closely those later issued at Sinai (Ex. 19:10), it seems that Jacob acted either upon specific instructions from God or upon a procedure he had learned from his father. The outward cleansing of the body and the change to other garments symbolized the moral and spiritual purification of the mind and heart (see Isa. 64:6; 61:10). The service of God is not to be entered upon without due preparation (see Luke 14:28).