Overview of Genesis 26 to 37

Recap

Isaac takes Rebekah, the sister of Laban, from the region of Paddan-aram, to be his wife. (25:20)

Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of Rebekah because she was barren, and soon Rebekah was pregnant.

Genesis 25:23 The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.”

Jacob and Esau are born with Jacob holding onto Esau’s heel.

Genesis 25:28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

These two verses hint at what is to come in the life of Jacob.

Outline

Isaac runs into conflict with Abimelech in Gerar (Chapter 26)

Striving For Blessing

Deceitful Jacob in Canaan (Chapter 27:1 - 28:4)

Journey to Paddan-Aram (28:5 - 22)

Marriages of Jacob (29:1 - 30:43)

Learning True Blessing

Return To Canaan (31:1 - 33:17)

Transformed Jacob (33:18 - 37:2a)

Joseph Sold Into Slavery (37:2b - 37:36)

Chapter 26

The LORD passes on the Abrahamic promise to Isaac in Gerar (vv. 1-6)

Abimelech confronts Isaac over a lie in Gerar. (vv. 7-11)

The LORD blesses Isaac, a hundredfold, in Gerar and this leads to Abimelech forcing him to leave. (vv. 12-17)

Isaac digs wells in the valley of Gerar. (vv. 18-22)

v.22 - “At last the LORD has made room for us...”

The LORD reaffirms promises to Isaac in Beersheba. (vv. 23-25)

Isaac and Abimelech enter a peace covenant in Beersheba (vv. 26-31)

Isaac find water in Beersheba (vv. 32-33)

Esau marries Hittites: Judith and Basemath (vv. 34-35)

Led to Isaac and Rebekah to have “..bitterness of spirit..”

Notes:

Despite Isaac’s failings, the LORD is with him, protects him, blesses him, and makes him extremely wealthy.

Psalm 37:3,11,Psalm 37:39–40 “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”

Chapter 27

Isaac tells Esau to prepare to be blessed (vv. 1-5)

Isaac still in bondage to his appetite. Wants to bless his favorite, Esau.

Rebekah shows Jacob how to deceive Issac for the blessing (vv. 6-17)

Isaac’s quite patience has become lethargy; Rebekah’s energetic nature oversteps her boundaries.

Isaac blesses Jacob (vv. 18-29)

Esau begs Isaac for a blessing (vv. 30-40)

v. 38 - “Esau lifted his voice and wept.”

Isaac sort of gives him a blessing when he says, “By your sword you shall live and your brother you shall serve.”

Rebekah tells Jacob to flee to Haran (vv. 41-46)

v.41 - “The days of mourning are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

v.46 - “I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth.”

Rebecca is manipulating Isaac by appealing to what her and Isaac agree on: Esau’s wives are bad.

She’s afraid Esau will kill Jacob and wants Jacob to flee. However, she knows Isaac will not thing Esau will actually go through with it.

Notes:

The blessing cannot be transferred, no take backs.

What the patriarch says before he dies determines the destiny of his descendants. It is prophecy whose fullfilment is certain.

Esau (Edom) - will live a wandering nomadic life. Jacob (Israel) - will enjoy the fruits of the earth.

Like the birth oracle of 25:23, Isaac states that Esau will serve Jacob, the younger, and these find their fulfillment in Israel and Edom.

Even in the midst of these imperfect characters, pursuing their own self-interest, God’s plan of salvation moves forward. And this shows his grace and mercy.

Chapter 28

Jacob sent to Paddan-Aram (vv. 1-5)

Here Isaac reiterates the promises made to Abraham and himself, showing that the line of God’s choice will pass through Jacob, not Esau.

Esau marries an Ishmaelite (vv. 6-9)

Jacob’s experience at Bethel (vv. 10-15)

Jacob’s first reaction (vv. 16-17)

Jacob vows to tithe (vv. 18-22)

Chapter 29

Jacob meets the shepherds of Haran (vv. 1-9)

‌ Jacob is in a hurry to achieve his own ends.

John Calvin suggests that the experience at Bethel gave Jacob faith to continue.

Shepherds at well are suspicous of Jacob and his brash self-confidence.

Jacobs purpose is to find Laban and get close to him!

Jacob meets Rachel (vv. 10-12)

‌ The weeping constrasts the sheer terror of Isaac being deceived(IMO).

Jacob stays with Laban (vv. 13-14)

‌ And Jacob does not have much to offer!

The betrothal of Jacob to Rachel (vv. 15-19)

‌ Hints at Laban already up to scheming with wages, pay, etc

Jacob loved Rachel and is willing to pay a steep price.

Note, Laban never says Rachel when he agrees.

Seven years of service for Rachel (v. 20)

‌ Years are up, but they seemed like but a few days

The wedding (vv. 21-30a)

Lateness of the hour, veiling of the bride, and maybe a little too much drink allowed Laban to substiute the unloved Leah for the promised Rachel.

‌ Laban gives maids to Leah or Rachel.

Jacob: What have you done? "...and behold she was Leah."

The deceiver-extrordinaire has been deceived.

v.26 - poetic justice

Jacob has good reason to be upset!

Laban has Jacob trapped and adds "you must serve me another 7 years."

He loved Rachel more than Leah

Another seven years of service (v. 30b)

‌ They were full of strife and pain and did not fly by as "a few days." as seen in patriarchs birth.

Although Jacob is chosen, he does not escape divine justice. Amos 3:2, Heb 12:5-6; Prov 3:12.

The LORD opens Leah’s womb; Rachel barren (vv. 31-35)

Marriage is off to a bad start as seen in the names of her sons.

Reuben - “Because the LORD has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me...”

Simeon - “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved...”

Levi - “Now this time my husband will become attached to me...”

Chapter 30

Rachel’s desire for children achieved through Bilhah (vv. 1-8)

The love story between Jacob and Rachel, and now this: “Give me children or I else die!”

Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel: “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

The OT regards children as the gift of God, not of man. Rachel should have prayed, not protested

Dan - “God has vindicated me...”

Leah’s children through Zilpah (vv. 9-13)

Gad - “How forunate!”

Asher - “Happy am I! For women will call me happy!”

Leah’s desire for intercourse (vv. 14-15)

Leah exchanging mandrakes, a fertility drug, for a night with Jacob.

This is a public confrontation, dispute reaches a boiling point.

Jacob lies with Leah (vv. 16-21)

Issachar - “God gave me my wages because I gave my maid to my husband.”

Zebulun - “God has endowed me with a good gift; now my husband will dwell with me...”

Dinah - a daughter is born.

Again, we see God’s power over human sinfulness. The forefathers of the 12 tribes are born into a divided family.

Lying trickster as a father and two jealous, sharp-tongued mothers. Yet, the promises to Abraham took a great step forward, showing it is divine grace not human merit that gives mankind hope of salvation.

God remembered Rachel and opened her womb (vv. 22-24)

Joseph - “May the LORD give me another son.”

Negotiations between Jacob and Laban (vv. 25-36)

Jacob ready to go back to his land after the birth of Joseph.

Laban does his best to delay Jacob’s departure, as he sees that the LORD has blessed him through Jacob. AC!

Agreement is that Jacob will tend to Laban’s flock; his payment will be the multicolored sheep and goats.

They seperate by a three days journey.

Jacob breeds his own flock (vv. 37-43)

Jacob starts with pure white sheep and pure black goats.

He outwits Laban by breeding multicolored sheeps and goats, and he ensured the strong kids and lambs were his, weak ones Laban’s.

Jacob became “exceedingly prosperous.”

Like Abraham, Jacob, blessed by the LORD, becomes wealthy as a result of leaving Canaan.

Chapter 31

Jacob overhears Laban’s sons; Laban’s attitude changes (vv. 1-2)

The LORD tells Jacob to return home (v. 3)

Jacob’s wives agree to leave (vv. 4-16)

Departure (vv. 17-21)

Laban’s pursuit (vv. 22-24)

Confrontation between Jacob and Laban (vv. 25-44)

Oath between Laban and Jacob (vv. 45 - 54)

Chapter 32

Jacob meets angels (vv. 1-2)

Jacob’s messengers to Esau (vv. 3-7)

Jacob prepares to meet Esau (vv. 8-22)

Jacob and wives cross Yabook (vv. 23-24)

Jacob wrestles with a “man” (vv. 25-33)

Chapter 33

Jacob and Esau reunited (vv. 1-15)

Jacob and Easu part (vv. 16-17)

Jacob settles in Canaan in Shechem (vv. 18-22)

Chapter 34

Shechem rapes Dinah and seeks to marry her (vv. 1-4)

Hamor and Shechem propose a marriage/aliance with Jacob’s family (vv. 5-19)

Hamor and Shechem and the city’s men agree to the alliance (vv. 20-24)

Jacob’s sons murder and plunder the city (vv. 25-29)

Jacob confronts his sons (vv. 30-31)

Chapter 35

The LORD’s call to go to Bethel (v. 1)

Jacob’s obedience (vv. 2-8)

Reaffirmation of the promises (vv. 9-12)

Jacob’s worship at Bethel (vv. 13-15)

Birth of Benjamin: Death and burial of Rachel (vv. 16-20)

Reuben’s shameful act (vv. 21-22a)

Jacob’s sons (vv. 22 -26)

Death and burial of Isaac by his two sons (vv. 27-29)

Chapter 36

Esau’s marriages and move to Seir (vv. 1-8)

Esau’s sons and grandsons (vv. 9-14)

Chiefs descended from Esau (vv. 15-19)

Descendants and chiefs of Seir (vv. 20-30)

List of Edomite kings (vv. 31-39)

List of chiefs (vv. 40-43)

Chapter 37

Jacob lived in the land of Canaan (v. 1)

Reason Joseph’s brothers hate him (vv. 2 - 11)

Joseph’s brothers and then Joseph go to Shechem (vv. 12-17)

Joseph sold into slavery (vv. 18-31)

Jacob mourns (vv. 32-36)

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