OT Study: Genesis: Pt. 7

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Now the last time we met, we had just begun the story of Jacob. Before that we concluded the chapter of Abraham’s story and saw how God continued to carry out His covenant promises of Land, Seed and Blessing to Abraham’s son Isaac. In Isaac, his faith and the faith of his wife, Rebekah, were on bright display. Isaac prayed for God to provide out of faith when his wife could not conceive. Rebekah prayed to God when she felt trouble in her womb and God answered that He had destined to love Jacob and that his older brother would serve him.

This leads to Rebekah choosing Jacob as her favored son. Remember that Jacob was a schemer. He came up with the plan to buy his father’s birthright from his older brother with a bowl of soup. And when time came for Isaac to bless the son who would carry on the family blessing of a covenant relationship with God, Rebekah and Jacob designed a scheme to steal it from Esau. Jacob was to impersonate his brother and trick his blind father into blessing him and the plan almost worked until he opened his mouth. Despite this, Jacob’s scheme works because, as he says in 27:20, “the Lord your God caused it to happen”.

And that is the theme of this section in Genesis, that God is present with Jacob and that He fights for Jacob. Subsequently, that we can learn from that theme that God is present with His people, and He fights for His people. He is with you and He fights for you.

When Esau discovered what Jacob had done he was filled with murderous hatred toward his brother. Jacob was forced to leave, but Isaac made him promise to not marry a Canaanite but instead go to his uncles household and find a wife there. We concluded last time with Jacob leaving the land and Isaac praying that God would bring him back and cause him to inhabit it.

4. God Continues to Develop Jacob: Bethel Pt. 1 ()

A. Jacob’s Dream (28:10-17)

16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

At the opening of Jacob’s journey he sets up camp in a place near Haran. It is there that he had a dream, verse 12, “12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” So we have this picture of a ladder to heaven with Angels going up and down, and at the very top who do we see? Verse 13, “13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Like Abraham and Isaac before Him, God speaks to Jacob and promises to carry out the promises He made to Abraham and Isaac; the promises that Jacob’s seed will inhabit the promised land of Canaan, that his seed will be vast in number and that all the families of the earth will be blessed by his descendants (seed). Furthermore, God promises to Jacob that He will be with Jacob and keep him wherever he goes and bring him back to the land. In this, God has now declared to three generations His promise of land, seed and blessing demonstrating that He is a God who is faithful for generation upon generation. After this dream, Jacob awakes and names the place Bethel which means House (or dwelling place) of God.

the promises He made to Abraham and Isaac; the promises that Jacob’s descendents (seed) will inhabit the promised land of Canaan, that his descendants (seed) will be vast in number and that all the families of the earth will be blessed by his descendants (seed). Furthermore, God promises to Jacob that He will be with Jacob and keep him wherever he goes. Moreover God will bring him back to the land. In this, God has now declared to three generations His promise of land, seed and blessing demonstrating that He is a God who is faithful for generation upon generation. After this dream, Jacob awakes and names the place Bethel which means House (or dwelling place) of God.

Furthermore, God promises to Jacob that He will be with Jacob and keep him wherever he goes and bring him back to the land. In this, God has now declared to three generations His promise of land, seed and blessing demonstrating that He is a God who is faithful for generation upon generation. After this dream, Jacob awakes and names the place Bethel which means House (or dwelling place) of God.

See how the symbolism of a ladder from heaven to earth demonstrates that God has not left man in their sin. It shows that He is not disconnected from His creatures but instead is ministering to them, sending angels to and from heaven to earth. What the original readers of Genesis and the generations beyond should see from this is that God is with us. Remember with me how in the Gospel of John, how when Jesus first calls the disciples He alludes to this passage, “ “50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” In doing so Jesus is stating that the ladder in Jacob’s dream pointed to Him. He is the bridge between heaven and earth. He is the mediator between God and man. He is Immanuel which means, “God with us.”

“50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

In doing so Jesus is stating that the ladder in Jacob’s dream pointed to Him. He is the bridge between heaven and earth. He is the mediator between God and man. He is Immanuel which means, “God with us.”

Jacob’s Dream - a ladder to heaven with angels going up and down

God promises to Jacob: Land, Seed, Blessing - He is faithful for generations

Gospel Connection -

B. Jacob’s Vow (28:18-22)

“18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on its top. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel; however, previously the name of the city had been Luz. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, 21 and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. 22 This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”

After God had promised to Jacob that He would be Jacob’s God, that He would be present with him, protect him, and never leave him, Jacob makes a vow stating that he will let the Lord be his God if God meets a couple of conditions - verse 20, “20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, 21 and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God.” This is a laughable scheme. Jacob thinks that he can negotiate a deal with God where he exchanges worship and devotion to God for protection and food from God. What is clear here is that Jacob doesn’t understand or truly believe in God and His promises just yet.

Jacob schemes, barters with God

If God will be with him, feed him, clothe him and keep him safe, then He can be Jacob’s God

Doesn’t truly believe God’s promises yett

5. God Continues to Develop Jacob: Physical Expansion ()

A. God’s Provision for the Seed Continued (29:1-20)

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east.2 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well. 4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” 6 And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.” 7 He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.” 8 But they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.” 9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.12 Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father. 13 So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things. 14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him a month. 15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face.18 Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.

In Chapter 29 we see that Jacob has left the land of Canaan and entered the land of the sons of the east where his uncle, Laban, lives. Upon arriving he meets Rachel, the daughter of Laban, and it’s love at first sight - verse 10, “10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.12 Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father. 13 So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things. When he comes to Laban he tells him of his situation with his brother and Laban offers asylum to him. Jacob then asks to marry Laban’s daughter Rachel and hapilly agrees to work for seven years for her hand in marriage. In doing so, Jacob obeys his father’s command to not marry a Canaanite and the hope of the seed promise of continues on.

Jacob reaches Laban’s land

Love at first sight - Jacob willing to work for 7 years before marrying Rachel

Hope of continues

B. Laban’s Scheme (29:21-30)

“21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.” 22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.23 Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. 24 Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.”

Now Laban is a real schemer and he sees an opportunity in Jacob. Laban knows about God’s hand of blessing upon Abraham and his family from his past encounter with Abraham’s servant. So when it came time to give his daughter, Rachel, to Jacob he throws a feast which was so extravagant that Jacob did not notice that he consummated a marriage with Leah instead of his betrothed Rachel - verse 23, “23 Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. 24 Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” When Jacob woke up and realized he was sleeping next to Leah he was furious at Laban. So Laban, being the grand schemer that he is, offered to allow Jacob to marry Rachel for seven more years of labor.

So Laban then received 14 years of free labor and the blessing of God upon Jacob. But it doesn’t stop there. The last layer to Laban’s plan is to introduce family dysfunction. How long does Jacob have to wait before he can marry Rachel? A week! Imagine how bitter and hurt Leah would have been after experiencing such disrespect and disregard from her new husband. He marries her sister a week after being married to her! Laban’s plan is to create so much dysfunction in Jacob’s family that it won’t grow. If Jacob’s family doesn’t grow then Jacob won’t have enough children to help him shepherd a flock of his own and grow his wealth enough to leave Laban’s household. Therefore, Jacob would be forced to work for Laban in order to survive. This is the ultimate scheme and it seems like Jacob is trapped with Laban forever.

Laban’s master scheme:

Get Jacob drunk at his wedding

Swap out his daughters

Allow Jacob to marry Rachel 1 week later

Force Jacob to work 7 more years

Create family chaos which forces Jacob to stay

C. Many Descendants (29:31-30:24)

31 Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.” 33 Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing. 1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.” 2 Then Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” 3 She said, “Here is my maid Bilhah, go in to her that she may bear on my knees, that through her I too may have children.” 4 So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.5 Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me, and has indeed heard my voice and has given me a son.” Therefore she named him Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 So Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have indeed prevailed.” And she named him Naphtali. 9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad. 12 Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “Happy am I! For women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher. 14 Now in the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 But she said to her, “Is it a small matter for you to take my husband? And would you take my son’s mandrakes also?” So Rachel said, “Therefore he may lie with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 When Jacob came in from the field in the evening, then Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night. 17 God gave heed to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Then Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my maid to my husband.” So she named him Issachar. 19 Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob. 20 Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good gift; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. 21 Afterward she bore a daughter and named her Dinah. 22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. 23 So she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 She named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me another son.”

Instead of the internal family turmoil leading to a small family, God blesses Leah with great fertility, look at 29:31, “31 Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.” After Leah bears Jacob four sons, Rachel becomes jealous. Since she is barren, she gives her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife. Bilhah bears Jacob two sons. After it seems that Leah stopped bearing children she does the same thing as her sister and gives Jacob her servant Zilpah to be his wife. Zilpah bears Jacob two sons. God then opens Leah’s womb again and gives her two more sons and a daughter. After being barren for several years the birthing extravaganza concludes in verse 22, “22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. 23 So she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 She named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me another son.” In this story we see God simultaneously defeat the scheme of Laban, fulfill His covenant promise to Jacob and demonstrate compassion for the unloved Leah.

Before we move on I want us to notice a pattern. Sarah - barren until God opens her womb and she bears Isaac. Rebekah - barren until God opens her womb and she bears Jacob and Esau. Rachel - barren until God opens her womb and she bears Joseph. This is what theologians call the bareness motif. In the book of Genesis, this pattern should naturally cause us to highlight Joseph in our minds as the one who will carry on the family line, the line of the Seed of . Now this barrenness motif will be very important as we move forward in the Old Testament.

God redeems Jacob out of Laban’s scheme

Instead of no babies, we have a baby extravaganza

Leah bears Simeon, Reuben, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon and Dinah

Leah’s servant Zilpah bears Gad and Ashur

Rachel’s servant Bilhah bears Dan and Naphtali

God reverses Rachel’s bareness, she bears Joseph - Bareness Motif

D. Laban’s Second Scheme (30:25-36)

25 Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me depart; for you yourself know my service which I have rendered you.” 27 But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your account.” 28 He continued, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” 29 But he said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you and how your cattle have fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came and it has increased to a multitude, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?” 31 So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock: 32 let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted sheep and every black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages. 33 So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen.”34 Laban said, “Good, let it be according to your word.” 35 So he removed on that day the striped and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, every one with white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons. 36 And he put a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

Eventually, Jacob decides that it is time for him to return home to his own country and requests that Laban allow him to take his wives and his children back to Canaan. In the ANE a man’s children were still considered his possession until they were allowed to leave the household. Since Jacob never left Laban’s household, his 4 wives and 12 children were technically under Laban’s authority. In 26:27, Laban answers Jacob, “27 But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your account.” He recognizes that Jacob has been blessed by God and does not want Jacob to leave so he develops another scheme.

Jacob agrees on one condition, that he can take sheep from Laban to start a flock of his own, verse 31 “31 So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock: 32 let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted sheep and every black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages.”

Laban agrees to these terms but then, being the grand schemer that he is, he takes all the spotted, speckled and black sheep out of his flock and places them in the flocks of his sons and sends them far away. Jacob is now left with nothing for there are only white sheep that remain in his flock.

Jacob wants to take his wives and children back to Canaan - has to ask for permission

Laban doesn’t want them to leave because of God’s blessing

Jacob will stay if he can start his own flock from blemished sheep

Laban agrees but then sends blemished sheep away with his other sons

E. Jacob’s Scheming (30:37-43)

37 Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white which was in the rods. 38 He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the gutters, even in the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink; and they mated when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40 Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban; and he put his own herds apart, and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41 Moreover, whenever the stronger of the flock were mating, Jacob would place the rods in the sight of the flock in the gutters, so that they might mate by the rods; 42 but when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys.

Not to be out-schemed, Jacob develops a scheme of his own based on an ANE myth. Look what he does in verse 30:37, “37 Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white which was in the rods. 38 He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the gutters, even in the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink; and they mated when they came to drink.” This scheme is filled with foolish superstition and faith in myth but behind Jacob’s scheme, God works through the genetics of conception to cause Jacob’s plan to succeed. We see this in verse 30:43, 43 So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys.”

Jacob’s foolish scheme - placed striped rods near watering troughs to produce blemished sheep - faith in a myth

God works through the genetics of conception to cause the plan to succeed - Jacob’s household prospers

6. God Continues to Develop Jacob: Physical Preservation ()

A. Fleeing from Laban (31:1-55)

10 And it came about at the time when the flock were mating that I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which were mating were striped, speckled, and mottled.11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’12 He said, ‘Lift up now your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”14 Rachel and Leah said to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house? 15 Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price. 16 Surely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children; now then, do whatever God has said to you.” 17 Then Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels; 18 and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s. 20 And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing. 21 So he fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. 22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.” 25 Laban cau

We witnessed how God overcame the scheme of Laban and worked through the crazy scheme of Jacob so that he became blessed with a large flock. But as God continued to bless Jacob with a large flock and his household began to grow with many servants, Laban began to have an attitude of animosity towards him - 31:2, “2 Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly. 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” God tells Jacob that it is time to return to the land of his fathers. But, instead of going to Laban and separating on good terms, which was customary, Jacob decides to run away. The flaw in Jacob’s plan is that he cannot run fast for he is traveling with women, children and animals. When Laban hears that Jacob fled with Laban’s children, servants and grandchildren he gathers his sons together and hunts Jacob down. So when Laban overtakes Jacob he has every intention to do him harm. However, God intervenes in verse 24, “24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.” After hearing this message from God, Laban spares Jacob.

When Jacob recognizes God’s intervention he makes a declaration in verse 42, “42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night.” The scene ends with Laban blessing his children and grandchildren and returning home. Jacob schemed, but God redeemed the situation by protecting Jacob, just as He promised.

B. Encountering Esau (32:1-23)

1 Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him. 2 Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim. 3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He also commanded them saying, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: ‘Thus says your servant Jacob, “I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now; 5 I have oxen and donkeys and flocks and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.”’” 6 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; 8 for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.”9 Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. 12 For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.’” 13 So he spent the night there. Then he selected from what he had with him a present for his brother Esau: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milking camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 He delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on before me, and put a space between droves.” 17 He commanded the one in front, saying, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and to whom do these animals in front of you belong? 18 then you shall say, ‘These belong to your servant Jacob; it is a present sent to my lord Esau. And behold, he also is behind us.’” 19 Then he commanded also the second and the third, and all those who followed the droves, saying, “After this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20 and you shall say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob also is behind us.’” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me. Then afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the present passed on before him, while he himself spent that night in the camp. 22 Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had.

After the final encounter with Laban, God sends angels to meet with Jacob to demonstrate that He is still with Jacob in verse 1, “1 Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him. 2 Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.” Jacob’s camp is God’s camp. He is encamped with Jacob. However, after this sweet reminder of God’s presence, Jacob is filled with great distress and fear because his brother Esau is coming with 400 men to meet him.

Instead of trusting God, who had just sent two angels to him, for protection, Jacob begins to scheme starting in verse 7, “7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; 8 for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.” His plan was to divide his family, servants and livestock into two separate camps so that one can run away if the other gets attacked. However, after he makes this plan, he decides to pray to God in verse 9, “9 Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. 12 For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.’” He asks for deliverance from Esau based on the lovingkindness and faithfulness which He showed to hIs grandfather Abraham, his father Isaac and to himself. Instead of bartering with God for His aid, he prays based on God’s character and with a trust that God will be faithful to the promises He made to Jacob to return him to the Land and to prosper him and his descendents there.

Sadly, just as we thought Jacob might be done with scheming and just trust God, he decides to send Esau a bribe of over 500 livestock and then decides to go ahead with his plan to split up his family from the rest of the camp and place them on the other side of the river. Jacob just can’t stop scheming.

C. The Important Event: Penuel ()

24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Penuel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. 32 Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.

After all this scheming, the scene closes with a wrestling match at night with God. Look at 32:24, “24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Moses merely states that Jacob wrestled with a man. But Jacob recognizes his opponent to be God and later on the prophet Hosea actually identifies Jacob’s opponent as the Angel of the Lord in . See how God allows the wrestling to continue through the night and even allowed it to seem that Jacob was winning. But things all changed when God simply touched Jacob’s thigh and his hip became immediately dislocated. This whole wrestling match was really a method of teaching Jacob about the futility of his schemes and how God was really the one who gained victory for Jacob. He schemed to take his brother’s birthright and blessing but God brought it to pass because He decreed that it would be so before Jacob and Esau were born. Jacob schemed to allow God to be his God at Bethel even though God already promised His presence. He schemed to take Laban’s flock but God is the one who blessed him with speckled sheep. He schemed to run away from Laban, but God came to Laban in a dream to protect Jacob. And even here, he schemes to wrestle a blessing from God by taking hold and refusing to let go of Him.

God then turns to interrogating Jacob, “27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” God asks him his name, and he replies that it is Jacob - heel catcher. For all his life, his name has been attached to the stigma of him catching his brother’s heal and steeling his brother’s birthright. Once Jacob confesses his name, God renames him much like He did with Abraham earlier. God renames Jacob to become Israel which means, “God fights for you”. Jacob tried to fight for life on his own but in renaming Jacob to Israel, God is declaring to Jacob, “I fight for you”.

The scene ends with Jacob trying to ask a question of his own, “29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.” God responds by saying “why is it that you ask my name” which is a way of saying, “Jacob, don’t you realize who I am?” In verse 30, Jacob concludes that it was God who he was fighting with, “30 So Jacob named the place Penuel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.” In this naming of the place we begin to see a change in Jacob. He did not name the place for the fight that occured, he named it with the emphasis that He saw God and God protected his life. He recognizes that he should have died in that wrestling match with the living God but God preserved him. Earlier, in verse 12, Jacob prayed that God would preserve him from Esau. Now he recognizes that his life was preserved by the living God from the death that should have come with seeing God. He now sees that He shall be preserved from Esau for God has preserved him. Jacob may scheme, but he is beginning to realize that it will be God who is the one fighting for him.

The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 4. Jacob at Peniel (32:23–33 [Eng. 22–32])

Earlier Jacob had prayed “Preserve me [haṣṣîlēnî] from my brother” (v. 12). Now he says: my life has been preserved (wattinnāṣēl nap̄šî). In other words, Jacob’s recognition that none other than God himself stands before him gives to Jacob the assurance that Esau shall not destroy him. Jacob’s earlier prayer for deliverance is now answered by God in this encounter. Jacob shall be “preserved” from Esau, for God has “preserved” him. In this verse Jacob moves, in his own words, from a proclamation of revelation (“I have seen God face-to-face”) to a statement of testimony (“and yet my life has been preserved”), that is, he shifts from awe to relief.

30 So Jacob named the place Penuel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.to ask his own question, renames the place Peneul for it is there that He saw the Holy God face to face and did not perish but was preserved.

D. Jacob meets Esau (33:1-20)

Then Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. 2 He put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the maids came near with their children, and they bowed down. 7 Leah likewise came near with her children, and they bowed down; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed down. 8 And he said, “What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” And he said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably. 11 Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty.” Thus he urged him and he took it. 12 Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey and go, and I will go before you.”13 But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Please let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.” 15 Esau said, “Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth. 18 Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city. 19 He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20 Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

When dawn comes and Esau approaches we see Jacob divide up his camp once more, verse 1, “Then Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. 2 He put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.” In a demonstration of his faith in God’s protection, Jacob goes ahead of the entire camp to meet Esau. And just as God promised, Esau does not harm Jacob or his family and they go there separate ways in peace. In verse 18, Jacob finally returns safely to Canaan, “18 Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city. 19 He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20 Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.” Just as Abraham and Isaac did before him, Jacob demonstrates faith in God’s promise of Land by purchasing property and building an altar. He called it El Elohe Israel which means God is the God of Israel.

Even after all this, Jacob continues to scheme. As Esau approaches he divides his family up, placing the children/wives that he loves the most in the back and the ones he loves the least in the front of the camp so that Rachel and Joseph can run away to safety if they are attacked. However he does demonstrate that he believes in God’s protection by going out ahead of the camp to meet his brother. Just as God promised, Esau does not harm Jacob or his family and they go there separate ways in peace. Jacob finally returns safely to Canaan where he demonstrates faith in God’s promises by buying land in Shechem. He then built an altar to God and called it El Elohe Israel which means God is the God of Israel.

Before we conclude I want you to look back and notice an interesting occurrence in this chapter. Jacob divided up his family before they met Esau’s army. He ordered the women and his children based on who he loved most. The maids of his wives and their 4 children were placed in front, first to die. Then came his first wife, Leah and her 6 children, next to die. Lastly, there came his favorite wife and favorite son, Rachel and Joseph who were placed at the very end of the camp so that they would be most protected if Esau decided to attack. This little event here sets up for the rest of Jacob’s narrative. On top of being a schemer, Jacob is the head of a really dysfunctional family.

Review

Questions for Application

Remember that In this section Moses is showing how God built on the foundation of His relationship with Abraham. Through Jacob, God will demonstrate to His chosen people that He is present with them and that He fights for them. Moses makes this point by significantly increasing the preposition “with” in this section of Genesis to show that God was present with Jacob.

What do we learn about God’s nature and character in the life of Jacob

Previously, what we have seen is that Jacob schemed to take the birthright that belonged to Esau his brother. However, it was not the clever schemes of Jacob or his mother Rebekah that caused him to inherit the Abrahamic promises that were passed on down through his father. God caused Jacob’s schemes to work because God chose Jacob, before he was born, to continue the covenant relationship with Abraham’s seed. In order to preserve his life from his brother, Esau, who was hell-bent on killing him, Jacob fled from his father’s house to see his uncle, Laban. It is here that we find ourselves today.

As Christians living in the New Covenant, how do we apply the truth that God fights for His people.

A. Fleeing from Laban (31:1-55)

1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.” 2 Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly. 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” 4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as formerly, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength. 7 Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me. 8 If he spoke thus, ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth speckled; and if he spoke thus, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth striped. 9 Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me. 10 And it came about at the time when the flock were mating that I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which were mating were striped, speckled, and mottled.11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’12 He said, ‘Lift up now your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”14 Rachel and Leah said to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house? 15 Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price. 16 Surely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children; now then, do whatever God has said to you.” 17 Then Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels; 18 and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s. 20 And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing. 21 So he fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. 22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.” 25 Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead. 26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; 28 and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. 29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’ 30 Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?” 31 Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. 33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel’s saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them. 35 She said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household idols. 36 Then Jacob became angry and contended with Laban; and Jacob said to Laban, “What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me? 37 Though you have felt through all my goods, what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. 38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 That which was torn of beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it myself. You required it of my hand whether stolen by day or stolen by night.40 Thus I was: by day the heat consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times. 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night.” 43 Then Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? 44 So now come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.” 45 Then Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.46 Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore it was named Galeed, 49 and Mizpah, for he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. 50 If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” 51 Laban said to Jacob, “Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between you and me.52 This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his kinsmen to the meal; and they ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain. 55 Early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

God overcame the scheme of Laban and worked through the crazy scheme of Jacob so that he became blessed with a large flock. But as God continued to bless Jacob with a large flock and his household began to grow with many servants, Laban began to have an attitude of animosity towards him. God tells Jacob that it is time to return to the land of his fathers. But, instead of going to Laban and separating on good terms, which was required by law, Jacob decides to run away. The flaw in Jacob’s plan is that he cannot run fast for he is traveling with women, children and animals. When Laban hears that Jacob fled with Laban’s children, servants and grandchildren he gathers his sons together and hunts Jacob down. Because Laban’s children and grandchildren were his possession legally, Jacob had committed the crime of kidnapping which is punishable by death. So when he overtakes Jacob he has every intention and legal power to do him harm. However, God intervened by coming to Laban in a dream and preventing him from harming Jacob. After hearing this Jacob declares that if God had not been for him to protect him, he would have not prospered and instead left Laban’s house empty handed. Laban then blesses his children and grandchildren and returns home. Jacob schemed, but God redeemed the situation by protecting Jacob, just as He promised.

B. Encountering Esau (32:1-23)

God sends angels to meet with Jacob to demonstrate that He is still with Jacob. But after this Jacob is filled with great distress and fear because his brother Esau is coming with 400 men to meet him. Instead of trusting God, who had just sent two angels to him, for protection, Jacob begins to scheme. He starts by dividing his family, servants and livestock into two separate camps so that one can run away if the other gets attacked.

But then he decides to pray to God and ask for deliverance from Esau based on the lovingkindness and faithfulness which He showed to hIs grandfather Abraham, his father Isaac and to himself. Instead of bartering with God for His aid, he prays based on God’s character and with a trust that God will be faithful to the promises He made to Jacob to return him to the Land and to prosper him and his descendents there.

However, just as we thought Jacob might be done with scheming and just trust God, he decides to send Esau a bribe of over 500 livestock. From a human mindset this makes sense but then he then decides to split up his family from the rest of the camp and place them on the other side of the river. What’s questionable about this decision is that now all the women and children are left without protection if Esau does attack. Jacob just can’t stop scheming.

C. The Important Event: Penuel ()

After all this scheming Jacob enters into a wrestling match with God. God allows the fight to continue through the night and even allowed it to seem that Jacob was winning the fight. This all changed when God simply touched Jacob’s thigh and his hip became immediately dislocated. What is interesting encounter is that it is really a method of teaching Jacob about the futility of his schemes and how God was really the one who gained victory for Jacob. He schemed to take his brother’s birthright and blessing but God brought it to pass because He decreed that it would be so before Jacob and Esau were born. Jacob schemed to allow God to be his God at Bethel even though God already promised His presence. He schemed to take Laban’s flock but God is the one who blessed him with speckled sheep. He schemed to run away from Laban, but God came to Laban in a dream to protect Jacob. And even here, he schemes to wrestle a blessing from God by taking hold and refusing to let go of Him. God then renames Jacob to become Israel which means, “God fights for you”. Jacob tried to fight for life on his own but in renaming Jacob to Israel, God is declaring to Jacob, “I fight for you”. Jacob then renames the place Peneul for it is there that He saw the Holy God face to face and did not perish but was preserved.

D. PLOT #4 (33:1-20)

E. Settling in Shechem...Rape of Dinah ()

Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land. 2 When Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force. 3 He was deeply attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her. 4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young girl for a wife.” 5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter; but his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob kept silent until they came in. 6 Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7 Now the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved, and they were very angry because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done. 8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter; please give her to him in marriage. 9 Intermarry with us; give your daughters to us and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 Thus you shall live with us, and the land shall be open before you; live and trade in it and acquire property in it.” 11 Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “If I find favor in your sight, then I will give whatever you say to me. 12 Ask me ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give according as you say to me; but give me the girl in marriage.” 13 But Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor with deceit, because he had defiled Dinah their sister. 14 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. 15 Only on this condition will we consent to you: if you will become like us, in that every male of you be circumcised, 16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves, and we will live with you and become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us to be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and go.” 18 Now their words seemed reasonable to Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son. 19 The young man did not delay to do the thing, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter. Now he was more respected than all the household of his father.20 So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying, 21 “These men are friendly with us; therefore let them live in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters in marriage, and give our daughters to them. 22 Only on this condition will the men consent to us to live with us, to become one people: that every male among us be circumcised as they are circumcised. 23 Will not their livestock and their property and all their animals be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will live with us.” 24 All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and to his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city. 25 Now it came about on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came upon the city unawares, and killed every male. 26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went forth. 27 Jacob’s sons came upon the slain and looted the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their flocks and their herds and their donkeys, and that which was in the city and that which was in the field; 29 and they captured and looted all their wealth and all their little ones and their wives, even all that was in the houses. 30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and my men being few in number, they will gather together against me and attack me and I will be destroyed, I and my household.”31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister as a harlot?”

After settling in Shechem amongst the Canaanites a conflict arises when Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, is raped by the son of the king of Shechem. What is interesting is that this horrific crime does not seem to affect Jacob. He keeps the news to himself until his sons come back from shepherding the livestock. When they return Jacob tells them of the crime against their sister and they have a sit down with the king of Shechem, Hamor. Instead of demanding the just punishment for the crime, Jacob entertains an offer from Hamor where Jacob gives Dinah to be his son’s wife and allows Jacob’s sons to intermarry with the Canaanite women of the land. Jacob and his sons agree to this deal but Jacob’s sons place one requirement, all the men of Shechem must be circumcised. On the third day when the pain from circumcision is at its peak, two of Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, avenge their sister by killing every male in the city. Surely, this revenge is a great injustice but it was motivated by righteous indignation for the injustice done on their sister. They should have only taken Shechem’s life per the legal system of that day. However, what is really the most sad response to all of this is Jacob’s indifference. When SImeon and Levi return he scolds them for bringing trouble on him, and making his name odious amongst the Canaanites. He fears that the Canaanites will now attack him and he will be destroyed. Frustrated and dumbfounded, his sons realise that Jacob was more concerned for his own safety and prosperity in the land then for the honor and justice of their sister. As we saw before, there are clearly some children Jacob values more than others.

7. God Continues to Develop Jacob: Bethel Pt. 2 - Spiritual Closure ()

A. God’s call & Jacob’s Preparation (35:1-4)

Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.

God then comes to Jacob and commands him to leave Shechem and go back to Bethel and settle there. Remember that Bethel was where Jacob’s journey began and it is where God first visits Jacob in the dream with the ladder from heaven. So Jacob prepares his family to leave the terrible situation in Shechem and he commands them to leave their foreign gods behind. They move to Bethel and there Jacob makes an altar to God who has been with Jacob wherever he went.

C. Jacob’s Journey (35:5-7)

5 As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.7 He built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother.

As they journeyed across Canaan God protects Jacob and his family by causing a great terror in the hearts of the people of Canaan. Notice that there is no mention of Jacob dividing his camp or scheming to somehow protect his family. There is no story about how Jacob claims Rachel is his sister. He is trusting God to protect him and fight for him.

D. Milestone of the Generation: Naming of the Nation (35:8-21)

8 Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; it was named Allon-bacuth. 9 Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; You shall no longer be called Jacob, But Israel shall be your name.” Thus He called him Israel. 11 God also said to him, “I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you. 12 “The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, And I will give the land to your descendants after you.” 13 Then God went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him.14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel. 16 Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor. 17 When she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for now you have another son.” 18 It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21 Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.

When Jacob returns to Bethel, God appears to Jacob as He did some years ago when he ran from home away from Esau’s wrath. God blesses him and again renamed Israel. He gives the command that he gave to Adam and to Noah to be fruitful and multiply. Lastly He promises again the land of Canaan to Jacob and to his descendents (seed) after him. After this, Rachel, the wife whom Jacob loved bore a son and tragically died as she was giving birth. Her son, the 12th of Jacob’s sons was named Benjamin. This story at Bethel forms the bookend, or inclusio on the story of Jacob’s life with the narrative now shifting to his sons. The question now arises, who out of Jacob’s 12 sons will carry on the lineage of the Seed of .

F. Presentation of the Sons of Israel (35:22-26)

22 It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now there were twelve sons of Jacob— 23 the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun; 24 the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; 25 and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali; 26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

This question begins to be answered with the assertive actions of Reuben. Reuben, being the oldest son, tries to assert his dominance by performing an ancient near eastern ritual of sleeping with his father’s concubines. In that day if you slept with your father’s concubines, you assert that you are the heir and new head of the household. However, in doing so, Reuben seems to disqualify himself.

G. Closure to Isaac’s Generation (35:27-29)

27 Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. 28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. 29 Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, an old man of ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

The section of Genesis then ends with the death of Isaac, who lived a long life and was buried with his father and mother in Hebron. Just as Abraham was buried by his two sons, Jacob and Esau reunite to bury their father, Isaac.

X. Generations of Esau

Context and Overview

The burial of Isaac by his two sons echos the burial of Abraham by his sons. Just as that burial scene was followed by a narrative on the son not chosen, Ishmael, so too does Moses take time to focus on Esau. Furthermore just as the passage on Ishmael points to God’s fulfillment of promises made to Abraham about his forsaken son, so too does this passage display God’s faithfulness to fulfill prophecy made about Esau.

Structure and Main Point

The main point of this section is demonstrate the winnowing down of the line of the seed and the fulfillment of prophecy made about Esau. At its heart this section demonstrates that God’s promises to Isaac continue on even after he has died. This is seen in the following structure

Generations of Esau Part 1 ()

Generations of Esau Part 2 ()

Exposition

1. Generations of Esau Part 1 ()

Now these are the records of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). 2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 also Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth.4 Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel, 5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush and Jalam and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan. 6 Then Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all his household, and his livestock and all his cattle and all his goods which he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to another land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their property had become too great for them to live together, and the land where they sojourned could not sustain them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau lived in the hill country of Seir; Esau is Edom.

After burying their father, Esau took his family and livestock out of Canaan to another land in the hill country. This land became known as Edom and Edom’s descendants became known as Edomites. As we will see, the strife that existed between Esau and Jacob will continue on through history between Edom and Israel. This strife eventually culminates in king Herod the Great, an Idumean (i.e. Edomite), participating in the attempted murder of Jesus as an infant and then king Herod Antipas participating in the trial and execution of Jesus on the cross.

2. Generations of Esau Part 2 ()

9 These then are the records of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Esau’s wife Adah, Reuel the son of Esau’s wife Basemath. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho and Gatam and Kenaz. 12 Timna was a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These are the sons of Esau’s wife Adah. 13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath and Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath. 14 These were the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon: she bore to Esau, Jeush and Jalam and Korah. 15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau, are chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz, 16 chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These are the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah. 17 These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath. 18 These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah. These are the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs. 20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah, 21 and Dishon and Ezer and Dishan. These are the chiefs descended from the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna. 23 These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan and Manahath and Ebal, Shepho and Onam. 24 These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah—he is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness when he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon, and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.26 These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran.27 These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan and Zaavan and Akan. 28 These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs descended from the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah, 30 chief Dishon, chief Ezer, chief Dishan. These are the chiefs descended from the Horites, according to their various chiefs in the land of Seir. 31 Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel. 32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 Then Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah became king in his place. 34 Then Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites became king in his place. 35 Then Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab, became king in his place; and the name of his city was Avith. 36 Then Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah became king in his place. 37 Then Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates River became king in his place. 38 Then Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor became king in his place. 39 Then Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar became king in his place; and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab. 40 Now these are the names of the chiefs descended from Esau, according to their families and their localities, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,41 chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 42 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 43 chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of the Edomites), according to their habitations in the land of their possession.

God promised to Abraham that kings and nations would come from his descendants. We saw that come true with Ishmael’s descendants and we see this happen with Esau’s descendents as well. Esau’s descendants became kings who reigned in the land of Edom. God is faithful to generation upon generation.

Questions for Application

What do we learn about God’s character and nature from His actions in Jacob’s life?

As people living in the New Covenant age, how do we apply the theme of God fighting for His people in our lives today?

Questions for Application

What do we learn about God’s character and nature from His actions in this section of scripture?

Miracle of Rebekah

Isaac’s life

Jacob and Esau

What do we learn about how the providence and predestination of God works in the actions of Esau and Jacob.

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