Genesis-Jacob

Jacob Flees From Esau
Esau hated Jacob because he sold the blessing from their father, Isaac. Jacob feared for his life so Rebecca sent Jacob to her brother, Laban in Haran. On his way to Haran, Jacob stop for the night past Beersheba. Jacob had a dream of ladder that reached the heavens and angels were coming and going. Then he saw the Lord, “…the land in which you lie on I will give to you and your descendants… Behold for I am with you and will keep you wherever you go…” So Jacob made a vow that because God was with him, he would give a tenth of his blessings back to the Lord. He built a pillar to mark the where the house of the Lord would sum day be placed. (Chapter 27 and 28)

Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. That night he dreamed of a ladder that reached the heavens. Angels of God were ascending and descending on it and the Lord appeared telling Jacob that he would inhert this land and receive many blessings. In the morning Jacob poured oil over the rock he had used as a pillow and called it Bethel. He promised to give God a tenth back and follow the Lord’s way if God would continue to protect him (Chapter 28: 10-22).

Jacob asks to marry Rachel
Jacob continued his journey to Laban son of Nahor. He came to a well and a herd of sheep. He asked the herdsmen if they knew of Laban. They said yes and his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep. Jacob helped water the sheep and kissed Rachel. Jacob told her he was the son of Isaac and Rebecca. Rachel ran to tell her father. Laban was happy to see Jacob and embraced him (Chapter 29: 1-14).

Jacob marries Leah and Rachel
Jacob offered to work for Laban for seven years if he could marry Rachel. When the seven years was over Laban tricked Jacob into marring Leah. Jacob truly loved Rachel and agreed to work seven more years to marry her.
Leah’s eyes were delicate but Rachel had great beauty and form (Chapter 29: 11-30).

Jacob’s Sons
The Lord saw that Leah was unloved so he opened Leah’s womb and closed Rachel’s. Leah gave birth to six sons and one daughter named Dinah (11th). Leah has four sons first:
1. Reuben (lost his inheritance due to his unruly behavior.)
2. Simeon (was cursed because he took revenge on a prince who hurt his sister.)
3. Levi (was also cursed for taking revenge on a prince who hurt his sister but Levi later obeyed Gods laws and Moses made them Priests of the Isrealites.)
4. Judah (was a leader and offered himself up as a sacrifice when they begged Joseph for grain to feed the family.)
Rachel became jealous and asked her maid Bilhah to lay with Jacob:
5. Dan (Jacob predicted that like a snake he would turn against God.)
6. Naphtali (I, Rachel have wrestled with my sister and I have prevailed. Jacob called him a deer swift to help family in trouble.)
This made Leah angry so she sent her maid Zilpah to lay with Jacob:
7. Gad (a fierce warrior. The enemy will always attack but with God we can overcome our enemy.)
8. Asher ( I, Leah am happy for I will be called blessed. Asher was a farmer and he produced rich foods fit for a king.)
Leah gives birth again:
9. Issachar (Leah said, God has listened. He was a student and his people were humble and very hard working.)
10. Zebulun (God has endowment me, Leah with good endowment. He was brave and willing to risk their lives for God’s cause. They were experts in warfare.)
God remembers Rachel and opens her womb:
11. Joseph (Jacob’s favorite son was a symbol of wheat meaning fertility and prosperity.)
12. Benjamin (Years later Rachel became pregnant and died bringing Benjamin into the world. He was a symbol of a wolf that devours his enemies. He was vicious and had a war like attitude.)

Jacob Flees From Laban
After Joseph was born Jacob asked Laban if he could take his family back to his home country. Laban and Jacob create an agreement regarding the sheep, cattle, camels, donkeys, and goats. Jacob would take only the spotted and speckled ones and that flock brought forth more spotted and speckled (6 years). Soon Jacob’s was becoming a prosperous man and stronger livestock. Now Laban saw how Jacob’s flocks were strong and his were weak. Laban was becoming more and more displeased with their agreement. The Lord told Jacob to take his family and return to your fathers land reminding him that no harm will come apon his family. So Jacob and his family fled because Laban had deceived him and changed his wages. Rachel took her father’s household idols with her and Jacob did not know. Laban persues Jacob because of the stolen idols and he did not get to say goodbye to his daughters. Laban confronts Jacob but can not find the stolen idols. They make a covenant, Laban kisses and blesses his daughters and departs (Chapter 30 and 31).

Jacob meets Esau and wrestles God
Jacob is scared to meet Esau so he divides his flock, camel, and cows to give half to Esau. The night before Jacob meets Esau, he wrestles with God. He wrestled him till day break saying I will not stop until you bless me. So God blesses Jacob, changes his named to Israel, and touches his hip socket causing the muscle to shrink. Jacob now Israel walked away with a limp. Esau embraces Jacob and tells Jacob that the Lord has blessed him also. They all journey to Canaan (Chapter 32 and 33).

Dinah
Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, took Dinah, laid with her, and violated her. He loved Dinah and asked his father to speak to Jacob so he could take her as his wife. Hamor and Jacob agreed that if all the males of Hamor’s family get circumcised then Shechem could marry Dinah. After all the males were circumcised and still in pain, Simeon and Levi took up their swords and killed them all. Jacob was displeased with their action but Simeon and Levi did not want Dinah to be treated like a harlot. Then God told Jacob (Israel) to move the family to Bethel. There Jacob told his household to put away any foreign gods and purify your selves before God (Chapter 34).

Rachel dies delivery Benjamin
After they left Bethel and before they got to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin, Jacob’s 12th son (Chapter 35: 16-22).

Isaac’s death
Jacob finally makes it home to see Isaac. Isaac was 180 years olds when he died. Esau and Jacob and all his family were there when he breathed his last breath. Esau and Jacob both buried Isaac at Mamre (Kirjath Arba) (Chapter 35: 27-29).

Esau’s Family
Esau married daughters of Canaan:

1. Judith (daughter of Beeri the Hittite)
2. Basemath (daughter of Ishmael)
*Reuel
3. Adah (daughter of Elon of Hittite)
*Eliphaz
4. Aholibamah (daughter of Adah, daughter of Zibeon the Hivite)
*Jeush
*Jaalam
*Korah
5. Mahalath (daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham)

Their were Chiefs of Edom. The chiefs were the sons of Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. Kings, and Sons of Seir that dwelt in Edom all from Esau. Esau was the father of the Edomites (Chapter 36).

Joseph’s Coat of many colors
Now Jacob and his family were dwelling in the land of Canaan. The history of Joseph begins when he was 17 years old. Jacob favored Joseph and Joseph would report how the feeding of the flocks were going and would give a bad report if his brothers were not doing a good job. Because Jacob was getting very old he gave his son Joseph’s a tunic of many colors. Joseph’s brothers hate grew stronger and stronger. One day Joseph told his brothers of a dream he had and this dream told Joseph that his brothers would someday bow down to him. Joseph even shared his dream with his father and this made his brothers envy him. Now Joseph’s brothers were in Shechem feeding the flocks when Israel (Jacob) sent Joseph out to check on him. Joseph met up with his brothers in Dothan. The brothers were plotting to kill Joseph but Rueben said lets not kill him but cast him in a pit. They stripped him of his tunic and threw him in the pit. Judah decided they should make a profit off him. But some Midianite traders found Joseph in the pit and they sold him to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh and Captain of the Guard, for 20 shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. The brothers killed a goat and soaked Joseph’s tunic in it and told their father that Joseph was devoured by a wild beast (Chapter 37).

Judah Marries Shua
After some time passes Judah left his brothers and meet a Canaanite women, Shua. They married and had several sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah found a wife, Tamar for Er but Er was evil and the Lord killed him. Judah asked his son Onan to take Tamar to be his wife but Onan didn’t want to conceive an heir to his brother. Onan spilled his semen onto the ground and this displeased the Lord so he killed him. Judah took Tamar into his home until Shelah was old enough to marry her. Shua passed away and Shelah had become of age. Judah had not given Tamar to Shelah so she disguised herself as a harlot and Judah laid with her and she became pregnant. Judah found out and was going to burn her but Tamar questioned Judah as to why de didn’t give her to Shelah. Judah saw his mistake and Tamar gave birth to twin sons, Zerah and Perez (Chapter 38).