Review:

• Abraham and Sarah
• Isaac (& Ishmael) and Rebekah (Laban’s sister)
• Jacob (& Esau)
  
  

GENESIS 33:18-20
18 After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city. 19 He purchased a section of the field where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver., 20 And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.[1]
 
GENESIS 34

• Dinah was the daughter of Jacob & Leah
• She went out to visit her girlfriends.
• Shechem, son of Hamor (Chiefton of the region), raped Leah.
• Then he wanted her as his wife.
• He loved her and spoke tenderly to her.
• Jacob (father) heard about Dinah being raped but his sons (her brothers) were in the fields with the flocks.
• Jacob remained quiet.
• Hamor came to talk to Jacob.
• The sons returned home and found out Dinah was raped.
• Shecham (a Canaanite) had violated Jacob and Israel.
• Hamor pleaded with Jacob and his sons to let Shecham take Dinah as his wife and offered him to blend his family with the Canaanites.
• Intermarry and let our families grow together.
• Shecham is there and pleads also and offers whatever the brothers want for Dinah.
• The sons plotted, “We cannot give our sister to an uncircumcised man. This is a disgrace.”
• If all y’all get circumcised, then we can live with you and intermarry.
• Hamor and Shechem immediately agreed and went to the city gate to share the good news with the men.
• What were the men going to get out of it?
• They were going to intermarry and inherit Jacob’s flocks and possessions.
• So they all got circumcised.
• On the 3rd day after the mass circumcision, Jacob’s sons (rather Dinah’s brothers) came in and slaughtered Hamor, Shechem, and all the males and then plundered all their possessions.
• They went from house to house.
• Jacob did not know the plan and told them they had brought oncoming harm to their family.

 
GENESIS 35
1 God said to Jacob, “Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”
2 So Jacob said to his family and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3 We must get up and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to the God who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me everywhere I have gone.”
4 Then they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and their earrings, and Jacob hid them under the oak near Shechem. 5 When they set out, a terror from God came over the cities around them, and they did not pursue Jacob’s sons. 6 So Jacob and all who were with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7 Jacob built an altar there and called the place El-bethel because it was there that God had revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.
8 Deborah, the one who had nursed and raised Rebekah,, died and was buried under the oak south of Bethel. So Jacob named it Allon-bacuth.
9 God appeared to Jacob again after he returned from Paddan-aram, and he blessed him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; you will no longer be named Jacob, but your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel. 11 God also said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed an assembly of nations, will come from you, and kings will descend from you., 12 I will give to you the land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac. And I will give the land to your future descendants.” 13 Then God withdrew, from him at the place where he had spoken to him.
14 Jacob set up a marker at the place where he had spoken to him—a stone marker. He poured a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 15 Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.
 
RACHEL’S DEATH
16 They set out from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult. 17 During her difficult labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have another son.” 18 With her last breath—for she was dying—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 marker on her grave; it is the marker at Rachel’s grave still today. [2]
 
This is an almost undisputed site. Jews, Moslems and Christians all agree that here Rachel was entombed. The pillar Jacob set up has long since disappeared, but some mark has marked the spot for thirty-six hundred years. The pillar was still there when Moses wrote the narrative in the Book of Genesis. It has long since been swept away; but thirty centuries of sorrow and suffering have not been able to sweep away the memory of it from the hearts of Rachel's posterity. The "Sepulchre of Rachel" is a modern building, a small dome surmounting a square chamber at one end, and nothing particular in form or material in any part of it. It measures twenty-three feet on each side. The height of the wall is twenty feet and the dome is ten feet high. The eastern chamber is twenty-three feet long by thirteen feet broad. The inner chambers are used by the Jews, who meet here every Friday to pray.
 
-Video of present Rachel’s Tomb
 
21 Israel set out again and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder. 22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it.
Jacob had twelve sons:
23 Leah’s sons were Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn),
Simeon, Levi, Judah,
Issachar, and Zebulun.
24 Rachel’s sons were
Joseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Rachel’s slave Bilhah
were Dan and Naphtali.
26 The sons of Leah’s slave Zilpah
were Gad and Asher.
These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
 
ISAAC’S DEATH
27 Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28 Isaac lived 180 years. 29 He took his last breath and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.[3]
 
GENESIS 36
1 These are the family records of Esau (that is, Edom). 2 Esau took his wives from the Canaanite women:[4]
 
6 Esau took his wives, sons, daughters, and all the people of his household, as well as his herds, all his livestock, and all the property he had acquired in Canaan; he went to a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their possessions were too many for them to live together, and because of their herds, the land where they stayed could not support them. 8 So Esau (that is, Edom) lived in the mountains of Seir.
9 These are the family records of Esau, father of the Edomites in the mountains of Seir.[5]
 
43 Esau was father of the Edomites. [6]
 
JOSEPH’S DREAMS
GENESIS 37
1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 2 These are the family records of Jacob.
At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a long-sleeved robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.
5 Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”
8 “Are you really going to reign over us?” his brothers asked him. “Are you really going to rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said.
9 Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
10 He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
JOSEPH SOLD INTO SLAVERY
12 His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are pasturing the flocks at Shechem. Get ready. I’m sending you to them.”
“I’m ready,” Joseph replied.
14 Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the Hebron Valley, and he went to Shechem.
15 A man found him there, wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for?”
16 “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph said. “Can you tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?”
17 “They’ve moved on from here,” the man said. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
18 They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Oh, look, here comes that dream expert! 20 So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”
21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them. He said, “Let’s not take his life.” 22 Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from them and return him to his father.
23 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the long-sleeved robe that he had on. 24 Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water.
25 They sat down to eat a meal, and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed. 28 When Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.
29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do?” 31 So they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. 32 They sent the long-sleeved robe to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it. Is it your son’s robe or not?”
33 His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces!” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.
36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guards.[7]

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 33:18–20.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 35:1–20.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 35:21–29.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 36:1–2.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 36:6–9.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 36:43.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 37:1–36.

Review:

• Abraham and Sarah
• Isaac (& Ishmael) and Rebekah (Laban’s sister)
• Jacob (& Esau)
• Map

 
GENESIS 28:6-9

• Jacob was instructed not to marry a Canaanite woman.
• Esau went to Jordan area and married Ishamel’s daughter.

GENESIS 28:10-22
10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. 13 The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. 14 Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.”
18 Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it 19 and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz. 20 Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the Lord will be my God. 22 This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.[1]
 
GENESIS 29:1-30

• Jacob goes to Haran and comes to a well in the field.
• Men who know Laban speak to Jacob and point to Rachel who is coming to feed Laban’s sheep.
• Jacob rolls the stone away from the well and waters Laban’s sheep for Rachel and then kisses her.
• Jacob weeps loudly and shares with Rachel that he is Rebekah’s son. (Laban’s nephew).
• Laban runs to greet Jacob.
• Jacob lives and works there for a month.
• Laban has two daughters, Leah and Rebekah.
• “Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.”[2] (Genesis 29:17)
• Jacob offered to work for Laban for 7 years to be able to marry Rachel.
• 7 years seemed like days to Jacob.
• Jacob requested to sleep with Rachel.
• A wedding feast was had… wine served.
• Laban led Leah into the bed of Jacob.
• When he awoke, he realized it was Leah.
• Laban told him if he stayed and worked another 7 years, he would give Rachel to him that week.
• Jacob agreed and also married Rachel.
• Laban gave both Leah and Rachel slaves as their own.

GENESIS 29:31-35
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was neglected, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive. 32 Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The Lord heard that I am neglected and has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon.
34 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him.” Therefore he was named Levi.
35 And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.[3]
 
GENESIS 30:1-24

• This similar scene unfolds for years to come.

Here's the count:

• Jacob & Leah – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah
• Jacob & Bilhah (Rachel’s slave) – Dan, Naphtali
• Jacob & Zipah (Leah’s slave) – Gad, Asher
• Jacob & Leah (after mandrakes) – Issachar, Zebulun & Dinah

22 Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son, and she said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 24 She named him Joseph and said, “May the Lord add another son to me.” [4]
GENESIS 30:25-43

• Jacob negotiated with Laban to split the flock that Jacob had grown and made Laban wealthy.
• After years, Jacob ended up with the healthier flock.

GENESIS 31:1-21

• Jacob’s flocks have multiplied over and over and Laban’s have decreased.
• Laban began to look at Jacob with “attitude”.
• Jacob, Rachel, and Leah flee to Canaan while Laban is out shearing his sheep.
• Rachel even steals his household idols.

GENESIS 31:22-35

• Laban comes after Jacob and the crew.
• He overtakes them in Gilead (west of Jordan River)
• He was told by God the night before not to say anything or harm Jacob.
• He accuses Jacob of stealing his idols.
• He searches all the tents.
• Jacob doesn’t know Rachel stole idols.
• Rachel is sitting on her camel with the idols in the saddlebags.
• She tells her father she can’t get up because she is on her period.

GENESIS 31:36-55

• Laban never discovers idols.
• Jacob and Laban discuss and agree to mark this place where neither man will cross to hurt the other man.
• Laban kisses and blesses his family and returns to his home.

 
GENESIS 32:1-24

• Jacob travels south towards Esau and plans to meet with him.
• He devises this plan that splits his possessions into two camps.
• He sends servants ahead with a portion of his flock to appease Esau before they meet.
• At night, he crossed the river Jabbock with his wives.

 
GENESIS 32:24-32
24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. 26 Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 “What is your name?” the man asked.
“Jacob,” he replied.
28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”
But he answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.
30 Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel,—limping because of his hip. 32 That is why, still today, the Israelites don’t eat the thigh muscle that is at the hip socket: because he struck Jacob’s hip socket at the thigh muscle.[5]
 
GENESIS 33:1-19
1 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. 2 He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. 5 When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”
He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. 7 Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.
8 So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession I met?”
“To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered.
9 “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”
10 But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. 11 Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted.
12 Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.” [6]

• Jacob and his crew slowly made their way to Succoth and built a temporary compound.
• By the end of the chapter, he has relocated to Canaan.
• Throughout Jacob’s story, he communicates with God, and God communicates with him.
• God made a promise to Jacob, and He always keeps His promises.
• Jacob keeps moving ahead with some fear, some doubt, some preparation… but he always trusts that God will keep His promises.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 28:10–22.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 29:17.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 29:31–35.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 30:22–24.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 32:24–32.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 33:1–12.