Bible Study and More
Why are the birthings of Esau mentioned in the Bible when Yehovah hated Esau and saw him as so evil?
What is significant about Esau taking his women from the daughters of Canaan? Why did Esau leave Canaan?
Why does the biblical text state, “Esau: he is Edom”?
Continue reading “Genesis 36 – Esau Questions and Proposed Answers Supplied”
Background and Printed Text: Genesis 36
1And these are the birthings of Hairy [Esau]; he is Red [Edom].
2Hairy [Esau] took his women from the daughters of Merchant [Canaan]:
Her-Witness [Adah] daughter of Strength [Elon] the Hottie [Hittite],
and
My-Tent-Is-A-High-Place [Aholibamah] daughter of He-Answered/Humbled [Anah], daughter of Dye [Zibeon] the Life [Hivite]
3and
Spice [Basmat] daughter of Mighty-[One]-Shall-Hearken [Ishmael] sister of Fruitfulnesses [Nevayot].
4And Her-Witness [Adah] childed My-Mighty-[One]-Is-Fine-Gold [Eliphaz] to Hairy [Esau].
And Spice [Basmat] childed They-Shepherded-Mighty-[One] [Reuel].
5And My-Tent-Is-A-High-Place [Aholibamah] childed He-Will-Cause-To-Be-Made [Yeush]
and
He-Will-Hide [Yaalam]
and
Bald [Korakh].
These are the sons of Hairy [Esau] who were childed to him in the land of Merchant [Canaan].
6And Hairy [Esau] took his women and his sons and his daughters and all the beings of his house and his cattle and all his beasts and all his acquisition that he possessed in the land of Merchant [Canaan]. And he walked unto a land from the faces of He-Will-Heel [Jacob] his brother. 7For their possession was multiplied from dwelling together. And the land of their sojourning will not be able to carry them from the faces of their acquisitions.
8And Hairy [Esau] dwelt in Goat-Kid Mountain [Mount Seir]. Hairy [Esau]: he is Red [Edom].
9And these are the birthings of Hairy [Esau] father of Red [Edom] in Goat-Kid Mountain [Mount Seir].
10These are the names of the sons of Hairy [Esau]:
My-Mighty-[One]-Is-Fine-Gold [Eliphaz] son of Her-Witness [Adah], woman of Hairy [Esau];
They-Shepherded-Mighty-[One] [Reuel] son of Spice [Basmat], woman of Hairy [Esau].
11And the sons of My-Mighty-[One]-Is-Fine-Gold [Eliphaz] were
South [Teman],
He-Says [Omar],
Oversight [Zepho]
and
Their-Bellow [‘Moo’ – Gatam]
and
He-Acquired/He-Sprinkled [Kenaz].
12And Thou-Wilt-Restrain [Timna] was a concubine to My-Mighty-[One]-Is-Fine-Gold [Eliphaz] son of Hairy [Esau]. And she childed
Lick-Lap-People [Amalek] to My-Mighty-[One]-Is-Fine-Gold [Eliphaz].
These are sons of Her-Witness [Adah] Hairy’s [Esau’s] woman.
13And these are the sons of They-Shepherded-Mighty-[One] [Reuel]:
He-Penetrated [Nahat]
and
Sunrise [Zerah],
Over-There [Shammah]
and
From-This [Mezzah].
These were sons of Spice [Basmat] Hairy’s [Esau’s] woman.
14And these were sons of My-Tent-Is-A-High-Place [Aholibamah] daughter of He-Answered/Humbled [Anah] daughter of Dye [Zibeon], Hairy’s [Esau’s] woman. And she childed
He-Will-Cause-To-Be-Made [Yeush]
and
He-Will-Hide [Yaalam]
and
Bald [Korakh]
to Hairy [Esau].
15These are Aloofs [Thousands], sons of Hairy [Esau]. The sons of My-Mighty-[One]-Is-Fine-Gold [Eliphaz] firstborn of Hairy [Esau]:
Aloof South [Teman],
Aloof He-Said [Omar],
Aloof Oversight [Zepho],
Aloof He-Acquired/He-Sprinkled [Kenaz],
16Aloof Bald [Korakh],
Aloof Their-Bellow [‘Moo’ – Gatam],
and
Aloof Lick-Lap-People [Amalek]—
these are the Aloofs of My-Mighty-[One]-Is-Fine-Gold [Eliphaz] who came into the land of Red [Edom]. These are sons of Her-Witness [Adah].
17And these are the sons of They-Shepherded-Mighty-[One] [Reuel] Hairy’s [Esau’s] son:
Aloof He-Penetrated [Nahat],
Aloof Sunrise [Zerakh],
Aloof Over-There [Shammah],
Aloof From-This [Mizzah].
These are the Thousands [Aloofs] of They-Shepherded-Mighty-[One] [Reuel] in the land of Red [Edom]. These are sons of Spice [Basmat], Hairy’s [Esau’s] woman.
18And these are sons of My-Tent-Is-A-High-Place [Aholibamah] Hairy’s [Esau’s] woman:
Aloof He-Will-Cause-To-Be-Made [Yeush],
Aloof He-Will-Hide [Yaalam],
Aloof Bald [Korakh].
These are Thousands [Aloofs] of My-Tent-Is-A-High-Place [Aholibamah] daughter of He-Answered/Humbled [Anah], Hairy’s [Esau’s] woman. 19These are the sons of Hairy [Esau]. And these are their Aloofs. He is Red [Edom].
20These are sons of Goat-Kid [Seir] the cave-dweller [Horite], inhabitants of the land:
Envelop [Lotan]
and
Shower [Shobal]
and
Dye [Zibeon]
and
He-Answered/Humbled [Anah]
21and
Fattened [Dishon]
and
He-Helped [Ezer]
and
Their {fem.}-Threshing [Dishan].
These are the Aloofs of the cave-dweller [Horite], the children of Goat-Kid [Seir] in the land of Red [Edom].
22And the children of Envelop [Lotan] were
My-Cave-dweller [Hori]
and
He-Caused-Discomfiture [Hemam].
And Envelop’s [Lotan’s] sister was Thou-Wilt-Restrain [Timna].
23And these are the children of Shower [Shobal]:
Ascension [Alvan]
and
He-Makes-Descend [Manahat]
and
Heap-Of-Confusion [Eval],
and
Their-Lust [Onan].
24And these are the children of Dye [Zibeon]:
Where-Is-Yah [Ayah]
and
He-Answered/Humbled [Anah];
he is the He-Answered/Humbled [Anah] who found the seas in the desert during his pasturing the asses to Dye [Zibeon] his father.
25And these are the children of He-Answered/Humbled [Anah]:
Fattened [Dishon]
and
My-Tent-Is-A-High-Place [Aholibamah] daughter of He-Answered/Humbled [Anah].
26And these are the children of Fattened [Dishon]:
Their {fem.}-Desire [Hemdan]
and
Fire-Is-In-Them {fem.} [Eshban]
and
Their {fem.}-Remainder [Eetran]
and
Their {fem.}-He-Lamb [Kheran].
27These are the children of He-Helped [Ezer]:
Their {fem.}-Growing-Old [Bilhan]
and
Their {fem.}-Trembling [Zaavan]
and
Their-Reeling [Akan].
28These are children of Their {fem.}-Threshing [Dishan]:
Wooded [Uz]
and
I-Will-Ululate [Aran].
29These are Thousands [Aloofs] of the Cave-dwellers [Horites]:
Aloof Envelop [Lotan],
Aloof Shower [Shobal],
Aloof Dye [Zibeon],
Aloof He-Answered/Humbled [Anah],
30Aloof Fattened [Dishon],
Aloof He-Helped [Ezer],
Aloof Their {fem.}-Threshing [Dishan].
These are Thousands [Aloofs] of the My-Cave-dweller [Hori] to their Thousands [Aloofs] in the land of Goat-Kid [Seir].
31And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Red [Edom] before a king reigned to the children of Israel. 32And He-Swallowed [Bela] the son of Burned [Beor] reigned in Red [Edom]. And the name of his city is Adjudication-To-Come [Dinhabah].
33And He-Swallowed [Bela] died. And Yehovah-Shall-Hollow-Out [Yovav] the son of Sunrise [Zerakh] from In-Her-Tribulation [Bozrah] reigned under him.
34And Yehovah-Shall-Hollow-Out [Yovav] died. And Their-Haste [Husham] from the land of My-South [Temani] reigned under him.
35And Their-Haste [Husham] died. And The-Lover [Hadad], son of He-Isolated [Bedad], the smiter of Contention [Midian] in the field of From-Papa [Moab] reigned under him. And the name of his city is Iniquity [Avit].
36And The-Lover [Hadad] died. And Garment [Samlah] from Her-Vinedresser [Masrekah] reigned under him.
37And Garment [Samlah] died. And Asked [Shaul] from Boulevards-of-The-River [Rehobot HaNahar] reigned under him.
38And Asked [Shaul] died. And Lord-Favour [Baalhanan] son of Mouse [Achbor] reigned under him.
39And Lord-Favour [Baalhanan] the son of Mouse [Achbor] died. And Majesty [Hadar] reigned under him. And the name of his city is Groan [Pau]. And his woman’s name is What-Will-Mighty-[One]-Well-Do [Mehetavel] daughter of He-Is-Driving-Away [Matred] daughter of Waters-Of-Gold [Mezahav].
40And these are the names of Thousands [Aloofs] of Hairy [Esau] to their families to their places via their names:
Aloof Thou-Wilt-Restrain [Timna],
Aloof They-Ascended-Her [Alvah],
Aloof He-Will-Give [Yetet],
41Aloof My-Tent-Is-A-High-Place [Aholibamah],
Aloof These [Elah],
Aloof Turning [Pinon],
42Aloof He-Acquired/He-Sprinkled [Kenaz],
Aloof South [Teman],
Aloof Enfortress [Mivtzar],
43Aloof My-Teller-Is-Mighty-[One] [Magdiel],
Aloof Their-City [Iram].
These are Aloofs of Red [Edom] to their settlements in the land of their possession. He is Hairy [Esau], father of Red [Edom].
I. Esau and His Wives (verses 1-3)
Yehovah recorded Esau’s wives and sons, giving the births of each. These texts confirmed that Esau is Edom.
Esau’s women (wives) came from the daughters of Canaan. One was named Adah, another was Aholibamah, and the third was Basmat.
Adah’s papa was Elon, a Hittite.
Aholibamah’s mama was Anah, and Anah was the daughter of Zibeon, a Hivite.
Basmat’s papa was Ishmael, and Basmat’s sister was Navayot.
1. Why are the birthings of Esau mentioned in the Bible when Yehovah hated Esau and saw him as so evil?
2. Why must the reader know that Esau is Edom?
3. What is significant about Esau taking his women from the daughters of Canaan?
4. What is a Hittite?
5. Is Anah a male or a female in verse 2?
6. Why is Basmat’s sister Nevayot mentioned?
II. Esau’s Women Bear Children in Canaan (verses 4-5)
Adah’s first son was Eliphaz.
Basmat’s first son was Reuel.
Aholibamah’s first son was Yeush. She also childed Yaalam and Korakh. These births were in the land of Canaan.
1. What kind of a name is “My Mighty One is Fine Gold”?
2. What does “They shepherded Mighty One” tell?
3. What kind of a name is “My Tent is a High Place”?
4. Why name a child Bald?
III. The Move, the Meeting and the Move (verses 6-8)
Esau took his women, sons and daughters, all the beings of his house, his cattle and all his animals, and everything that he had acquired in Canaan; it was time to move. He met with Jacob, and then he continued on away from Jacob. Their possession greatly increased from their dwelling together. The land could not carry them both because of all they acquired.
Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. The text again confirmed that Esau is Edom.
1. Why did Esau leave Canaan?
2. Did Esau spend any time with Jacob after leaving the area of Canaan where he had been for a long time?
3. What does “he walked unto a land from the faces of Jacob his brother” mean?
4. What does “the land of their sojourning will not be able to carry them from the faces of their acquisitions” mean?
5. Why would a mountain be called Goat Kid Mountain?
6. Why did Esau dwell on this particular mountain?
7. Why did the text again state, “Esau: he is Edom”?
IV. Esau’s Birthings in Mount Seir through Adah (verses 9-12)
The text then listed the birthings of Esau’s children starting with those that took place in Canaan and continuing with those that took place in Mount Seir.
Adah bore Eliphaz.
Basmat bore Reuel.
Eliphaz also had sons:
Eliphaz had a concubine named Timna. She bore Amalek.
All these births are attributed to Adah.
Questions
1. Why did Yehovah again mention the names of sons of Esau, as if they hadn’t already been mentioned above?
2. How would you liked to be named, Gatam?
3. What is a concubine?
4. What does Lick-Lap-People mean?
V. Esau’s Birthings in Mount Seir through Basmat (verse 13)
Reuel had the following sons:
These births are attributed to Basmat.
1. Who was Reuel’s wife?
2. How could these be sons of Basmat if Reuel was the son of Basmat?
VI. Esau’s Birthings in Mount Seir through Aholibamah (verse 14)
Aholibamah was the daughter of Anah, and Anah was the daughter of Zibeon. She childed the following sons:
1. Several times when Aholibamah is mentioned, she is called the “daughter of Anah, daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s woman.” Why doesn’t the text mention only Aholibamah’s father? Why are several persons mentioned to identify Aholibamah?
VII. The Aloofs from Esau and Adah (verses 15-16)
An aloof is a ruler over a thousand or more persons. Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau, had a number of sons who became aloofs:
They are sons of Adah (who bore Eliphaz).
1. What is an aloof?
2. Whose children are these aloofs?
VIII. The Aloofs from Esau and Basmat (verse 17)
Reuel also produced some aloofs:
1. Whose children were these?
IX. The Aloofs from Esau and Aholibamah (verses 18-19)
Aholibamah also produced leaders:
The text again tells that Aholibamah was the daughter of Anah. It also repeats that these are Esau’s sons, and Esau’s sons’ aloofs. Esau is again identified as Edom.
1. How did so many grandsons of Esau become aloofs?
X. The Sons of Seir (verses 20-21)
Another important man in the area was Seir from a race known as cave dwellers (Horites). Seir had some sons:
They were also the aloofs from the cave dweller race, children of Seir in Edom’s (Esau’s) land.
1. What is a caveman?
2. Why would anyone want to live in a cave?
3. Why would Fattened (Dishon) be a good name for a child?
XI. Lotan’s Relatives (verse 22)
Lotan had some sons:
Lotan also had a sister: Timna.
1. Why does the text give Lotan’s sister’s name?
XII. Shobal’s Relatives (verse 23)
Shobal had sons:
1. Look at the names. Do you see anything strange?
2. What is lust?
XIII. Zibeon’s Relatives (verse 24)
Zibeon had two sons:
This Anah found the seas in the desert while pasturing asses to Zibeon his father!
1. What kind of a name is “Where is Yah”?
2. The text states that Anah was the man “who found the seas in the desert during his pasturing the asses to Zibeon his father.” What does this mean?
XIV. Anah’s Relatives (verse 25)
Anah had one son and one daughter named here:
1. Are two persons, one male and one female, named Anah in this chapter?
XV. Dishon’s Relatives (verse 26)
Dishon had the following sons:
1. Why would someone name a child “Fire is in them”?
XVI. Ezer’s Relatives (verse 27)
Ezer’s sons were:
1. What does reeling mean?
XVII. Dishan’s Relatives (verse 28)
Dishan had two sons:
1. What does ululate mean?
XVIII. The Aloofs of the Horites (verses 29-30)
The Horites, cave dwellers, had aloofs:
Thus, the Horites also had aloofs in Seir.
1. Why did Yehovah record the aloofs among the Horites?
XIX. The First Kings in Edom (verses 31-39)
Edom had kings before the Israelis did.
1. What is the difference between an aloof and a king?
2. Why did kings begin sooner with Esau than with Israel?
3. Why should the Bible record the names of kings and their principle cities?
4. Look at the proposed meanings of the names in verse 33. What do these proposed names tell?
5. What did Hadad do, and where did he do it, according to verse 35?
6. What does naming a city Avit show?
7. What are “Boulevards of the River”?
8. What does “He is driving away” mean in this text?
9. Why are three women mentioned in verse 40?
XX. More of Esau’s Aloofs (verses 40-43)
Esau had more aloofs identified by names with their families and their places:
These Edomite aloofs were over settlements in the land of their possession.
Esau is the father of Edom.
1. Who are these aloofs?
2. The last verse states, “Esau, father of Edom.” The text previously stated that Esau was Edom. Explain this.
3. Go through this chapter, and string together the names that are in this chapter. What types of statements and what information appear?
Background and Printed Text: Genesis 27:1-28:9
Genesis 27:1 And he was, because He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) was old. And his eyes were weak from seeing. And he called Hairy (Esau) his big son. And he said unto him, “My son!” And he said unto him, “Behold I!” 2And he said, “Behold, na, I was old. I did not know a day of my death. 3And now, carry, na, thy utensils, thy quiver and thy bow, and exit the field. And hunt for me a hunting. 4And make for me tasties just as I loved. And bring to me. And I ate so that my being will bless thee before I will die.” 5And Multiple-Pouring (Rivka) hearkened into the word of He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) unto Hairy (Esau) his son. And Hairy (Esau) walked the field to hunt hunting to bring.
6And Multiple-Pouring (Rivka) said unto He-Will-Heel (Jacob) her son to say, “Behold, I hearkened to thy papa speaking unto Hairy (Esau) thy brother to say, 7‘Bring to me hunting. And make for me tasties. And I have eaten. And I have blessed thee to the faces of Yehovah to the faces of my death.’ 8And now, my son, hearken into my voice to what I am commanding thee. 9Walk, na, unto the flock. And take for me from there two good kids of goats. And I have made them tasties for thy papa just as he loved. 10And thou wilt bring to thy papa. And he will eat in order that he will bless thee to the faces of his death.” 11And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) said unto Multiple-Pouring (Rivka) his mother, “Behold, Hairy (Esau) my brother is a man of hair. And I am a smooth man. 12Perhaps my papa will grope me. And I will be in his eyes as a wander-wander-causer. And I will bring upon me light-esteeming and not a blessing.” 13And his mama said to him, “Thy light-esteeming is upon me, my son. But hearken into my voice. And walk. Take for me!”
14And he walked. And he took. And he came to his mama. And his mama made tasties just as his papa loved. 15And Multiple-Pouring (Rivka) took the favorite garments of Hairy (Esau) her big son that are with her in the inside. And She clothed He-Will-Heel (Jacob) her little son. 16And she clothed upon his hands skins of kids of the goats, and upon the smooth of his necks. 17And she gave the tasties and the bread that she made into the hand of He-Will-Heel (Jacob) her son.
18And he came unto his papa. And he said, “My papa!” And he said, “Behold I! Who art thou? My son?” 19And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) said unto his papa, “I am Hairy (Esau) thy firstborn. I made just as thou spoke unto me. Arise, na. Sit and eat from my hunting so-that thy being will bless me!” 20And He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) said unto his son, “What is this? Thou hurried to find, my son?” And he said, “Because Yehovah thy Gods caused-an-encounter to my faces!” 21And He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) said unto He-Will-Heel (Jacob), “Approach, na, and I have groped thee, my son! Art thou this my son Hairy (Esau), if not?” 22And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) approached unto He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) his papa. And He groped him. And he said, “The voice is a voice of He-Will-Heel (Jacob), and the hands are the hands of Hairy (Esau)!” 23And he did not recognize him. For his hands were as the hands of Hairy (Esau) his brother, hairs. And he blessed him.
24And he said, “Thou art this my son Hairy (Esau)!” And he said, “I!” 25And he said, “Approach to me. And I have eaten from hunting, my son, so that my being will bless thee.” And He approached to him. And he ate. And he brought to him wine. And he drank.
26And He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) his papa said unto him, “Approach, na, and kiss to me, my son!” 27And he approached. And he kissed to him. And he fragranced the fragrance of his garments. And he blessed him, and said to him, “See! The fragrance of my son is as the fragrance of a field that Yehovah blessed him! 28And the Gods will give to thee from dew of the heavens and from the oils of the land and the multiplicity of grain and new-wine. 29Peoples shall serve thee, and folks shall prostrate to thee. Be a valiant-one to thy brothers. And sons of thy mama shall prostrate to thee. Thy cursers are cursed, and thy blessers are blessed.”
And he said to his papa, “My father shall arise and he has eaten from the hunting of his son in order that thy being will bless me!” 32And He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) his papa said to him, “Who art thou?” And he said, “I am thy son, thy firstborn, Hairy (Esau)!” 33And He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) quaked a big quake unto very much! And he said, “Who? Where is he, the hunter of hunting? And he brought to me. And I ate from all before thou wilt come. And I blessed him. Also, he will be blessed!”
34As Hairy (Esau) hearkened to the words of his papa. And he screamed a big and bitter scream unto very much! And he said to his papa, “Bless me, also I, my papa!” 35And he said, “Thy brother came via deceit. And he took thy blessing!” 36And he said, “Is because he called his name ‘He-Will-Heel (Jacob)’? And he ‘heeled’ me this, strokes. He took my ‘firstbornness,’ and behold now he took my blessing!”
And he said, “Hast thou not neared for me a blessing?” 37And He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) answered. And he said to Hairy (Esau), “Behold, I put him a valiant-one to thee! And I gave all his brothers to him for slaves! And I sustained him grain and new-wine. And where to thee? What will I do, my son?” 38And Hairy (Esau) said unto his papa, “One blessing—he is to thee, my papa! Bless me, also I, my papa!” And Hairy (Esau) lifted his voice. And he wept. 39And He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) his papa answered. And he said unto him, “Behold, thy settlement will be from oils of the land and from dew of the heavens from above. 40And thou shalt live upon thy sword. And thou shalt serve thy brother. And he shall be just as thou shalt descend. And thou shalt break his yoke from upon thy neck!”
41And Hairy (Esau) grudged He-Will-Heel (Jacob) concerning the blessing that his papa blessed him. And Hairy (Esau) said in his heart, “Days of mourning of my papa shall approach! And I have killed He-Will-Heel (Jacob), my brother!” 42And He told to Multiple-Pouring (Rivka) words of Hairy (Esau) her big son. And she sent. And she called to He-Will-Heel (Jacob) her little son. And she said unto him, “Behold, Hairy (Esau) thy brother consoles himself to thee to kill thee! 43And now, my son, hearken into my voice. And arise. Flee for thee unto White my brother Haranward. 44And thou shalt dwell with him a few days until-that heat of thy brother shall return, 45until the nose of thy brother shall return from with thee. And he will forget what thou did to him. And I will send. And I will take thee from there. Why will I be bereft indeed of both of you one day?”
46And Multiple-Pouring (Rivka) said unto He-Will-Laugh (Isaac), “I abhorred in my lives from the faces of the daughters of Heth (Shatter)! If He-Will-Heel (Jacob) is taking a woman from the daughters of Heth (Shatter) as these, from the daughters of the land, why are lives to me?” [Chapter 28] 1And He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) called He-Will-Heel (Jacob). And he blessed him. And he commanded him. And he said to him, “Thou shalt not take a woman from the daughters of Merchant (Canaan)! 2Arise! Walk toward the High Extension (Padanaram) houseward of They-Wasted-A-Mighty-One (Bethuel) father of thy mother. And take a woman to thee from there from daughters of White (Laban), brother of thy mother. 3And Mighty-One-My-Breasts (El Shaddai) will bless thee. And He has ‘fruited’ thee. And He has multiplied thee. And thou shalt be to a congregation of peoples! 4And He will give to thee blessings of Father-Of-A-Crowd—to thee and to thy seed with thee to thy inheriting the land of thy sojournings that Elohim gave to Father-Of-A-Crowd.
5And He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) sent He-Will-Heel (Jacob). And he walked toward High Extension (Padanaram) unto White (Laban) son of They-Wasted-A-Mighty-One (Bethuel) the Syrian, brother of Multiple-Pouring (Rivka), mother of He-Will-Heel (Jacob) and Hairy. 6And Hairy saw that He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) blessed He-Will-Heel (Jacob). And he will send him to High Extension (Padanaram) to take a woman to him from there with his blessing him. And he commanded concerning him to say, “Thou shalt not take a woman from daughters of Merchant (Canaan)!” 7And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) hearkened unto his papa and to his mama. And he walked to High Extension (Padanaram). 8And Hairy saw that daughters of Merchant (Canaan) are bad in the eyes of He-Will-Laugh (Isaac) his father. 9And Hairy walked unto Mighty-One-Will-Hearken (Ishmael). And he took to himself What-Hast-Thou-Pierced (Mahalath) daughter of Mighty-One-Will-Hearken (Ishmael) son of Father-Of-A-Crowd sister of Productive-[Ones] (Nebajoth) {fem.} upon his women for a woman.
Isaac was old and nearly blind. He didn’t know the day he would die. It was very important for him to bless his firstborn child before his death. Isaac told him to take his equipment, exit the field (go out into the field), hunt, and make good-tasting things that he loved. Isaac then promised Esau that Isaac’s being would bless him before Isaac dies.
Rebekah hearkened carefully to this conversation. Esau went on his way to hunt and to bring that to his papa.
2. Why did Isaac want to eat very good food made by his son Esau before his being would bless Esau?
3. Was Rebekah doing wrong by carefully listening and overhearing her husband’s conversation with Esau?
4. Did Esau desire the blessing of his father? Explain.
Rivka (Rebecca, Rebekah) told Jacob about the conversation in detail. She then commanded Jacob to hearken to her. She told Jacob to take two goat kids from the flock. Rivka will then make the tasty foods in the very way Isaac loves. Jacob will bring them to Isaac, and Isaac will bless Jacob just before he dies.
Jacob saw a problem with this idea. Esau was covered with hair, and Jacob was nearly hairless, being smooth-skinned. He was used to Isaac feeling things and persons now that he was nearly blind. This will appear to be ‘leading Isaac down the wrong path,’ and thus causing him to wander from the truth. Isaac might view Jacob as far less important than before (lightly esteeming him), and Isaac might refuse to bless him. Rivka answered, “Thy light-esteeming is upon me, my son. But hearken into my voice. And walk. Take for me!”
2. Rebekah plotted to fix the meal for Jacob and make it taste so good and so much like what Esau would make, that Isaac would bless Jacob thinking he was blessing Esau. Was this plot evil?
3. Jacob was a grown man. Rivka commanded him to get the two goat kids for her. Do grown men have to obey their mothers?
4. Jacob’s main objection to the plan of his mama was that he might appear to Isaac as one who caused his nearly blind papa to wander if he were caught, and that he might cause his father to esteem him as worth very little instead of obtaining a blessing. Were Jacob’s motives right?
5. Rebekah was willing to be lightly esteemed for this action. Would you be willing to do what is right even if you knew you would suffer for doing it?
6. Did Rebekah ignore all the harm that this would do to Esau, showing coldness and a lack of love for him?
7. Why didn’t Rebekah just tell Isaac, and convince him to change his mind regarding the blessing of Esau?
8. Why was this so important to Rebekah?
Jacob walked. He took the goat kids as directed. Rivka (Rebekah) fixed the food the way Isaac loved it.
Rivka next took Esau’s favorite garments that were inside her tent. She put them on Jacob her younger son. She fastened the goatskins that she had removed from the goat kids onto Jacob’s hands and his neck spots that were smooth so that they felt like part of his hands and his neck. She placed the good food and fresh bread into Jacob’s hand.
2. The text states that she took Esau’s favorite garments in order to bring this plot about. Wouldn’t Esau’s knowing this completely destroy the trust he had for his mother?
3. How did she attach the skins to Jacob so that they felt like Esau’s skin of his hands and the parts of his neck?
4. How much work did she have to do to make sure that Jacob received that blessing?
Jacob brought to his father what his mother had fixed. He then called, “My papa!” Isaac asked him, “Who art thou? My son?” Jacob answered, “I am Esau, thy firstborn. I made just as thou spoke unto me. Arise, na. Sit and eat from my hunting so-that thy being will bless me!”
Isaac asked if he (thinking he was Esau) had hurried to find game! He was back so soon! Jacob responded, “Because Yehovah thy Gods caused-an-encounter to my faces!”
Isaac still seemed puzzled, and told ‘Esau’ to approach so that Isaac could grope him. “Art thou this my son Hairy (Esau), if not?”
Jacob approached, and Isaac felt him. He then remarked, “The voice is a voice of Jacob, and the hands are the hands of Esau!” Yet, Isaac didn’t recognize him; the hands were hairy like Esau’s. So, Isaac blessed Jacob.
2. Jacob lied when he said, “I am Esau thy firstborn.” Did he do wrong?
3. What does “caused an encounter” mean?
4. In verse 20, Jacob said, “Because Yehovah thy Gods caused-an-encounter to my faces!” Jacob brought Yehovah into this lie, giving Yehovah credit when Yehovah did not do it. Did Jacob sin by doing this?
5. Verses 21 and 22 show Isaac trying to discern (carefully figure out) whether he is truly speaking with Esau. He groped him (felt him in a very personal way), feeling his hands and his neck. In verse 22, Jacob remarks, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” Why didn’t Isaac realize that this was not Esau?
Isaac next stated, “Thou art this my son Esau!” to which Jacob replied, “I!”
Isaac told him to approach. Isaac now will eat from this hunting, and his being will bless ‘Esau’. Jacob approached. Isaac ate. Jacob brought wine; Isaac drank.
After eating, Isaac told ‘Esau’ to approach and to kiss him. Jacob did both. Isaac smelled the fragrance of his garments. He then blessed ‘Esau’.
Isaac said to Jacob, “See! The fragrance of my son is as the fragrance of a field that Yehovah blessed him!”
Isaac continued, “And the Gods will give to thee from dew of the heavens and from the oils of the land and the multiplicity of grain and new-wine. Peoples shall serve thee, and folks shall prostrate to thee. Be a valiant-one to thy brothers. And sons of thy mama shall prostrate to thee. Thy cursers are cursed, and thy blessers are blessed.” All the work that both Rivka and Jacob did was to obtain these few statements!
2. Do young children like to be kissed by their parents?
3. Why did Isaac want his son to kiss him?
4. Why did this part of the blessing start with the word “See”? Whom is Isaac commanding to see, and to whom is Isaac speaking when he says, “The fragrance of my son is as the fragrance of a field that Yehovah blessed him”?
5. What is the fragrance of a field like if Yehovah blessed the field?
6. What is important about being given from the dew of the heavens?
7. The next statement in its entirety goes like this: “the Gods will give to thee from the oils of the land.” Why types of oils are these, and why would these be important?
8. Who is “the Gods,” and why is this plural?
9. What is important about “the multiplicity of grain”?
10. What is good about the multiplicity of new wine?
11. What does “peoples shall serve thee” mean?
12. What does “folks shall prostrate to thee” mean?
13. Isaac thought that he was passing the Abrahamic blessing on to Esau. Would this have been right to do?
14. The command to “be a valiant one to thy brothers” will be fulfilled by what types of actions?
15. Who are these brothers?
16. What does “sons of thy mama shall prostrate to thee” mean?
17. Who is a curser of Jacob?
18. What is a ‘blesser’ of Jacob?
19. The last part mentions cursers and blessers. Why doesn’t it mention any other category?
20. How will cursers be cursed and blessers be blessed?
Esau arrived back just as Isaac finished blessing Jacob. Esau made the tasties for his father. He then brought them to him.
2. What would have happened if Esau had returned while Jacob was feeding Isaac?
Esau told his father to arise and eat from his hunting so that Isaac’s being will bless Esau. Isaac was confused. “Who art thou?” And Esau responded, “I am thy son, thy firstborn, Esau!” Isaac began to greatly shake. He said, “Who?” Then he asked, “Where is he, the hunter of hunting? And he brought to me. And I ate from all before thou wilt come. And I blessed him. Also, he will be blessed!”
2. Why did Isaac greatly quake, and what does that mean?
3. Why did he then say, “Who?”
4. Why did he ask, “Where is he, the hunter of hunting?”
5. Why did Isaac tell Esau, “And he brought to me, and I ate from all before thou wilt come”?
6. Why did Isaac tell Esau, “And I blessed him”?
7. When Isaac said, “Also, he will be blessed,” what was Isaac doing?
8. Did Isaac need to say, “Also, he will be blessed,” or could he have said to Esau, “Cursed be the deceiver! Thy blessing will go to thee, my son, and thou shalt be blessed!”?
Esau hearkened to his papa’s words. Esau then screamed a very big, bitter and long scream.
Then he said to his father, “Bless me—also I—my papa!” Isaac responded, “Thy brother came via deceit. And he took thy blessing!” Esau bitterly responded, “Is because he called his name ‘He-Will-Heel (Jacob)’? And he ‘heeled’ me this, strokes. He took my firstbornness, and behold now he took my blessing!”
2. What does hearken mean?
3. Why did Esau react so strongly (by screaming a big and bitter scream) when he heard that Jacob was blessed?
4. For what was Esau asking when he said to his papa, “Bless me, also I, my papa”?
5. Did Isaac realize why Esau was so upset?
6. Was Isaac telling Esau about Jacob’s evil deed in verse 35?
7. What does “he ‘heeled’ me this, strokes” mean?
8. When Esau said, “Is because he called his name ‘He-Will-Heel’? And he ‘heeled’ me this, strokes. He took my ‘firstbornness,’ and behold now he took my blessing,” was Esau speaking the truth?
Esau figured that Isaac should have a blessing just for him that Isaac ‘neared’—that is, brought near to occur. Isaac responded, “Behold, I put him a valiant-one to thee! And I gave all his brothers to him for slaves! And I sustained him grain and new-wine. And where to thee? What will I do, my son?” Esau took this very hard: “One blessing—he is to thee, my papa! Bless me, also I, my papa!” He wept loudly.
Isaac then began to give Esau a blessing: “Behold, thy settlement will be from oils of the land and from dew of the heavens from above. And thou shalt live upon thy sword. And thou shalt serve thy brother. And he shall be just as thou shalt descend. And thou shalt break his yoke from upon thy neck!”
2. What does “I put him a valiant-one to thee” mean?
3. The text states, “I gave all his brothers to him for slaves.” How many brothers did Jacob have? Explain.
4. What does “I sustained him grain and new-wine” mean?
5. Explain “And where to thee?”:
6. What was Isaac expressing when he said, “What will I do, my son?”
7. Isaac finally gave Esau a blessing. What happened so that Isaac was able to do that?
8. What does “thy settlement will be from oils of the land” mean?
9. What does “thy settlement will be from dew of the heavens from above” mean?
10. What does “thou shalt live upon thy sword” mean?
11. What will be one of Esau’s main services that he will do?
12. Explain “And he shall be just as thou shalt descend. And thou shalt break his yoke from upon thy neck!”
13. What is a yoke?
14. Will Esau’s breaking Jacob’s yoke from upon his neck be good, or will it be bad?
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing that Isaac had given him.
Esau hatched a plan in his heart (mind). “Days of mourning of my papa shall approach! And I have killed Jacob my brother!”
Someone told Rivka what Esau said in his mind! Rivka sent for and called Jacob. She said to him, “Behold, Esau thy brother consoles himself to thee to kill thee! And now, my son, hearken into my voice. And arise. Flee for thee unto White (Laban) my brother Haranward. And thou shalt dwell with him a few days until-that heat of thy brother shalt return, until the nose of thy brother shall return from with thee. And he will forget what thou did to him. And I will send. And I will take thee from there. Why will I be bereft indeed of both of you one day?”
2. What are “days of mourning” in “days of mourning of my papa shall approach”?
3. What does Esau mean by “And I have killed Jacob, my brother”?
4. Esau plotted the murder of Jacob because he hated Jacob over the blessing. What does this tell readers about Esau’s character?
5. Who told Rebekah the words that Esau spoke in his heart (mind)?
6. Why did the one who read Esau’s mind tell Rebekah?
7. Why didn’t He just stop Esau from the murder plan?
8. What does “Esau thy brother consoles himself to thee to kill thee” mean?
9. What does “until-that heat of thy brother shall return” mean?
10. What does “until the nose of thy brother shall return from with thee” mean?
11. In verse 45, Rebekah states, “until the nose of thy brother shall return from with thee. And he will forget what thou did to him.” Wasn’t Rebekah responsible for what Jacob did to Esau?
12. What does bereft mean?
13. What does Rebekah mean by “Why will I be bereft indeed of both of you one day?”
Rivka was very upset because of the daughters of Heth. They were such bad women, that Rivka abhorred in her lives from seeing them. Yet, Jacob might take a wife from these daughters of the land. Her lives would then be intolerable.
Isaac called Jacob. He blessed him. He also commanded him: “Thou shalt not take a woman from the daughters of Canaan! Arise! Walk toward the High Extension toward the house of Bethuel, father of thy mother. And take a woman to thee from there from daughters of Laban, brother of thy mother. And El Shaddai will bless thee. And He has ‘fruited’ thee. And He has multiplied thee. And thou shalt be to a congregation of peoples! And He will give to thee blessings of Avraham—to thee and to thy seed with thee to thy inheriting the land of thy sojournings that Elohim gave to Avraham.”
2. What was wrong with these women, and what did they have to do with Rebekah?
3. What did Rivka fear, according to verse 46?
4. Was Rivka racist against the local women?
5. How did Isaac remedy Rivka’s fear?
6. Genesis 28:1 states that Isaac blessed him (Jacob). What did he say or do that was this blessing?
7. Where did Isaac command Jacob to obtain a woman?
8. Is marrying a first cousin a wise thing to do today? Explain.
9. Why did Isaac want Jacob to marry his cousin?
10. What does El Shaddai mean?
11. How did Isaac know that El Shaddai would bless Jacob?
12. What does “He has ‘fruited’ thee” mean?
13. What will happen if El Shaddai multiplies him?
14. What is a congregation of peoples?
15. Who is “thy seed with thee”?
Isaac sent Jacob, fully blessed. Jacob did as he was told; he began walking toward the house of Bethuel.
Esau saw that Isaac blessed Jacob. He saw that Isaac will even send Jacob with his blessing to obtain a woman from Padanaram, from Laban. Esau had heard Isaac tell Jacob not to take a woman from the daughters of Canaan. Esau also saw that Jacob hearkened unto his father and his mother. Now Esau knew the truth—”the daughters of Canaan are bad in the eyes of Isaac his father.” Esau therefore went to Ishmael to obtain another woman!
He took Mahalath to be his woman in addition to the two women he already had.
2. Jacob was a grown man. Did he have to hearken to his parents?
3. Many today engage in premarital sexual intercourse (having sexual intercourse before marriage, also known as fornication). Many women get pregnant by this means, and many men are responsible for bringing children into the world without being fathers. Some of these women then become religious, and few of the men care about religion. Some modern churches have mainly women attending. Many of these women have come to church because they want something in their lives besides the emptiness that they caused by their own actions. (I am not thinking of a woman who was raped.) Very, very few truly desire Godliness. Whom do these men and women more resemble: Jacob, Esau, or the daughters of Heth?
4. Will you be more like Jacob, Esau, or the daughters of Heth? Speak the truth.
5. If Mahalath means What Hast Thou Pierced, why might a girl baby be named this?
6. Were Esau’s parents consoled by Mahalath?