Genesis 31-33 The Fear

The Fear

Background Text: Genesis 31 through Genesis 33

Printed Text: Genesis 31:55-33:20

Genesis 31:55 And White (Laban) early-rose in the morning. And he kissed to his sons and to his daughters. And he blessed them. And he walked. And White (Laban) returned to his place.

Chapter 32

¹And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) walked to his way. And messengers of Elohim encountered into him. ²And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) said, just-as he saw, “This is the camp of Elohim!” And he called the name of that place Two-Camps.

³And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) sent messengers to his faces unto Hairy (Esau) his brother toward the land of He-Goat field of Red. ⁴And he commanded them to say, “Thus ye shall say to my lord, to Hairy (Esau), ‘So said thy slave He-Will-Heel (Jacob), “I sojourned with White (Laban), and I afterwarded unto now. ⁵And an ox is to me and an ass, a flock and a slave and a woman-slave. And I sent her to tell to my lord to find favour in thine eyes.”’”

⁶And the messengers returned unto He-Will-Heel (Jacob) to say, “We came unto thy brother, unto Hairy (Esau). And also he walked to meet thee. And four hundred man are with him!” ⁷And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) feared very-much. And he ‘tribulated’ to him.

And he halved the people that is with him and the flock and the herd and the camels to two camps. ⁸And he said, “If Hairy (Esau) will come unto the one camp and he will smite him, and the remaining camp will be for an escape.”

⁹And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) said, “Gods of my father Father-Of-A-Multitude (Avraham) and Gods of my father He-Will-Laugh (Isaac), Yehovah Who said unto me, ‘Return to thy land and to thy childhood,’ and ‘I have good-done with thee,’ ¹⁰I smalled from all the graces and from all the Truth that Thou did with Thy slave. For I crossed-over this Jordan via my staff. And now I was to two camps. ¹¹Deliver me, na, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Hairy (Esau)! For I am fearing him lest he will come and will smite me, mother upon children! ¹²And Thou, Thou hast said, ‘Good-doing, I will good-do with thee,’ and, ‘I will put thy seed as sand of the sea that he will not scroll from multiplication.’”

¹³And he lodged there in that night. And he took a rest to Hairy (Esau) his brother from the comer into his hand: ¹⁴two hundred she-goats and twenty butt-ers, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, ¹⁵thirty lactating camels and their children, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten he-asses. ¹⁶And he gave into the hand of his slaves, a flock a flock by himself. And he said unto his slaves, “Cross-ye-over to my faces. And ye shall put a breather between flock and between flock.” ¹⁷And he commanded the head to say, “For Hairy (Esau) my brother will meet thee. And he will ask thee to say, ‘To whom art thou?’ and ‘Where wilt thou walk?’ and ‘To whom are these to thy faces?’ ¹⁸And thou shalt say, ‘To thy slave—to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). He is a rest sent to my lord—to Hairy (Esau). And behold, he is also after us.’” ¹⁹And he commanded also the second, also the third, also all the walkers after the flocks to say, “Ye shall speak as this speech unto Hairy (Esau) in your finding him. ²⁰And ye shall also say, ‘Behold, thy slave He-Will-Heel (Jacob) is after us.’” For he said, “I will cover her—his faces—via the rest walking to my faces. And afterward I will see his faces. Perhaps he will carry my faces.” ²¹And the rest crossed over upon his faces. And he lodged in that night in the camp.

²²And he, he arose in that night. And he took his two women and his two womenslaves and his eleven sons. And he crossed-over the Jabbok crossing. ²³And he took them. And he crossed-them-over the brook. And he crossed-over what is to him.

²⁴And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) remained alone. And a man wrestled with him unto the ascending of the sunrise. ²⁵And he saw that he will-not-be-able to him. And he touched in the palm of his thigh. And the palm of He-Will-Heel’s (Jacob’s) thigh dislocated in his wrestling with him. ²⁶And he said, “Send me! For the sunrise ascended!” And he said, “I will not send thee but-rather thou blessed me!” ²⁷And he said unto him, “What is thy name?” And he said, “He-Will-Heel (Jacob)”. ²⁸And he said, “Thy name shall no more be called ‘He-Will-Heel (Jacob)’, but-rather ‘He-Will-Prince-Mighty-[One] (Israel).’ For thou princed with Elohim and with men, and thou wast able.” ²⁹And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) asked. And he said, “Tell, na, Thy Name.” And He said, “Why is this? Thou wilt ask to my name?” And He blessed him there. ³⁰And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) called the name of the place Faces-Of-Mighty-[One]. “For I saw Elohim faces unto faces, and my being was rescued!”

³¹And the sun sun-rose to him just-as he crossed-over They-Turned-Mighty-[One]. And he is limping upon his thigh. ³²Therefore the children of Israel will not eat the sinew of the tendon that is upon the palm of the thigh unto this day. For He touched in the palm of He-Will-Heel’s (Jacob’s) thigh in the sinew of the tendon.

Chapter 33

¹And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) lifted up his eyes. And he saw. And, behold, Hairy (Esau) came. And with him are four hundred man. And he divided the children upon Weary (Leah) and upon Ewe (Raquel) and upon two of the slavewomen. ²And he put the slavewomen and their children headward and Weary (Leah) and her children afterwards and Ewe (Raquel) and He-Will-Gather (Joseph) afterwards. ³And he crossed-over to their faces. And he prostrated landward seven strokes unto his nearing unto his brother. ⁴And Hairy (Esau) ran to meet him. And he embraced him. And he fell upon his neck. And he kissed him. And they wept.

⁵And he lifted up his eyes. And he saw the women and the children. And said, “Who are these to thee?” And he said, “The children that Elohim favoured thy slave.” ⁶And the slavewomen neared there and their children. And they prostrated. ⁷And also Weary (Leah) neared and her children. And they prostrated. And He-Will-Gather (Joseph) neared after, and Ewe (Raquel), and they prostrated. ⁸And he said, “Who is to thee? All this camp that I encountered?” And he said, “To find favour in the eyes of my lord.” ⁹And Hairy (Esau) said, “I have much, my brother. He will be to thee what is to thee.” ¹⁰And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) said, “Don’t, na, if, na, I found favour in thine eyes! And thou shalt take my rest from my hand. For therefore I saw thy faces as seeing faces of Elohim. And thou desired me. 11Take, na, my blessing that is brought to thee. For Elohim favoured me, and for there is to me all.” And he urged him. And he took.

¹²And he said, “We shall journey. And we have walked. And I have walked to straight-in-front-of thee.” ¹³And he said unto him, “My lord knows that the children are tender. And the flock and the herd ascend upon me. And they shall drive them one day. And they shall die—all the flock. ¹⁴My lord shall cross-over, na, to the faces of his slave. And I, I will conduct-myself for gentleness to the foot of the errand that is to my faces and to the foot of the children until that I will come unto my lord Goatward.” ¹⁵And Hairy (Esau) said, “I will post, na, with thee from the people that is with me.” And he said, “Why this? I will find favour in the eyes of my lord!”

¹⁶And Hairy (Esau) returned to his way in that day, Goatward. ¹⁷And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) journeyed Camouflagesward. And he built to him a house. And he made camouflages to his cattle. Therefore he called the name of the place Camouflages. ¹⁸And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) came to Peace, a city of Shoulder that is in the land of Merchant in his coming from Ransom-Of-I-Will-Elevate. And he camped to the faces of the city. ¹⁹And he acquired a portion of the field that he spread his tent there from the hand of the children of Ass father of Shoulder via a hundred certified. ²⁰And he positioned an altar there. And he called to him Mighty-[One] Gods of Israel.

I. Jacob and Laban at Peace (Genesis 31:55)

Laban rose early in the morning. He kissed his sons and his daughters. He also blessed them. He then took his journey, going back to his place.

Questions

1. Why did Laban get up so early?

2. Who were his sons?

3. Why did his daughters accept being kissed by him when he had been so mean to them?

4. How did Laban bless his sons and daughters?

5. Was Laban better able to think, now?

II. Jacob and the Camp of Elohim (Genesis 32:1-2)

Jacob also walked, continuing on his journey. Messengers of Elohim encountered him. Jacob described what he saw: “This is the camp of Elohim!” He named the place Two-Camps.

Questions

1. Who were these messengers?

2. What does “encountered into” mean?

3. How did Jacob know that this was the camp of Elohim?

4. Why did Jacob call the name of that place Two-Camps instead of Camp Elohim?

5. Why was the camp of Elohim there, and did the angels have anything to say to Jacob?

6. Was Jacob nervous, seeing this camp of angels? Would you be nervous?

III. Jacob Begins to Seek Esau’s Favour (verses 3-5)

Jacob sent his own messengers in front of him to go to Esau. Jacob commanded them to say, “Thus ye shall say to my lord, to Esau, ‘So said thy slave Jacob, “I sojourned with Laban, and I ‘afterwarded’ (stayed after) unto now. And an ox is to me and an ass, a flock and a slave and a woman-slave. And I sent her to tell to my lord to find favour in thine eyes.”’”

Questions

1. Why did Jacob send messengers to Esau?

2. Where is the land of He-Goat, the field of Red?

3. Why did Jacob call his brother, “my lord”?

4. Why did Jacob call himself, “thy slave”?

5. What does “I afterwarded” mean (since this is not proper English)?

6. Did Jacob have just one ox, one ass, one male slave and one female slave? Why did he word it this way?

7. Who is her in, “I sent her to tell to my lord”?

8. Explain the expression, “find favour in the eyes” of someone:

9. How would sending the messengers on this errand to tell Esau make it so that Esau would favour Jacob instead of hating him?

IV. Here He Comes! (verses 6-7)

The messengers returned and told Jacob, “We came unto thy brother, unto Esau. And also he walked to meet thee. And four hundred man are with him!” This terrified Jacob. It put Jacob into tribulation—that is, into a continuous state of fear from which he could not escape.

Questions

1. What did Jacob think Esau might do?

2. Why did Esau have four hundred men with him?

3. What does tribulation mean?

4. Why was Jacob so afraid when Elohim had appeared to him?

V. Minimizing the Losses (verses 7-8)

Jacob had a strategy. He divided the camp into two camps. He figured, “If Esau will come unto the one camp and he will smite him, and the remaining camp will be for an escape.”

Questions

1. Why would Jacob think that Esau would attack and kill one camp, if not both?

VI. Jacob’s Request (verses 9-12)

After Jacob set the plan in motion, he spoke to Yehovah. He started by identifying the Gods to whom he spoke: “Gods of my father Avraham.” He then identified Him as “Gods of my father Isaac.” Next, “Yehovah Who said unto me, ‘Return to thy land and to thy childhood,’ and ‘I have good-done with thee.’”

He next contrasted his own position with all the graces and all the Truth that Yehovah did with His slave, with Jacob: “I ‘smalled’ from all the graces and from all the Truth that Thou did with Thy slave.” Jacob recounted how he had originally crossed the Jordan River with just his staff, and how he was now two full camps.

He asked Yehovah to deliver him from the hand of his brother Esau. Jacob was fearing Esau, knowing that he might come and smite him, “mother upon children.”

Jacob reminded Yehovah, “Thou, Thou hast said, ‘Good-doing, I will good-do with thee,’ and, ‘I will put thy seed as sand of the sea that he will not scroll from multiplication.’”

Questions

1. Why did Jacob use the following three identifiers for Yehovah?

Gods of my father Avraham
Gods of my father Isaac
Yehovah Who said return and I have ‘good-done’ with thee

2. What does “I smalled from” mean?

3. What does grace mean in the Bible?

4. What are all the graces that Jacob mentioned?

5. What is truth in the Bible?

6. What Truth did Elohim do with his slave, Jacob?

7. What does “I crossed-over this Jordan via my staff” mean and indicate?

8. What does na mean in Hebrew?

9. Why did Jacob need to be delivered from the hand of his brother? Was his brother holding him using his hand?

10. Why did Jacob say both “my brother” and “Esau,” since both are the same?

11. Was Jacob’s fearing Esau wrong or sin?

12. Was Jacob concerned that his own mother might be killed?

13. Jacob said, “I am fearing him lest he will come and will smite me, mother upon children.” Jacob used me, then mother upon children. What connection was Jacob making between himself and the mothers and children?

14. What does “Good-doing, I will good-do with thee” mean?

15. Can the number of offspring equal the number of grains of the sand of the sea? Explain.

16. If the answer to the last question is true, what does “I will put thy seed as sand of the sea that he will not scroll from multiplication” mean?

VII. Jacob’s Plan (verses 13-21)

Jacob lodged (found a place to stay) there in that night. Instead of sleeping, he took valuables from all that he had acquired to give to his brother. These items together were called a rest because Jacob determined to rest them before his brother as a gift.

This rest included the following:

200 she-goats
20 animals that butt
200 ewes
20 rams
30 lactating camels and their babies
40 cows
10 bulls
20 she-asses
10 he-asses

Jacob gave this rest into the hand of his slaves, each flock separated from the other flock.

He next instructed his slaves: “Cross-ye-over to my faces (in front of me).” He then said, “And ye shall put a breather (a space) between flock and between flock.”

Jacob now spoke to the head of the slaves: “For Esau my brother will meet thee. And he will ask thee to say, ‘To whom art thou? (To whom do you belong?)’ and ‘Where wilt thou walk? (Where are you going?)’ and ‘To whom are these to thy faces? (To whom do these that are in front of you belong)?’ And thou shalt say, ‘To thy slave—to Jacob. He is a rest sent to my lord—to Esau. And behold, he is also after (behind) us.’”

Jacob gave the same commands to the head of the second flock and the third, and to all to say the same things. They were also to include this information: “Behold, thy slave Jacob is after (behind) us.”

Jacob also said, “I will cover her—his faces—via the rest walking to my faces (going in front of me). And afterward I will see his faces. Perhaps he will carry my faces.”

The valuable animals that made up Jacob’s rest crossed over in front of Jacob. Jacob remained that night in the camp, lodging there.

Questions

1. What does lodge mean?

2. What is a rest?

3. What is the comer into his hand?

4. What are ‘butt-ers’?

5. What is a ewe?

6. What kind of animal is this ram?

7. What is a lactating camel?

8. Are lactating camels worth more than camels that are not lactating?

9. Who are these children?

10. Why did Jacob always give more female animals than male animals?

11. Why did Jacob desire his slaves to cross over to his faces (in front of him, where he could see them)?

12. Why did Jacob desire a breather (a spacer) between each flock?

13. What does “To whom art thou” mean?

14. Why would Esau ask, “Where wilt thou walk” instead of, “Where wilt thou go”?

15. Identify these in, “To whom are these to thy faces”:

16. Why did Jacob desire his slaves to answer, “To thy slave—to Jacob”?

17. Why did Jacob tell each group to include, “And behold, he is also after us”?

18. Explain Jacob’s thinking: “I will cover her—his faces—via the rest walking to my faces.”

19. What does “Perhaps he will carry my faces” mean?

20. Why did Jacob send the rest in the evening?

21. Why didn’t Jacob also go see his brother that night?

VIII. The Night Crossing (verses 22-23)

I don’t know whether Jacob slept that night or not. He arose while it was still night. He took his two women and his two womenslaves and his eleven sons.

He crossed over the Jabbok crossing. He brought them over the brook. He then caused all his possessions (“what is to him”) to cross over the brook.

Questions

1. Why did Jacob travel at night?

2. Where is the Jabbok crossing?

3. Explain a little about the Jabbok stream.

4. Why did Jacob take all his possessions with him?

IX. The Great Fight (verses 24-30)

Jacob went somewhere alone after this crossing. An unidentified man came to Jacob in the dark. The two wrestled. It was an unfriendly match that lasted hours.

The sun began to rise. The text then says, “And he saw that he will-not-be-able to him.” It does not say who he or him is! The unidentified man touched in the palm of Jacob’s thigh, and the palm of his thigh dislocated while Jacob wrestled with the man.

The man said, “Send me! For the sunrise ascended!” Jacob responded, “I will not send thee but rather thou blessed me!” The man asked Jacob, “What is thy name?” Jacob gave his name: “He Will Heel.” The man said, “Thy name shall no more be called ‘He-Will-Heel (Jacob)’, but-rather ‘He-Will-Prince-Mighty-[One] (Israel)’. For thou princed with Elohim and with men, and thou wast able.”

Jacob then asked, saying, “Tell, na, thy name.” The man responded, “Why is this? Thou wilt ask to my name?” The man then blessed Jacob right there!

Jacob named the place ‘Faces Of Mighty One,’ saying, “For I saw Elohim faces unto faces, and my being was rescued!”

Questions

1. Why did Jacob remain alone?

2. Why didn’t he tell his wives about what was troubling him?

3. Who was this man???

4. What does “he will not be able to him” mean?

5. Who is he and who is him in “he will not be able to him”?

6. Why was Elohim not able to… well, overcome Jacob, or do whatever the text doesn’t mention after the word able?

7. Why was this so important, that it had to put into the Bible?

8. Why did Elohim put Jacob’s thigh out of joint?

9. Who said, “Send me”?

10. Why did He say this, instead of just leaving?

11. Why did Elohim desire to leave before the sun rose any further?

12. Why did Jacob desire to be blessed by a man who just caused him great pain, and made him defenseless?

13. What is the palm of the thigh?

14. Did all stop calling Jacob by the name ‘Jacob,’ and start using ‘Israel’ after this, since Elohim said, “Thy name shall no more be called Jacob, but-rather Israel”?

15. Was something wrong with the name Jacob?

16. What does the name Israel tell?

17. What does “thou princed with Elohim and with men, and thou wast able” mean?

18. Why did Jacob ask this man’s name?

19. What was the man’s name?

20. Was Jacob still clinging to him while He blessed him?

21. Did Jacob send him after He blessed him?

22. What did Jacob name the place, why did he name the place, and why is the name different from what Jacob said?

23. Why did Jacob say, “and my being was rescued”? Who did the rescuing, and from whom was Jacob rescued?

X. The New Tradition (verses 31-32)

Jacob crossed Penuel, limping on his thigh. From that time on, the Israelis (who believed the text and who understood it) refused to eat the sinew of the tendon that is upon the palm of the thigh. Elohim had touched in the palm of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the tendon.

Questions

1. Why don’t the Israelis (who follow this tradition) eat the sinew of the tendon that is upon the palm of the thigh? What animals are involved in this?

2. Did this hurt very much?

3. Why did Elohim hurt Jacob? Had Jacob done wrong?

XI. Jacob Meets with Esau (Chapter 33:1-4)

Jacob lifted his eyes. He then saw Esau coming with four hundred men. He divided the children among the four women, placing the slavewomen and their children in front, then Leah, then Raquel with Joseph.

Jacob then crossed over in front of the groups.

Before he came to Esau, he prostrated in front of him seven times between his approaches.

In the meantime, Esau ran to meet Jacob. Esau embraced him, fell upon his neck, and kissed him. Both of them wept.

Questions

1. If Jacob lifted his eyes, where were they focused before lifting them?

2. How could he recognize Esau after all this time, and at such a distance?

3. Why does my translation say, “four hundred man” instead of saying, “four hundred men”?

4. Why did Jacob divide the children according to their own mothers?

5. Why did Jacob put the slavewomen and their children first?

6. Why is Joseph (of all Jacob’s sons) the only one mentioned by name?

7. Why did Jacob then cross over in front of all the groups?

8. Why did Jacob prostrate (lie flat) before his brother, then come closer, then again prostrate before his brother, then come closer… seven times?

9. Why did Esau run to meet Jacob?

10. What does “he fell upon his neck” mean?

11. Why did they both weep?

XII. Giving and Taking (verses 5-11)

Esau was interested in seeing his brother. He then lifted his eyes and saw the women and children. Esau asked, “Who are these to thee?” Jacob answered, “The children that Elohim favoured thy slave.”

The slavewomen and their children neared Esau, and prostrated. Then Leah and her children did the same thing. Finally, Joseph neared, along with Raquel. Esau was amazed. “Who is to thee? All this camp that I encountered?” Jacob’s answer was curious: “To find favour in the eyes of my lord.”

Esau expressed that he already had much, and what is to Jacob must be to Jacob (what Jacob owns Jacob needs to keep).

Jacob respectfully insisted that Esau take Jacob’s rest from his hand. Jacob compared seeing Esau to seeing the faces of Elohim, and that Esau desired Jacob. Jacob stated, “Take na my blessing that is brought to thee. For Elohim favoured me, and for there is to me all.” Jacob urged Esau, and Esau was finally willing.

Questions

1. Why was Esau amazed that Jacob had so many persons and animals?

2. What did Jacob mean by, “The children that Elohim favoured thy slave”?

3. Why did the different women and their children prostrate before Esau?

4. What question was Jacob answering when he said, “To find favour in the eyes of my lord”?

5. What did Jacob mean when he answered, “Don’t, na, if na I found favour in thine eyes”?

6. Was Jacob exaggerating when he said, “For therefore I saw thy faces as seeing faces of Elohim”?

7. What does “thou desired me” mean?

8. What does “for there is to me all” mean?

9. Why did Esau take the items from his brother?

XIII. The Logic of Fear (verses 12-15)

The text does not give the amount of time that Esau and Jacob spoke together. The next part of their conversation involved Esau telling Jacob, “We shall journey. And we have walked. And I have walked to straight-in-front-of thee.”

Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are tender [they are not used to traveling for distances]. And the flock and the herd ascend upon me. [Both the large cattle and the small, like sheep and goats, ascend upon/by Jacob at his command.] And they [the cowboys] shall drive them one day. And they shall die—all the flock.”

Jacob’s idea was this: “My lord [Esau] shall cross-over, na, to the faces of [in front of] his slave. And I, I will conduct-myself for gentleness to the foot of the errand [to the foot of moving the flock] that is to my faces and to the foot of the children until that I will come unto my lord toward Seir.”

Esau then volunteered to post (assign to a task) some of Esau’s men with Jacob. Jacob’s reaction was quick: “Why is this?” Then he said, “I will find favour in the eyes of my lord!” That was akin to saying, “If you will be pleased to permit me to take care of this myself.

Questions

1. Why did Esau desire to walk straight in front of Jacob?

2. Can one person determine or figure out the motives of another person?

3. Would the entire flock die if it were driven along with the cattle?

4. When Jacob said, “My lord shall cross-over, na, to the faces of his slave,” wasn’t this the same as Esau’s proposal, “I have walked to straight-in-front-of thee”?

5. What is “the foot of the errand”?

6. What does “the errand that is to my faces” mean?

7. Explain “I will conduct-myself for gentleness … to the foot of the children”:

8. Is “until that I will come” good English grammar (proper writing or speaking in English)?

9. Why did Esau offer to post some of his men with Jacob’s camps?

10. Why did Jacob add, “I will find favour in the eyes of my lord”?

XIV. The Departure and the Relief (verses 16-20)

Esau then returned to Seir, his home.

Jacob journeyed to Succot. He built an actual house. He constructed camouflages designed for cattle. That is why he called the place Camouflages.

Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shkhem in the land of Canaan when he completed his journey from Padan-Aram. He camped in front of the city.

He acquired a portion of the field upon which he spread his tent from the hand of the children of Hamor who is the father of Shkhem. The cost was one hundred certified.

Jacob positioned an altar there. He “called to him” (named him) Mighty-One, Gods of Israel.

Questions

1. Why did Esau go away from Jacob?

2. Why did Jacob build a house for himself?

3. Explain “he made camouflages to his cattle”:

4. Why did he name the place Succot?

5. Why did Jacob decide to travel to Shalem (Peace)?

6. Why didn’t Jacob move into the city of Shalem, but instead only camped outside the city, facing it?

7. Why did Jacob acquire a portion of the field?

8. Explain “he acquired a portion of the field… vial a hundred certified”:

9. Why did Jacob position an altar there?

10. What is the significance of the expression, “Mighty One, Gods of Israel”?

June 3, 2009October 7, 2016

Genesis 29-30 Jacob’s Wives and Children Answers Supplied

Jacob’s Wives and Children

Questions and Proposed Answers Supplied

Background and Printed Text: Genesis 29:15-30:24

Genesis 29:15 And White (Laban) said unto He-Will-Heel (Jacob), “Because thou art my brother, and wilt thou serve me for nothing? Tell to me, what is thy wage?”

¹⁶And to White (Laban) are two daughters. The name of the big is Weary (Leah) and the name of the little is Ewe (Rachel). ¹⁷And the eyes of Weary (Leah) are soft. And Ewe (Rachel) was beautiful of figure and beautiful of appearance. ¹⁸And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) loved Ewe (Rachel).

And he said, “I will serve thee seven years for Ewe (Rachel) thy little daughter.” ¹⁹And White (Laban) said, “Good is my giving her to thee from my giving her to another man. Dwell with me.”

²⁰And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) served seven years via Ewe (Rachel). And they were in his eyes as single days via his love of her.

²¹And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) said unto White (Laban), “Render my woman. For my days were filled. And I came unto her.” ²²And White (Laban) gathered all the men of the place. And he made a drinking-party. ²³And he was in the evening. And he took Weary (Leah) his daughter. And he brought her unto him. And he came unto her. ²⁴And White (Laban) gave to her Her-Trickling (Zilpah) his slavewoman—to Weary (Leah) his daughter, a slave-woman.

²⁵And he was in the morning. And behold, he is Weary (Leah)! And he said unto White (Laban), “What is this thou did unto me? Did I not serve with thee via Ewe (Rachel)? And why did thou beguile me?” ²⁶And White (Laban) said, It is not so done in our place—to give the young to the faces of the firstborn. ²⁷ Fill this seven, and we have given her to thee—also this—via the slavery that thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years!” ²⁸And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) did so. And he fulfilled this seven. And he gave Ewe (Rachel) his daughter to him for a woman. ²⁹And White (Laban) gave Via-Languishing (Bilhah) his slavewoman to Ewe (Rachel) his daughter for a slavewoman to her. ³⁰ And he also came unto Ewe (Rachel).

And he also loved Ewe (Rachel) more than Weary (Leah). And he served with him yet seven years after. ³¹And Yehovah saw that Weary (Leah) is hated. And He opened her womb. And Ewe (Rachel) is barren.

³²And Weary (Leah) conceived. And she childed a son. And she called his name See-ye-a-son! (Reuben). For she said, “For Yehovah saw via my humiliation! For now my man will love me!” ³³And she conceived again. And she childed a son. And she said, “For Yehovah hearkened! For I am hated! And He has given also this to me!” And she called his name Hearkening (Shimon). ³⁴And she conceived again. And she childed a son. And she said, “Now is the stroke! My man will join unto me! For I have childed three sons to him!” Therefore he called his name My-Joining (Levi). ³⁵And she conceived again. And she childed a son. And she said, “The stroke! I will confess Yehovah!” Therefore she called his name He-Confessed-Yehovah. And she stood childing.

(Chapter 30) ¹And Ewe (Rachel) saw that she did not child to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). And Ewe (Rachel) envied against her sister. And she said unto He-Will-Heel (Jacob), “Render children to me! And if not, I am dead!” ²And He-Will-Heel’s (Jacob’s) anger was kindled against Ewe (Rachel). And he said, “Am I the under Gods Who withheld fruit of the womb from thee?” ³And she said, “Behold my maid Via-Languishing (Bilhah)! Come unto her! And she shall bear upon my knees. And I, even I have built from her!” ⁴And she gave him Via-Languishing (Bilhah) her slavewoman for a woman. And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) came unto her.

⁵And Via-Languishing (Bilhah) conceived. And she childed a son to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). ⁶And Ewe (Rachel) said, Elohim adjudicated me! And He hath also hearkened into my voice. And He gave a son to me!” Therefore she called his name Adjudicator (Dan). ⁷And she conceived again. And Via-Languishing (Bilhah) Ewe’s (Rachel’s) slavewoman childed to He-Will-Heel (Jacob) a second son. ⁸And Ewe (Rachel) said, “I have wrestled the wrestlings of Elohim with my sister. Also I was able!” And she called his name My-Wrestling.

⁹And Weary (Leah) saw that she stood (from) bearing. And she took Her-Trickling (Zilpah) her slavewoman. And she gave her to He-Will-Heel (Jacob) for a woman. ¹⁰And Her-Trickling (Zilpah), Weary’s (Leah’s) slavewoman childed a son to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). ¹¹And Weary (Leah) said, “Via a troop!” And she called his name Troop (Gad). ¹²And Her-Trickling (Zilpah) Weary’s (Leah’s) slavewoman childed a second son to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). ¹³And Weary (Leah) said, “Via my happiness! For daughters ‘happied’ me!” And she called his name Happy (Asher).

¹⁴And They-Saw-A-Son (Reuben) walked in the days of wheat harvest. And he found mandrakes in the field. And he brought them unto Weary (Leah) his mother. And Ewe (Rachel) said to Weary (Leah), “Give, na, to me from thy son’s mandrakes.” ¹⁵And she said unto her, “Is (it) small that thou hast taken my man? And wilt thou take away my son’s mandrakes also?” And Ewe (Rachel) said, “Therefore he shall lie with thee tonight in the place of thy son’s mandrakes.”

¹⁶And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) came out of the field in the evening. And Weary (Leah) went out to meet him. And she said, “Thou shalt come unto me. For hiring, I hired thee via my son’s mandrakes!” And he lay with her in that night. ¹⁷ And Elohim hearkened unto Weary. And she conceived. And she childed the fifth son to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). ¹⁸ And Weary (Leah) said, “Elohim gave my hire that I gave my slavewoman to my man!” And she called his name There-is-a-Hire (Issachar). ¹⁹And Weary (Leah) conceived again. And she childed the sixth son to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). ²⁰And Weary (Leah) said, “Elohim endowed me a good endowment! The stroke my man will cohabit with me, for I childed six sons to him!” And she called his name They-Shall-Cohabit (Zebulun).

²¹And afterward she childed a daughter. And she called her name Her-Adjudication (Dinah).

²² And Elohim remembered Ewe. And Elohim hearkened unto her. And He opened her womb. ²³ And she conceived. And she childed a son. And she said, “Elohim collected my reproach!” ²⁴ And she called his name He-Adds (Joseph), saying, “Yehovah added another son to me!”

I. Laban’s Business Dealings (verse 15)

Laban found that Jacob was a good worker; Jacob had worked without wages except for food and necessary supplies for the work. He wanted to know what wage Jacob desired.

Questions

1. Why did Jacob serve Laban for nothing? The text doesn’t say, but Jacob was earning room and board (that is, a place to stay, and food to eat). He was also establishing his reputation as a good worker, and was demonstrating his good character.

2. Why did Laban offer to pay Jacob? Again, the text doesn’t say why, but if Laban never offerred to pay Jacob, Jacob might go to another place to live and work. Good and faithful workers are hard to find now, and they were hard to find then.

3. Was Jacob Laban’s brother? He wasn’t his direct brother, but he was related. Jacob’s mother was Laban’s brother.

II. Laban’s Daughters (verses 16-18)

Laban had two daughters: Leah and Rachel (or Raquel). Leah’s eyes are soft. Raquel had a beautiful figure and a beautiful appearance. Jacob fell in love with Raquel.

Questions

1. What do soft eyes sometimes indicate? They sometimes indicate that a person is soft-hearted, very kind and observant.

2. Who had the greater advantages, Leah or Raquel? It seems that beautiful folks have much greater advantages. They don’t have to be kind to get what they desire, and they please others just by being around because of their looks. In reality, those who are not pretty or handsome will have to work much harder on their own characters to obtain approval, because humans like good-looking folks more than folks who are not so good-looking. Yehovah looks at actions and words when He judges; those show character. Folks who have good characters have approval from Yehovah. Most beautiful women and handsome men don’t have good character; they are physically as beautiful as they are character-ugly. There are rare exceptions. Most folks who are not beautiful also don’t have very good characters, but more do have good characters than those who are truly beautiful. Sometimes, folks who are not beautiful are bitter because God didn’t make them beautiful, and folks who are beautiful are proud because of their beauty. (Pride is never good in the Bible.)

While Raquel had the greater advantages, Yehovah favored Leah.

3. Why would parents name a daughter Weary? The child’s mother may have had a very hard pregnancy! The text doesn’t say why.

4. Did Jacob dislike Leah? The text doesn’t say that here.

5. What is love? Love is seeking the highest, best interest for another without regard to oneself. The opposite of love can be defined as seeking the highest, best interest for self without regard to others. This is selfishness.

Another part of love is panting after another. The Hebrew word for love is ahava, which sounds like panting after someone or something. This is not wrong as long as such a relationship is right. (If a man pants after a woman married to another, that is wrong.)

III. The Answer (verses 18-19)

Jacob agreed to serve Laban for seven years in order to obtain Rachel for a wife. Laban said that it was better to give Rachel to Jacob than to another man. Laban desired Jacob to dwell with him.

Questions

1. Why was Jacob willing to serve Laban for seven years for Raquel? He truly loved her, and she was worth that much to him! He would get to see her, and this was a goal that was worthwhile to him. This was quite an expression of his love.

2. Why did Laban believe that it was better to give her to Jacob than to another man? Another man who wasn’t a relative might take her and leave. This way, Laban could keep his relationship with his daughter and use the work that Jacob provided. Laban saw this as a very good business deal.

Another man might pay for her in cash, but seven years of labor and risk is much more valuable.

3. What did Laban mean by, “Dwell with me”? Shepherds and cowboys had to follow the flock and the herd. They could try to maintain a house made of wood and stone, but many had to live in tents, moving to fresh pastures. Laban already had other shepherds who dwelt with him; they would have their own tents, but they would work together with Laban. The offer to dwell with him didn’t mean that he slept in the same structure that Laban slept (as you will see); it means that Jacob and Laban stayed or moved together on the land.

IV. Serving and Waiting (verse 20)

Jacob did not mind waiting for this beautiful girl. Seven years went by as if they were a few days. His love for this girl lasted.

Questions

1. Did Jacob forget about going home? Wasn’t he homesick? He did forget about going home! He wasn’t homesick. Seven years flew by.

2. Was Jacob good at what he did? He was very good. (This will become apparent.) He was a shepherd of sheep. That is much work.

3. Was being a shepherd of sheep very profitable? That is very low-class work! It is usually work that one in poverty would do. The owner of the flock might do better, but being a shepherd puts that person at the very bottom of society.

V. The Trick (verses 21-24)

When Jacob said, “Render my woman,” he wasn’t being rude. He was telling Laban that it was time to give Raquel to him as they had agreed. Jacob’s seven years (“my days”) were completed (“filled”). Jacob desired to come unto her (to have sexual intercourse with her). He had purchased her for his woman (for his wife); they were already legally married.

Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a drinking party to celebrate this union of Jacob to his daughter. The party lasted into the evening. Then Laban took Leah, and brought her to Jacob. Jacob came unto Leah (in sexual intercourse).

In the meantime, Laban gave to Leah a slavewoman named Zilpah to help with the chores.

Questions

1. Jacob said, “Render my woman. For my days were filled. And I came unto her.” There seems to be no consideration of the women by the men. Jacob wants Rachel now, because he wants to go unto her (have sexual intercourse with her). Does this show that men saw women as property, and as pretty toys to be used? No, this doesn’t show this. Some men (like Jacob) had great respect for their women, and did not treat them as ‘pretty toys to be used.’ Other men did misuse women, but that has been part of life from the before Noah’s flood.

Jacob did consider Raquel his property, but he also considered himself her property. That is what is meant by holy matrimony, since holy means owned! Being owned is very good as long as the ownership is beneficial to both (and to others). Being unowned can be a great problem!

Are you owned?

2. Did Laban do wrong to gather the men of the place and to throw a drinking party? No, Laban did not do wrong by doing this. He did right. As long as participants are not alcoholics, and as long as there is no danger of getting others killed, throwing a drinking party is fine!

Modern drinking parties can include the following that make them very bad:

Driving automobiles; anyone drunk who drives an automobile is attempting to murder others.
Violence; some folks who become drunk also become loud, rude, violent, and mean.

Drinking parties in the Bible did not tend to have violence and rude behavior, because folks depended on each other in so many ways. Anyone who was violent would be put out from camps. Cooperation was so necessary for life.

3. Did Laban do wrong to bring Leah instead of Rachel to Jacob on this honeymoon night? Laban will give a reason in the verses coming up. What Laban did wasn’t right, but there was no stated rule by which Jacob could have known what to expect.

4. Why didn’t Jacob notice that he was having sexual intercourse with Leah instead of Raquel? The place was dark. Lighting a party outside before electricity required too many candles and oil lamps. When Jacob took Leah into the tent, he couldn’t see her. Besides this, Jacob had drunk much alcohol as part of the celebration; he was not able to see and think as well as he would had he not drunk any alcohol.

5. Were slaves often given with daughters when the daughters were given in marriage? Yes, they were! Household chores that seem easy today were very difficult in history. Fixing breakfast could require much work, and doing laundary required hours of work. Animals had to be tended, and there was no refrigeration; food that went uneaten would soon spoil. Much food had to be fixed fresh. A day’s work was very difficult. Having another with whom to work made it tolerable, and sometimes even made it enjoyable, but it was still very hard!

VI. The Confrontation and Bargain (verses 25-30)

The morning came. Jacob saw—”and behold, he is Leah!” He awoke with another woman in bed with him! He confronted Laban. “What is this thou did unto me?” Jacob reminded Laban of the bargain. He then asked, “Why did thou beguile me?” Laban’s reply was that it was against tradition to marry off the younger daughter before the firstborn daughter!

Laban told Jacob to fulfill this seven (one week). At the end of the week, Rachel will be given to Jacob, on the condition that he will serve for another seven years! Jacob agreed to this. So Jacob had to wait only another seven days to get the one whom he loved.

Rachel was given Bilhah to serve her. Jacob then had sexual intercourse with Rachel.

Questions

1. Why did Jacob confront Laban, but he didn’t confront Leah? Leah was only doing what her father told her to do. Jacob had no reason to be angry or bitter against Leah. Jacob went to the one with whom he had made the agreement. (Jacob is a wise man.)

2. Did Laban beguile Jacob? Yes, he did! He could have told him about this tradition in the first place, but Laban desired to keep Jacob working for him for another seven years!

3. Did Laban speak the truth when he said, “It is not so done in our place—to give the young to the faces of the firstborn”? The readers are left to decide this for themselves. I cannot tell if this is the truth or not. Jacob took it as the truth; Jacob is a wise man.

4. How did Leah feel on the next morning after the honeymoon night? The text does not say. She also desired to be married. I propose that she had conflicting feelings, including fear. If Jacob did not love her, that would be years of misery for her.

5. What was part of fulfilling the seven (week) of a woman (verse 27)? The seven days included her being in a new environment with a man of a different culture. That week would show her how the years might go. Therefore, a wise man would treat the woman very well, and would speak well to her, give her pleasure, and speak plans with her, finding her desires.

6. In Jacob’s mind, he was truly serving Laban for Rachel for fourteen years. Was this worthwhile to him? It was very worthwhile to him!

7. How would Leah feel to now have her sister become a wife to her man? Because of the labor involved in life, she might be a little jealous, but that was her sister. They knew each other well, and they were of the same culture. They had already worked together, and they could coordinate the family very well. The real issue to Leah was whether Jacob would love her (Leah); she already knew that Jacob loved her sister.

8. Is being married to more than one woman at a time wrong, according to the Bible? It is not wrong as long as the culture and the society do not see it as wrong. Pastors cannot have more than one wife in any culture, according to the Bible. Yehovah did not originally design marriage to include multiple wives, but He never disallowed it, knowing that wars would slaughter many men, leaving women without enough men to go around. Women often desire to have children; that would put the women into too much competition, and would leave some totally unfulfilled. Therefore, Yehovah did not stop multiple wives. He never permits a woman to have more than one husband.

VII. Hard Feelings (verses 30-31)

Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Jacob served seven more years.

Yehovah saw Leah’s situation: she was hated. Yehovah opened her womb so that she could conceive. Yehovah did not open Rachel’s womb (at this time); she was barren.

Questions

1. Was Jacob wrong to love Rachel more than Leah? Jacob’s love had been toward Raquel in the first place. Leah was placed as his woman by a form of deceit. He wasn’t wrong; it was up to Leah to change it. She had participated in the deceit even if she had obeyed her father in the process.

2. Who hated Leah? This text doesn’t state that Jacob hated her. Yehovah left her hater as unidentified. It could have been Raquel who hated her, or even the slavewoman who came with Raquel. I do not assume that Jacob hated her. The text doesn’t need to say both: “he also loved Rachel more than Leah,” and “Leah is hated,” if both refer to Jacob.

3. Why did Yehovah open Leah’s womb? He did this, according to this text, because she was hated. Yehovah had compassion on her (He treated her well and with mercy).

4. Why was Raquel barren? Did Yehovah do this to her? The text does not state that Yehovah did it to her. A woman isn’t necessarily barren because Yehovah made her barren; she can be barren for a number of natural reasons.

VIII. The Race is On! (verses 32-35)

Leah conceived and childed (bore) a son.

Son #1 is Reuben (See ye, a son!). Leah said that Yehovah saw via her humiliation. She also thought that her man would now love her.

Leah conceived again, and bore a second son.

Son #2 is Shimon (Hearkening). Leah said that Yehovah hearkened. She stated that she was hated, and that Yehovah gave also this son to her.

Leah conceived a third time.

Son #3 is Levi (Joining). Leah said, “Now is the stroke!” meaning, “This time!” She continued, “My man will join unto me, for I have childed three sons to him!”

Leah conceived a fourth time.

Son #4 is Judah (He confessed Yah). Leah this time confessed Yehovah herself. That was the last child she had.

Questions

1. Was Leah right when she said, “Yehovah hath seen via my humiliation”? Was this why she became pregnant? She was right! This was why she became pregnant! Yehovah did not view her as having done wrong in the deception of Jacob.

2. Was she right thinking that her man will love her? She wasn’t right yet; but Jacob did have sexual intercourse with her so that she became pregnant. If his character had been like many men, he would not have done that. Those children were his children, and Leah was their mother.

3. To what did Yehovah hearken? What does this mean? The word hearken means to listen and to do. Yehovah hearkened to Leah’s calling to Him, because she was hated, and Yehovah gave her further pregnancy.

4. Did Yehovah give her this second child? Yes, He did. He is the one who gives all children. He chooses the parents to whom He will give children.

5. If Yehovah gives children to parents, why do some parents abuse their children and even some kill them? Some parents do not see or value the image of God in their children; they see their children as a burden, a responsibility that stops them from doing what they want to do without anything stopping them. They hate what their children require from them, and they are bitter against God. Yehovah will hold them responsible for what they do to their children. Children are gift from God.

6. What does stroke mean in, “Now is the stroke”? This is the Hebrew way of expressing rhythmic time—time like what one would hear in an old-fashioned watch that ticks, or in a clock that ticks. Each stroke or beat is the movement of time.

Thus, she is saying, “Now is the time!” She is hopeful that Jacob will truly love her.

7. What does “my man will join unto me” mean? Leah is hoping that Jacob will finally become connect with her as a wife. She feels very disconnected from him, and it bothers her very much.

8. Did Jacob join to her at this time? Nothing changed.

9. Was Jacob cruel to Leah? He wasn’t at all cruel. He served her well. His love was emotionally directed toward Raquel.

10. When she said, “The stroke! I will confess Yehovah,” did something change? Yes. Something did change. She no longer even expected Jacob to love her in the way that he loved Raquel; she is now confessing Yehovah. It is her turning to faith.

11. What does Yah mean? This is a contraction (an abbreviation) for Yehovah, and Yehovah is a contraction for Yehiyeh-Hoveh-Hayah, meaning, He will be, He is, He was.

12. What does “she stood childing” mean? This means that she stopped having children. The word stood is like the word stop in English in this type of a statement.

IX. The Surrogate Mother (Chapter 30, verses 1-4)

Rachel was beautiful in every way, and had the affections of her husband. And she was an unhappy woman, for she was not getting pregnant. She told Jacob to render children to her, and that she was dead if he didn’t. Jacob became angry. He asked her, “Am I under (in the place of) Elohim Who withheld fruit of the womb from thee?”

Raquel’s solution was to have Jacob impregnate Raquel’s slave; this way, Raquel could build from her slave. Jacob did what she said.

Questions

1. What type of character did Rachel have? She envied her sister. She also lost patience with her husband as if her lack of pregnancy was his fault.

2. What did she mean by, “Render children to me”? She was telling him to get her pregnant. It wasn’t that he wasn’t trying; she was barren.

3. Would she really die if she didn’t become pregnant? She was slightly exaggerating. She was humiliated by this state she was in. Many women in many cultures feel totally unfulfilled if they do not bear a child.

4. Who is Elohim? Elohim is a title, not a name. It literally means gods/Gods. When the ‘g’ of gods is small, it refers to false gods; when it is capitalized (‘G’ in Gods), it refers to One God Who is all the Gods—the Creator. So far, I have found that this refers to Yeshua (Jesus).

5. What did he mean by, “Am I under Elohim?” This means, “Am I in the place of Elohim?” To be under means to take the place of. If a king dies and his reigns, in the Bible, his son reigns in the place of his father.

6. Did Elohim truly withhold fruit of Raquel’s womb from her? Jacob was not a man to accuse Elohim. If Jacob said that this is the case, it is. Thus, Raquel was not naturally barren, but barren because Elohim had withheld fruit from her.

7. Why did Yehovah withhold fruit from Raquel? The text doesn’t say why, but it does state that Yehovah gave Leah conception because she was hated. The only way that this would be an advantage is if Raquel must wait for conception.

8. Was Raquel’s giving her slave, Bilhah, to Jacob to have a baby wrong, and was Jacob wrong for doing this pregnancy that is outside of marriage? If Yehovah had determined that this was wrong, He would have indicated that. He didn’t. I know of no place in the Bible that commands against this type of pregnancy. It isn’t the same as fornication. Esau was a fornicator, and Yehovah hated him. Raquel desired a child, and she used a surrogate. (A surrogate is one who stands in for another, and in this case, to have a baby.)

X. Bilhah’s Produce (verses 5-8)

Son #5 is Dan. Rachel named Bilhah’s children, because they belonged to Rachel.

Rachel stated that Elohim adjudicated her, and that He hearkened into her voice. She claimed this child as her son.

Bilhah again became pregnant.

Son #6 is Naphtali. Rachel continued obtaining the fruit of the womb from Bilhah. Raquel saw this as a competition, a wrestling match with her sister.

Questions

1. What does adjudicate mean? It means to formally judge (the action of a court of law). When the Bible says to judge, it usually doesn’t mean to go before judges, but it has to do with each person rendering a right decision based on all facts. Every person who can think must judge. Adjudicating, on the other hand, is much more formal, with judges who are either trained or are that thoughtful, or with Yehovah Who is quite a Judge!

2. Did Elohim really adjudicate Raquel? When I first looked at all these statements that these women made as they bore sons, I wondered if these things were true about them. Then I thought again: “Why would Yehovah put these things into the Bible? Aren’t they the opinions of these women?” I immediately knew that they were not the opinions of these women; they were prophetic. They were not about the women at all, though the women thought they were.

I don’t know if Elohim adjudicated Raquel at this point; if He did, the text doesn’t state what happened, except that she gained a child from Bilhah. I will later put these statements of these women together to show another picture.

3. Had Elohim hearkened into Raquel’s voice, and had He given a son to her? Raquel was in competition with her sister, and she was losing that competition. Later, Raquel will have idols that she will take from her father. I do not have evidence that Raquel believed in Elohim—at least the Elohim that the Bible describes. Raquel’s slave certainly bore a son, and the son did technically belong to Raquel, but this isn’t the end of this story!

4. When Bilhah again had a baby, Raquel said, “I have wrestled the wrestlings of Elohim with my sister.” What did she mean? Had she said, “I have wrestled with my sister,” I would have understood that this meant the obvious: the two sisters were wrestling with each other. This wording is different, since it involves “the wrestlings of Elohim,” as if Elohim is also wrestling. It is as if Raquel is saying, “I wrestled instead of Elohim, wrestling for Him, and struggling against my sister.” This doesn’t make sense, since the two sisters didn’t wrestle. What makes sense (to me) is that this is prophetic, referring to events to come during the Tribulation. When I combine these statements, this will make more sense. (You can combine them in advance to see what you see.)

5. What does “I was able” mean? This means that she succeeded in her struggle.

6. Did she succeed? I cannot tell that she did.

XI. Zilpah’s Produce (verses 9-13)

When Leah saw that she wasn’t any longer becoming pregnant, she gave her slavewoman to her husband so that he could get her pregnant.

Zilpah conceived and bore a son.

Son #7 is Gad. Leah declared, “Via a troop!”

Zilpah again conceived.

Son #8 is Asher. Leah declared, “Via my happiness! For daughters ‘happied’ me!”

Questions

1. Why did Leah still desire to produce more children, even if she obtained them through her slave? The text doesn’t tell us why. She may have been in competition with her sister—at least, that is what her sister thought, but no person is able to tell the motives of another person except Yehovah! (When folks start to claim to know the motives of others, they are gossiping; they are doing one of seven things that Yehovah says is an abomination to Him!) Leah did desire to give her husband more children. That isn’t gossip.

2. The phrase, “Via a troop!” is not a sentence. (A phrase is a piece of a sentence, not a sentence.) What does this phrase mean? Since via means by means of, this is declaring, “by means of a troop!” Yet, it doesn’t tell what is occurring by means of a troop. When we put the various statements together, it may make more sense.

3. When Zilpah again became pregnant, Leah said, “Via my happiness! For daughters ‘happied’ me!” What did she mean? Since via means by means of, she was saying, “by means of my happiness! For daughters ‘happied’ me!” To happy someone is to make the person happy; to give joy. I put the word ‘happied’ in quotes because that is not proper English! No one can ‘happy’ another person, in English, but a person can do something that will make another feel happy.

Who are these daughters? She had sons! Again, I will wait to string these together to see if something arises.

XII. The Mandrakes (verses 14-15)

Reuben found mandrakes while walking in the days of wheat harvest. He brought the plants home to his mama (Leah).

Rachel found out about the plants, and asked for them. Leah responded that Rachel had taken her man. Was she going to take her son’s mandrakes too? Rachel struck up a bargain: give me the mandrakes, and you can have sex with him tonight. She agreed.

Questions

1. When is wheat harvest? It can happen several times in a season in the land where they were living, depending on where they were. Wheat grows quickly in the spring, and is ready in the early summer. Wheat is a grass-like plant. (See if you can obtain some ripe wheat with the wheat berries still on it, and eat the berries. Be certain you have wheat; farmers in the area may grow some. If you can’t find any, obtain some wheat berries (seeds) and grow your own so that you can try it!)

2. What are mandrakes? This plant was identified several centuries ago as Atropa mandragora, a plant similar to the belladonna. The plant’s root is like that of a beet with white and red fragrant blossoms. It is considered a potent sexual stimulant. It looks like the following:

Mandrake Root

(from Wikipedia.org)

3. Had Raquel really taken Leah’s man? No, she hadn’t. Leah should have known better than this.

4. Why was Leah willing to bargain with Raquel for the mandrakes? My impression is that Jacob normally slept in Raquel’s tent, not in Leah’s tent. Thus, Leah normally had to sleep alone, which also meant that she rarely (if ever) had sexual intercourse with Jacob. This was an opportunity for her to accomplish both.

5. Did Leah accept this bargain? Yes, she did.

XIII. Jacob is Hired (verses 16-20)

Jacob had no idea of these plans. Leah met him when he came out of the field in the evening. She told him that she had hired him via (by way of) her son’s mandrakes. Jacob did what he was told.

Elohim also hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived. This was her fifth son, and Jacob’s ninth son.

Son #9 is Issachar. Leah stated, “Elohim gave my hire that I gave my slavewoman to my man!” She understood this as payment for giving her slavewoman to her man!

Leah wasn’t done, yet. She conceived again, bearing the sixth child and Jacob’s tenth son.

Son #10 is Zebulun. She said, “Elohim endowed me a good endowment! The stroke my man will cohabit with me, for I childed six sons to him!”

Questions

1. Was Leah right when she said that Elohim gave her hire because she had given her slavewoman to her man? I don’t know if she was right. I again will wait to see what all the statements say together!

2. What is an endowment? It is like a gift, but it also normally has a specific purpose for being given. Leah thought that Yehovah gave this to her so that it would convince Jacob to cohabit with her (live with her during the nights).

XV. It’s a Girl! (verse 21)

Leah again became pregnant, but this time with a girl. She named her Dinah (pronounced Dee-Nuh with the accent on the last syllable).

Questions

1. Why did these women bear only boys, except for this one girl? Sometimes this happens! Yehovah will intentionally build the twelve tribes from the twelve sons, but He also provided one daughter.

2. Why did Leah name her daughter with this name? It is as if Leah thought that Elohim formally judged for her (Leah).

XV. Finally, Rachel (verses 22-24)

Yehovah finally remembered Rachel. He hearkened to her; He opened her womb. She greatly desired to have a child.

Son #11 is Joseph.

She saw this as Elohim collecting her reproach (like the trash would be collected and removed). She did not use this as his name, however. She saw this as an additional son (to the ones she obtained through her slave), so she named him He-Adds (Joseph).

Questions

1. Why did Elohim wait so long to give Raquel pregnancy? Jacob loved Raquel; she had great advantages. He thus gave her pregnancy at the very end.

2. Did the mandrakes have anything to do with her becoming pregnant? Elohim opened her womb. All the mandrakes in the world would have done nothing without Elohim opening her womb.

3. Did Elohim collect her reproach? Her reproach (her being viewed with contempt and with insults) left as soon as she bore a son. Elohim did collect it. Women in some cultures feel as if they are cursed if they don’t bear at least one child. Women in some other cultures must bear a son, or they will feel cursed. These feelings are not Biblical, but they are part of some cultures.

4. Did Raquel really see the sons of her slave as her own sons? She did!

5. Are these all the children that Jacob will have? No! There is one more son coming later: Benjamin!

June 3, 2009October 7, 2016

Genesis 29-30 Jacob’s Wives and Children

Jacob’s Wives and Children

Background and Printed Text: Genesis 29:15-30:24

Genesis 29:15 And White (Laban) said unto He-Will-Heel (Jacob), “Because thou art my brother, and wilt thou serve me for nothing? Tell to me, what is thy wage?”

²⁰And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) served seven years via Ewe (Rachel). And they were in his eyes as single days via his love of her.

³²And Weary (Leah) conceived. And she childed a son. And she called his name See-Ye-A-Son! (Reuben). For she said, “For Yehovah saw via my humiliation! For now my man will love me!” ³³And she conceived again. And she childed a son. And she said, “For Yehovah hearkened! For I am hated! And He has given also this to me!” And she called his name Hearkening (Shimon). ³⁴And she conceived again. And she childed a son. And she said, “Now is the stroke! My man will join unto me! For I have childed three sons to him!” Therefore he called his name My-Joining (Levi). ³⁵And she conceived again. And she childed a son. And she said, “The stroke! I will confess Yehovah!” Therefore she called his name He-Confessed-Yah (Judah). And she stood childing.

(Chapter 30) ¹And Ewe (Rachel) saw that she did not child to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). And Ewe (Rachel) envied against her sister. And she said unto He-Will-Heel (Jacob), “Render children to me! And if not, I am dead!” ²And He-Will-Heel’s (Jacob’s) anger was kindled against Ewe (Rachel). And he said, “Am I under Elohim Who withheld fruit of the womb from thee?” ³And she said, “Behold my maid Via-Languishing (Bilhah)! Come unto her! And she shall bear upon my knees. And I, even I have built from her!” ⁴And she gave him Via-Languishing (Bilhah) her slavewoman for a woman. And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) came unto her.

⁵And Via-Languishing (Bilhah) conceived. And she childed a son to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). ⁶And Ewe (Rachel) said, “Elohim adjudicated me! And He hath also hearkened into my voice. And He gave a son to me!” Therefore she called his name Adjudicator (Dan). ⁷And she conceived again. And Via-Languishing (Bilhah) Ewe’s (Rachel’s) slavewoman childed to He-Will-Heel (Jacob) a second son. ⁸And Ewe (Rachel) said, “I have wrestled the wrestlings of Elohim with my sister. Also I was able!” And she called his name My-Wrestling (Naphtali).

¹⁶And He-Will-Heel (Jacob) came out of the field in the evening. And Weary (Leah) went out to meet him. And she said, “Thou shalt come unto me. For hiring, I hired thee via my son’s mandrakes!” And he lay with her in that night. ¹⁷ And Elohim hearkened unto Weary (Leah). And she conceived. And she childed the fifth son to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). ¹⁸ And Weary (Leah) said, “Elohim gave my hire that I gave my slavewoman to my man!” And she called his name There-is-a-Hire (Issachar). ¹⁹And Weary (Leah) conceived again. And she childed the sixth son to He-Will-Heel (Jacob). ²⁰And Weary (Leah) said, “Elohim endowed me a good endowment! The stroke my man will cohabit with me, for I childed six sons to him!” And she called his name They-Shall-Cohabit (Zebulun).

²¹And afterward she childed a daughter. And she called her name Her-Adjudication (Dinah).

I. Laban’s Business Dealings (verse 15)

Laban found that Jacob was a good worker; Jacob had worked without wages except for food and necessary supplies for the work. He wanted to know what wage Jacob desired.

Questions

1. Why did Jacob serve Laban for nothing?

2. Why did Laban offer to pay Jacob?

3. Was Jacob Laban’s brother?

II. Laban’s Daughters (verses 16-18)

Laban had two daughters: Leah and Rachel (or Raquel). Leah’s eyes are soft. Raquel had a beautiful figure and a beautiful appearance. Jacob fell in love with Raquel.

Questions

1. What do soft eyes sometimes indicate?

2. Who had the greater advantages, Leah or Raquel?

3. Why would parents name a daughter Weary?

4. Did Jacob dislike Leah?

5. What is love?

III. The Answer (verses 18-19)

Jacob agreed to serve Laban for seven years in order to obtain Rachel for a wife. Laban said that it was better to give Rachel to Jacob than to another man. Laban desired Jacob to dwell with him.

Questions

1. Why was Jacob willing to serve Laban for seven years for Raquel?

2. Why did Laban believe that it was better to give her to Jacob than to another man?

3. What did Laban mean by, “Dwell with me”?

IV. Serving and Waiting (verse 20)

Jacob did not mind waiting for this beautiful girl. Seven years went by as if they were a few days. His love for this girl lasted.

Questions

1. Did Jacob forget about going home? Wasn’t he homesick?

2. Was Jacob good at what he did?

3. Was being a shepherd of sheep very profitable?

V. The Trick (verses 21-24)

In the meantime, Laban gave to Leah a slavewoman named Zilpah to help with the chores.

Questions

2. Did Laban do wrong to gather the men of the place and to throw a drinking party?

3. Did Laban do wrong to bring Leah instead of Rachel to Jacob on this honeymoon night?

4. Why didn’t Jacob notice that he was having sexual intercourse with Leah instead of Raquel?

5. Were slaves often given with daughters when the daughters were given in marriage?

VI. The Confrontation and Bargain (verses 25-30)

Rachel was given Bilhah to serve her. Jacob then had sexual intercourse with Rachel.

Questions

1. Why did Jacob confront Laban, but he didn’t confront Leah?

2. Did Laban beguile Jacob?

3. Did Laban speak the truth when he said, “It is not so done in our place—to give the young to the faces of the firstborn”?

4. How did Leah feel on the next morning after the honeymoon night?

5. What was part of fulfilling the seven (week) of a woman (verse 27)?

6. In Jacob’s mind, he was truly serving Laban for Rachel for fourteen years. Was this worthwhile to him?

7. How would Leah feel to now have her sister become a wife to her man?

8. Is being married to more than one woman at a time wrong, according to the Bible?

VII. Hard Feelings (verses 30-31)

Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Jacob served seven more years.

Yehovah saw Leah’s situation: she was hated. Yehovah opened her womb so that she could conceive. Yehovah did not open Rachel’s womb (at this time); she was barren.

Questions

1. Was Jacob wrong to love Rachel more than Leah?

2. Who hated Leah?

3. Why did Yehovah open Leah’s womb?

4. Why was Raquel barren? Did Yehovah do this to her?

VIII. The Race is On! (verses 32-35)

Leah conceived and childed (bore) a son.

Son #1 is Reuben (See ye, a son!). Leah said that Yehovah saw via her humiliation. She also thought that her man would now love her.

Leah conceived again, and bore a second son.

Son #2 is Shimon (Hearkening). Leah said that Yehovah hearkened. She stated that she was hated, and that Yehovah gave also this son to her.

Leah conceived a third time.

Son #3 is Levi (Joining). Leah said, “Now is the stroke!” meaning, “This time!” She continued, “My man will join unto me, for I have childed three sons to him!”

Leah conceived a fourth time.

Son #4 is Judah (He confessed Yah). Leah this time confessed Yehovah herself. That was the last child she had.

Questions

1. Was Leah right when she said, “Yehovah hath seen via my humiliation”? Was this why she became pregnant?

2. Was she right thinking that her man will love her?

3. To what did Yehovah hearken? What does this mean?

4. Did Yehovah give her this second child?

5. If Yehovah gives children to parents, why do some parents abuse their children and even some kill them?

6. What does stroke mean in, “Now is the stroke”?

7. What does “my man will join unto me” mean?

8. Did Jacob join to her at this time?

9. Was Jacob cruel to Leah?

10. When she said, “The stroke! I will confess Yehovah,” did something change?

11. What does Yah mean?

12. What does “she stood childing” mean?

IX. The Surrogate Mother (Chapter 30, verses 1-4)

Raquel’s solution was to have Jacob impregnate Raquel’s slave; this way, Raquel could build from her slave. Jacob did what she said.

Questions

1. What type of character did Rachel have?

2. What did she mean by, “Render children to me”?

3. Would she really die if she didn’t become pregnant?

4. Who is Elohim?

5. What did he mean by, “Am I under Elohim?”

6. Did Elohim truly withhold fruit of Raquel’s womb from her?

7. Why did Yehovah withhold fruit from Raquel?

8. Was Raquel’s giving her slave, Bilhah, to Jacob to have a baby wrong, and was Jacob wrong for doing this pregnancy that is outside of marriage?

X. Bilhah’s Produce (verses 5-8)

Son #5 is Dan. Rachel named Bilhah’s children, because they belonged to Rachel.

Rachel stated that Elohim adjudicated her, and that He hearkened into her voice. She claimed this child as her son.

Bilhah again became pregnant.

Son #6 is Naphtali. Rachel continued obtaining the fruit of the womb from Bilhah. Raquel saw this as a competition, a wrestling match with her sister.

Questions

1. What does adjudicate mean?

2. Did Elohim really adjudicate Raquel?

3. Had Elohim hearkened into Raquel’s voice, and had He given a son to her?

4. When Bilhah again had a baby, Raquel said, “I have wrestled the wrestlings of Elohim with my sister.” What did she mean?

5. What does “I was able” mean?

6. Did she succeed?

XI. Zilpah’s Produce (verses 9-13)

When Leah saw that she wasn’t any longer becoming pregnant, she gave her slavewoman to her husband so that he could get her pregnant.

Zilpah conceived and bore a son.

Son #7 is Gad. Leah declared, “Via a troop!”

Zilpah again conceived.

Son #8 is Asher. Leah declared, “Via my happiness! For daughters ‘happied’ me!”

Questions

1. Why did Leah still desire to produce more children, even if she obtained them through her slave?

2. The phrase, “Via a troop!” is not a sentence. (A phrase is a piece of a sentence, not a sentence.) What does this phrase mean?

3. When Zilpah again became pregnant, Leah said, “Via my happiness! For daughters ‘happied’ me!” What did she mean?

XII. The Mandrakes (verses 14-15)

Reuben found mandrakes while walking in the days of wheat harvest. He brought the plants home to his mama (Leah).

Questions

1. When is wheat harvest?

2. What are mandrakes?

3. Had Raquel really taken Leah’s man?

4. Why was Leah willing to bargain with Raquel for the mandrakes?

5. Did Leah accept this bargain?

XIII. Jacob is Hired (verses 16-20)

Jacob had no idea of these plans. Leah met him when he came out of the field in the evening. She told him that she had hired him via (by way of) her son’s mandrakes. Jacob did what he was told.

Elohim also hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived. This was her fifth son, and Jacob’s ninth son.

Son #9 is Issachar. Leah stated, “Elohim gave my hire that I gave my slavewoman to my man!” She understood this as payment for giving her slavewoman to her man!

Leah wasn’t done, yet. She conceived again, bearing the sixth child and Jacob’s tenth son.

Son #10 is Zebulun. She said, “Elohim endowed me a good endowment! The stroke my man will cohabit with me, for I childed six sons to him!”

Questions

1. Was Leah right when she said that Elohim gave her hire because she had given her slavewoman to her man?

2. What is an endowment?

XV. It’s a Girl! (verse 21)

Leah again became pregnant, but this time with a girl. She named her Dinah (pronounced Dee-Nuh with the accent on the last syllable).

Questions

1. Why did these women bear only boys, except for this one girl?

2. Why did Leah name her daughter with this name?

XV. Finally, Rachel (verses 22-24)

Yehovah finally remembered Rachel. He hearkened to her; He opened her womb. She greatly desired to have a child.

Son #11 is Joseph.

Questions

1. Why did Elohim wait so long to give Raquel pregnancy?

2. Did the mandrakes have anything to do with her becoming pregnant?

3. Did Elohim collect her reproach?

4. Did Raquel really see the sons of her slave as her own sons?

5. Are these all the children that Jacob will have?

April 28, 2009October 7, 2016

Genesis 29 Jacob Finds His Relatives QA Supplied

Jacob Finds His Relatives

(Questions and Proposed Answers Supplied)

Background and Printed Text: Genesis 29:1-14

Genesis 29:1 And He-Will-Heel carried his feet. And he walked toward the land of the sons of the east. ²And he saw. And behold, a well is in the field. And behold, three flocks of sheep couching upon her are there. For they watered the flocks from that well. And the stone is big upon the mouth of the well. ³And all the flocks will be gathered there. And they will roll the stone from upon the mouth of the well. And they will water the sheep. And they will return the stone upon the mouth of the well to her place.

⁴And He-Will-Heel said to them, “My brethren, from where are ye?” And they said, “We are from Fury.” ⁵And he said to them, “Knew ye White the son of Snorer?” And they said, “We knew.” ⁶And he said to them, “Is peace to him?” And they said, “Peace. And behold, Ewe his daughter came with the flock.”

⁷And he said, “Behold, the day is yet big. [It] is not time for the cattle to be gathered. Water ye the flock. And go-ye. Pasture-ye.” ⁸And they said, “We will not be able until all the flocks shall be gathered and they shall roll the stone from upon the mouth of the well. And we will water the flock.”

⁹He is yet speaking with them. And Ewe came with the flock that is to her father. For he is a shepherdess. ¹⁰And he was just as He-Will-Heel saw Ewe the daughter of White his mother’s brother and the sheep of White his mother’s brother. And He-Will-Heel approached. And he rolled the stone from upon the mouth of the well. And he watered the flock of White his mother’s brother. ¹¹And He-Will-Heel kissed Ewe. And he carried his voice. And he wept.

¹²And He-Will-Heel told to Ewe that he is her father’s brother, and that he is Multiple-Pouring’s son. And she ran. And she told to her father. ¹³And he was as White’s hearing news of He-Will-Heel his sister’s son. And he ran to meet him. And he embraced him. And he kissed him. And he brought him unto his house. And he scrolled to White all these things. ¹⁴And White said to him, “But thou art my bone and my flesh!” And he dwelt with him a month of days.

I. Jacob and the Well (verses 1-3)

The Hebrew says that Jacob carried his feet. He had just seen the ladder, and he had spoken with Yehovah. He went toward Laban’s house.

He walked toward a place known as the land of the sons of the east. He looked and saw a well in a field. There were three flocks by it, so Jacob knew that this was a gathering place.

They watered the flocks from this well. A very large stone was placed over the well’s mouth; only when the stone was rolled from the well’s mouth could the sheep be watered. Then the stone was put back again. The shepherds and shepherdesses could not individually remove this large stone; it was far too heavy. Some strong men did the moving of the stone on a daily basis.

Questions

1. What does “Jacob carried his feet” mean? This describes something different from walking. It is as if Jacob is depressed, and had to force himself to continue walking. Feet normally carry the person!

2. What is the land of the sons of the east? This refers to India or China, since both locations are east of where he was. Those living on those lands are sons of the east.

3. Jacob, like Avraham’s slave, came right to the right spot and just at the right time to meet a relative of Laban. Did Jacob have good luck or didn’t he? Luck isn’t a Biblical idea. It belongs to occult beliefs—beliefs that are hidden with secrets, powers and forces that are unseen. The Bible is designed to be the opposite of occult (hidden) things, revealing what is occurring in the world and universe. While angels are normally invisible, the Bible explains their doings and their work. Those who use the occult, who are witches, worlocks, drug pushers, illegal drug suppliers and users, followers of popular astrology, palm readers, tarrot card readers, Quija Board users, etc., do not fear Yehovah the God of the Bible, and will desire to have ‘good luck.’ Jacob didn’t have bad or good luck. He had Yehovah.

4. What does couching mean (verse 2)? This describes an animal at rest with its head up and its four hooves or paws in a forward position:

5. Why were the sheep couching? They were at rest, waiting either for water or for moving to pasture lands where they could graze.

6. Why did they use that well (instead of another well)? Wells are rare in that part of the world. Not many places have water that is accessible for sheep. They used what they could, just as they still do in the Middle East.

7. Why was a stone placed over the well, and how was it shaped? Keeping a well covered avoided animals falling in and dying when the well wasn’t being used. It would also keep others from using it without help from strong individuals.

The shape of the stone was round, like this:

It was a large flattened disc that could be rolled.

8. Who will normally roll the stone from the well and will return the stone to the well to cover it? Strong shepherds normally did this.

II. The Inquiry (verses 4-6)

Jacob was the stranger to the area, but he asked them, “From where are ye?” or the way we might say it, “Where are you from?” They told him that they are from Haran (Fury). He then inquired about Laban (White), and they knew him.

In Hebrew, the question, “Is there peace to you?” means, “Are you doing well?” For if one is not doing well, he doesn’t have peace. He asked about Laban’s peace, And they responded, “Peace.” They also knew Rachel, and they told Jacob that she came with the flock.

Questions

1. Why did Jacob call strangers brethren? Jacob is from the Syrian culture:

Deuteronomy 26:5 And thou shalt speak and say before Yehovah thy God, “A Syrian ready to perish was my father. And he went down into Egypt. And he sojourned there with a few. And he became a great, mighty and populous nation there.”

While Avraham, Isaac and Jacob were not Syrian by race, but were Arphaxadi, they were Syrian by culture. Jacob could call them brethren for this reason, and perhaps for other reasons.

2. The brethren answered that they knew White (Laban), and peace was to him. Why didn’t they say more? The text doesn’t say. As we read more about Laban, we may know why they said so little about him!

3. Is Ewe a good name for a girl? What is a ewe? A ewe is a female sheep. Sheep can be very delightful and gentle; this would be a good name for a daughter. Her name in English is Rachel or Raquel.

4. Since Ewe (Raquel) has her own flock of sheep, is she wealthy? No; she is very poor. Being a shepherd was a very low-status job, and being a shepherdess is even lower!

III. Jacob’s Advice (verses 7-8)

Jacob was mystified. There were three flocks by this covered well, and the day is yet big (the sun is high); this isn’t the time to gather cattle. He told them to water the flock and to take them to pasture.

They explained that they were unable to do this. All the flocks must be gathered; then and only then will they role the stone from the mouth of the well. They can then water the flock.

Questions

1. Why did Jacob act in such a bossy manner (verse 7)? He didn’t. This would be bossy in English, but it isn’t in Hebrew. He was inquiring to find why they were standing by a well doing nothing when the sheep should be drinking or eating.

2. What does “Behold, the day is yet big” mean? This means that there is still much more daylight.

3. What is the time that cattle should be gathered? That is much closer to the evening. Folks had to watch their cattle and flocks because animals might attack and humans would steal if they didn’t watch.

4. What does “Pasture-ye” mean? This means to take the animals to places where they can graze well, those lands being called pastures. This is where the word pastor comes. A pastor is one who leads folks to where they can find Biblical Truth (like food) to eat and Biblical Life (like waters) to drink. The idea of a pastor isn’t to make folks dependent on him or her for these things, but to be independent. The pastor (shepherd) also has other responsibilities, like warning the flock and taking care of needs that they can. Members of the flock in turn give them what they produce (like sheep give wool and milk).

IV. Jacob’s Sudden Strength (verses 9-11)

Jacob was still in conversation when Rachel and her flock arrived. When Jacob saw her and the sheep, Jacob approached the well and rolled the stone cover from it. He then watered the flock of Laban. After this, he kissed Rachel. Then Jacob carried (lifted) his voice and wept out loud.

Questions

1. What other text describes an event that is like this, in which a slave is speaking to Yehovah and making a request, when he is also interrupted by seeing an important girl? This was what occurred with Avraham’s slave who went to obtain a woman for Isaac. He was making a request, and she (Rivka) came along.

2. Why does the text read, “For he is a shepherdess,” when he is a girl? That is the Hebrew way of saying, “For this is a shepherdess,” referring to her as a member of the human race rather than as an individual. All members of the human race are generically described (described in a general, non-specific way) as he. (Everyone is a soul, and the human souls of men and women, girls and boys are always feminine in gender, as if they were girls!)

3. Why did Jacob suddenly approach the stone over the mouth of the well, and roll it off? It was because he saw Raquel! She was cute. He went into action to serve her.

4. Where did Jacob get the strength to move such a heavy rock? His strength either came from adrenaline (a chemical that gives sudden strength when a person has a sudden emotional response to something that requires extra energy), or it came from Yehovah. Either way, it was there!

5. Why did Jacob water the flock? Jacob wanted to serve his Uncle Laban, and he wanted to serve Raquel.

6. Why did Jacob kiss Rachel before he explained who he was? Wasn’t this wrong? After all, kissing a girl was a very big deal in those days! Jacob kissed her because she was kin to him. This wasn’t wrong. There was nothing wrong about this kiss; it was proper affection.

7. Wasn’t Jacob a wimp, a sissy or a wuss for weeping out loud? He was quite the opposite. He was very tough, and therefore he wasn’t afraid to show emotions. Cultures in the Bible openly showed emotions without appearing to be cowards.

V. Laban Comes (verses 12-14)

Jacob told Rachel how he was related to her. He called himself “her father’s brother,” but the word “brother” is used to mean “relative” when used this way. He said that he was Rebekah’s (Rivka’s) son. Rachel ran and told her father (leaving Jacob by the well).

Laban heard the news, and he ran to meet Jacob. He embraced him (he hugged him tightly), and he kissed him. (Men kiss men in many cultures, and it does not mean that they are attracted to each other; it means that they are glad to see each other or that they will miss each other when they part.)

Laban then brought Jacob to his house. Jacob scrolled to Laban what had happened at his house, and why he had come. Laban said that he (Jacob) was his bone and flesh!

Jacob stayed with Laban for a month of days—that is, for about thirty days.

Questions

1. Ewe ran. Did she leave the sheep? She must have! They were safe enough; they had been watered, and they were content.

2. Did her father live far away? The text doesn’t say. He probably wasn’t close. If he lived close, she would not be waiting by the well; she would be waiting at home. If Laban had been close, he could have had some of his men move the stone from the well. Since they all just waited, the well must have been a distance from where she lived.

3. What does “And he was” mean? This tells the reader that the next event about to be described occurred at the same time as the event already occurring. For example, Laban hears the news of Jacob. He immediately runs to meet him. Thus, Laban’s running to meet him was (occurred) when White heard the news. It is like “It came to pass,” but this expression sounds like it is describing a fairy tale! The Bible tells what happened next.

4. Was Laban happy to see him? Yes, he was.

5. What did Jacob tell Laban? Jacob told Laban all these things. He scrolled it to him, giving the events in order.

6. What did Laban mean by, “but thou art my bone and my flesh”? He meant that Jacob was a close relative, though he used the expression found in marriage.

7. Was it good for Jacob to stay a full month? It was fine and such long stays were normal, at that time.

April 28, 2009October 7, 2016

Genesis 29 Jacob Finds His Relatives

Jacob Finds His Relatives

(See this link to open the same document with proposed answers)

Background and Printed Text: Genesis 29:1-14

I. Jacob and the Well (verses 1-3)

The Hebrew says that Jacob carried his feet. He had just seen the ladder, and he had spoken with Yehovah. He went toward Laban’s house.

He walked toward a place known as the land of the sons of the east. He looked and saw a well in a field. There were three flocks by it, so Jacob knew that this was a gathering place.

Questions

1. What does “Jacob carried his feet” mean?

2. What is the land of the sons of the east?

3. Jacob, like Avraham’s slave, came right to the right spot and just at the right time to meet a relative of Laban. Did Jacob have good luck or didn’t he?

4. What does couching mean (verse 2)?

5. Why were the sheep couching?

6. Why did they use that well (instead of another well)?

7. Why was a stone placed over the well, and how was it shaped?

8. Who will normally roll the stone from the well and will return the stone to the well to cover it?

II. The Inquiry (verses 4-6)

Questions

1. Why did Jacob call strangers brethren?

2. The brethren answered that they knew White (Laban), and peace was to him. Why didn’t they say more?

3. Is Ewe a good name for a girl? What is a ewe?

4. Since Ewe (Raquel) has her own flock of sheep, is she wealthy?

III. Jacob’s Advice (verses 7-8)

They explained that they were unable to do this. All the flocks must be gathered; then and only then will they role the stone from the mouth of the well. They can then water the flock.

Questions

1. Why did Jacob act in such a bossy manner (verse 7)?

2. What does “Behold, the day is yet big” mean?

3. What is the time that cattle should be gathered?

4. What does “Pasture-ye” mean?

IV. Jacob’s Sudden Strength (verses 9-11)

Questions

1. What other text describes an event that is like this, in which a slave is speaking to Yehovah and making a request, when he is also interrupted by seeing an important girl?

2. Why does the text read, “For he is a shepherdess,” when he is a girl?

3. Why did Jacob suddenly approach the stone over the mouth of the well, and roll it off?

4. Where did Jacob get the strength to move such a heavy rock?

5. Why did Jacob water the flock?

6. Why did Jacob kiss Rachel before he explained who he was? Wasn’t this wrong? After all, kissing a girl was a very big deal in those days!

7. Wasn’t Jacob a wimp, a sissy or a wuss for weeping out loud?

V. Laban Comes (verses 12-14)

Laban then brought Jacob to his house. Jacob scrolled to Laban what had happened at his house, and why he had come. Laban said that he (Jacob) was his bone and flesh!

Jacob stayed with Laban for a month of days—that is, for about thirty days.

Questions

1. Ewe ran. Did she leave the sheep?

2. Did her father live far away?

3. What does “And he was” mean?

4. Was Laban happy to see him?

5. What did Jacob tell Laban?

6. What did Laban mean by, “but thou art my bone and my flesh”?

7. Was it good for Jacob to stay a full month?

February 20, 2009July 5, 2017

The Other Flood of Genesis

The Other Flood: Genesis 1:1-1:2

Genesis starts out in the following manner (translated literally):

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the land. 2And the land became chaotic and a mess. And darkness is upon the faces of the deep. And the Spirit of Elohim brooded over the faces of the waters. 3And Elohim said, “Be, light!” And light was.

This simple beginning gives information that requires much thought. Please consider this with me as I express thoughts that I had. (Feel free to challenge all or any part of those thoughts.)

Beginning

The term beginning is unspecified. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t specific. Its timing is most certainly specific, but Yehovah did not give that information in this text. The reader therefore must consider the question, “What beginning is this?” It was the beginning of the heavens and the land, of course. The Bible refers to land as one of two types: a specific area of habitable (or inhabitable) soil not including any seas or oceans (like the Land of Israel), or the entirety of habitable (or inhabitable) soil on the planet. Thus, land doesn’t include what is on Mars or the moon. Planet earth is in mind.

While the heavens and the land began at this time, that still doesn’t explain the beginning, because a beginning describes a series of events, not a series of objects. I have thus far concluded that this was the beginning of the plan of Yehovah for humans; I haven’t yet found evidence to change this perspective.

Creation

I next considered creation. This word means to cause something to come into existence. It can including making and forming things, but it normally indicates a finished product’s new existence. (Texts would specify if anything created were unfinished.) Thus, Elohim caused the heavens and the land to exist where they previously did not.

Was and Became

The next verse starts, “And the land became chaotic and a mess.” The verb I rendered became normally means to be (including was, will be, is, are, am, etc.). Lot’s wife was not a pillar of salt before she peered after her; she became a pillar of salt (the text uses the same verb). I therefore saw that this verb can indicate a change of state. That doesn’t prove that it does. I needed more evidence before arriving at that conclusion.

The same word translated chaotic (Tohu) is used in a related text:

Isaiah 45:18 For so said Yehovah Creator of the heavens─He is the Gods, and the Former of the land and her Maker. And He ‘foundationed’ her. He didn’t create her chaotic. He formed her to dwell.

I knew from this that Yehovah didn’t create her (the land) chaotic. Thus, I knew that Genesis 1:2 was not describing the form of the land at the beginning, but something that it became. Thus, I had what was proof for me. My connections with Isaiah 45:18 were the following:

Both spoke of the Creator creating.
Both spoke of the creation of the heavens.
Both spoke of the land.
Both spoke using chaotic—the very same word.

Thus, I had four points of reference, and I knew that both texts referred to the same event.

Darkness

I thus considered the darkness. I did not disregard verse 3 and the only event that Yehovah did on Day 1: He caused the light to be. (Verse 4 states that He saw the light; it does not mention the heavens and the land. Thus, I knew that the creation of the heavens and the land were not on Day 1.) I therefore concluded that He did not appreciate that darkness that was upon the faces of the deep. I now had three negatives: chaos, mess, and darkness. I could tell that Elohim was not pleased with the situation in verse 2.

Brooding

I now encountered a fourth negative: “The Spirit of Elohim brooded over the faces of the waters.” I was curious about the meaning and flavour of this term. According to William Gesenius, the brilliant (and rarely incorrect) lexicographer, the word mrakhefet “is used of birds which brood over their young; of a mother cherishing her infant; of Elisha cherishing the dead body of the child; also of a voice descending from heaven and hovering in the air; also to pity.” I thus saw emotion in this word, not merely a positioning (as in hovering). Elohim reacted to what He saw, and His reaction was listed in the rest of the chapter. He determined to change what He saw into something else: something alive.

No Land

I also noted that no land was visible. (I looked ahead to verses 9 and 10.) Only later did land appear. Yet, land had been there in verse 1. I therefore concluded that verse 2 described a flood.

Violence

Since I knew about another flood (in Genesis 6), I began connecting both together to obtain a reason for this first flood. Yehovah hates violence, and He reacts to rampant violence. He killed every land animal and human in Noah’s flood. I noted that He killed every land animal (except those that went into the Ark). He didn’t kill the animals because they sinned, but to instruct man.

I saw fossilized bones of extinct animals. (I also saw reconstructions of bones, skin, hair, etc. that were from man’s imaginations.) I could not ignore the fossilized bones. Yehovah left them there for a record and for a warning. (The stars also are a record and a warning, and the firmament will also be.) Archaeologists found victim’s bones inside the jaws of larger creatures in some of their digs. Those records show a type of violence that seems like what one would expect from a wolf that attacks a sheep, but that isn’t the case. There is a difference between killing and obtaining food, and just killing. I could not prove this, but I noticed it.

Extinction

I also noted that many animals became extinct. They were extinct before the flood of Genesis 1:2. (They would have had to survive that flood had they been alive afterward, or they would have had to be created in one of the days listed in the rest of Genesis 1.) Elohim makes things right. Why were they extinct? The only way all of the land animals would be extinct at one time, while the sea life was not extinct, would be Yehovah doing what He did in Genesis 6.

Some have held that all the land dinosaurs were represented on Noah’s Ark along with the other species present today. They obviously did not do the measurements. The Ark was three stories tall. Some dinosaurs have been at least that tall. Some of those same persons have held that babies of all the animals were on the ark. Babies eat quite a bit, some more than their parents while they grow, and the animals were on the Ark for a little over one year. The volume of animal matter would far exceed the Ark’s volume if prehistoric species are included. Then those who hold such ideas would have to have a mass extinction after the animals left the Ark. This would show Yehovah as having little sense, since humans would not bring the extinction of most species, but would instead use them for various work animals.

No Fish Extinction

As I noted above, no fish were harmed in the flood in Noah’s day. Scientists found fossils of sea creatures, and they studied them for their ancient designs. Then a man caught one of these extinct sea creatures (the coelacanth) off of Africa; it was enjoying life, quite alive: “The coelacanths, which are related to lungfishes and tetrapods, were believed to have been extinct since the end of the Cretaceous period, until the first Latimeria specimen was found off the east coast of South Africa, off the Chalumna River in 1938.” (Wikipedia) Yehovah made a distinction between sea life and land life in Noah’s flood, and I was now convinced that the same was true in the Genesis 1:2 flood.

Time

I therefore considered the amount of time that elapsed between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. If Genesis 1:2 described a flood and its destruction, I knew Yehovah would wait to do this since He always waited in Biblically described destructions. Time would also be required for His peaceful creation to become entirely violent (since entire violence alone is enough for Yehovah to destroy a place). I had no way to tell how long this would be. I do not believe in Carbon Dating, since that assumes a certain initial quantity of radioactive carbon, and I don’t care for data drawn using assumptions. Since fossil records can be plentiful, I considered that many years would have passed. When scientists speak of multiple millions of years, I don’t have reason to argue. I know that the stars, sun, moon, humans and other things created in the six days of Genesis 1 are only about 6,000 years old, and that Yehovah created the stars’ lights already arriving to the earth. (Otherwise, we would not be able to see stars that are more than 6,000 light years away.)

Evolution

Some equate dinosaurs with evolution. In their views, if one believes in dinosaurs, one espouses evolution; and if one believes in evolution, naturally that person believes in dinosaurs. I am not of these perspectives. I know there were dinosaurs. I know that scientific evolution that involves species turning into completely different species is not true. Species can adapt to new environments.

I hope these considerations have been helpful. Yehovah has always given man warnings, and has sometimes used animals for that very purpose. Wise humans will study animals (living and extinct) to obtain these warnings.