Lesson 9 Jacob Returns to Canaan Genesis 32

Lesson 9 Jacob Returns to Canaan Genesis 32 – 36

Review Before the Flood Scattering Patriarchs Genesis Creation 0 Flood 1650 Abraham’s Joseph’s Birth 2008 ~2259 Isaac’s Birth 2108 Jacob’s Birth 2168 Joseph’s Death ~2369

In Genesis 32, Jacob returns to Canaan. Describe his preparations to meet his brother Esau. • Genesis 32: 1 – 21 • Jacob sends messengers before him to Esau in the land of Seir to tell Esau that he was coming back • The messengers tell Jacob that they went to Esau and Esau is coming to meet Jacob with 400 men • Jacob becomes greatly afraid • Jacob divides his people and animals into two companies so that if Esau attacks one company, the other company will survive • Jacob prayed to God • Jacob says he is not worthy of the least of the mercies and truth God had shown him • Jacob says he crossed over the Jordan with his staff and now he has these two companies • Jacob asked God to deliver him from Esau because he feared Esau would attack him • Jacob reminds God of the descendant promise God made to Jacob

In Genesis 32, Jacob returns to Canaan. Describe his preparations to meet his brother Esau. • Genesis 32: 1 – 21 • Jacob prepared gifts for Esau to be delivered in waves • • • 200 female goats and 20 male goats 200 ewes and 20 rams 30 camels with their colts 40 cows and 10 bulls 20 female donkeys and 10 foals • Each wave of gifts was to say that these are your servants Jacob’s. It is a present to my lord Esau, and Jacob is behind us • Jacob sent all these before him, but he lodged that night in the camp

Before Jacob meets Esau, he has a wrestling match. Describe what happened and the result of the wrestling match. • Genesis 32: 22 – 32 • Jacob sent his wives, maidservants, sons, and what he had over the ford of Jabbok • Jacob was left alone and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of dawn • Hosea 12: 2 – 4 calls the “Man” the “Angel” • The Man saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, so He touched (struck) the socket of Jacob’s hip so that it came out of joint • Jacob continued to wrestle and would not let go • The Man tells Jacob to let Him go since the day was breaking • Jacob says he will not let the Man go unless the Man blesses him • The Man asks Jacob what his name is and then changes Jacob’s name to Israel since he had struggled with God and with men and had prevailed • Israel – Prince with God • Jacob asks the Man for His name, but the Man doesn’t give it however, He blesses Jacob • Jacob crossed over Penuel (Face of God) and limped on his hip

Before Jacob meets Esau, he has a wrestling match. Describe what happened and the result of the wrestling match. • Genesis 32: 22 – 32 • Somewhat difficult to understand the reason for this wrestling match • Possibly a physical action to represent Jacob’s difficulties he has brought by his actions • Taking Esau’s birthright • Tricking Isaac for the blessing • Jacob’s name to Israel since he had struggled with God and with men and had prevailed • He had not done things with faith in God – didn’t let God take care of him • Struggled with God • Was deceptive with Esau and Isaac, and was treated poorly by Laban • Struggled with man • Yet through all of this God has kept him • Prevailed (not that Jacob prevailed over God, but that God still cared for him) • Showing Jacob that he hasn’t been what he should be, and now needs to

In Genesis 33, Jacob meets Esau. Describe the reunion. • Genesis 33: 1 – 17 • Jacob prepares to meet Esau by dividing up his children between Leah, Rachel, and his two maidservants • Jacob then put the maidservants and their children in front, then Leah and her children, and Rachel and Joseph last • Jacob crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times until he came near Esau • Instead of attacking, Esau embraced him and kissed him and they wept • After Jacob introduces his family, Esau tells Jacob to keep the gifts Jacob gave to him • Jacob convinces Esau to keep the gifts • Esau tells Jacob they should travel together, but Jacob says they are too slow with flocks and children • Jacob convinces Esau to go ahead and he would travel slowly • Esau returned to Seir • Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built a house and booths for his animals

Describe the dream Jacob has on his way to Haran. What was Jacob’s response to the dream? Mahanaim • Genesis 33: 18 – 20 • After living in a house in Succoth, Jacob traveled to Shechem and pitched his tent • Jacob bought the parcel of land in Shecum for 100 pieces of money • Jacob built an altar Succoth Shechem Penial

Describe the incident with Jacob’s daughter Dinah. • Genesis 34 • Dinah (Leah’s daughter) went out to see the daughters of the land • The prince of the country, Shechem, violated Dinah • Shechem loved Dinah and told his father, Hamor, to get Dinah for his wife • Hamor goes to speak to Jacob and Jacob’s sons came in from the field to hear • Jacob’s sons were very grieved • Hamor asks for Dinah for Shechem • Jacob’s sons say they cannot unless all of their males are circumcised (they said this with deception) • Hamor and Shechem agree to the terms (Shechem is called out for being more honorable than all the household of his father in verse 19) • Shechem talks to the men of the city and they all agree and are circumcised

Describe the incident with Jacob’s daughter Dinah. • Genesis 34 • On the third day when they were in pain, Simeon and Levi came into the city and killed all the males, took Dinah, and plundered the city • They took their sheep, oxen, and donkeys • They took what was in the field and in the city • They took all their wealth • They took all their little ones and wives captive • They plundered even what was in their house • Jacob is upset with Simeon and Levi • Jacob says the inhabitants of the land will gather together and destroy his household • Simeon and Levi reply with “Should he treat our sister like a harlot? ”

Why did Jacob return to Bethel? What did Jacob order his household to do before they went to Bethel? • Genesis 35: 1 • God tells Jacob to go to Bethel and make an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from Esau • Genesis 35: 2 – 4 • Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments • Jacob says he is going to make an altar to God, who answered him in his day of distress • Jacob hid all the idols and the earrings that were in their ears under the terebinth trees by Shechem • Genesis 35: 5 • The terror of God was upon the cities all around so that they did not pursue Jacob • Remember that Simeon and Levi killed all the males of the city of Hamor and Shechem

Why did Jacob return to Bethel? What did Jacob order his household to do before they went to Bethel? Mahanaim Succoth Shechem Bethel Penial

What happened in Genesis 35: 8? • Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried below Bethel under the Terebinth trees. • Some conjecture that this was also when Rebekah died. However, we are not told when Rebekah died • We know Rebekah was buried in the cave of Machpelah from Genesis 49: 31 • Also buried in the cave of Machpelah were Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Leah, Jacob Bonus Question!

God again appears to Jacob when Jacob is in Bethel. What does God tell Jacob? • Genesis 35: 7 – 15 • Jacob built an altar to God • God blessed Jacob • God said Jacob’s name is no longer Jacob, but Israel (Prince with God) • Jacob had already been told this by the angel he wrestled in Gen 32: 28 • God tells Jacob that a nation and a company of nations would come from him • God tells Jacob that kings would come from him • God tells Jacob that the land he gave to Abraham and Isaac, he gives to Jacob and his descendants after him • After God goes up from Jacob, Jacob built a stone pillar and poured a drink offering on it and poured oil on it

Describe how Rachel died. • Genesis 35: 16 – 20 • • • Jacob and his household left Bethel A little distance from Ephrath (Bethlehem), Rachel had hard labor Rachel died in childbirth, but named the boy Ben-Oni (Son of My Sorrow) Jacob called him Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand) Rachel was buried on the way to Ephrath and Jacob set up a pillar on her grave

Describe how Rachel died. • Genesis 35: 16 – 20 • • • Jacob and his household left Bethel A little distance from Ephrath (Bethlehem), Rachel had hard labor Rachel died in childbirth, but named the by Ben-Oni (Son of My Sorrow) Jacob called him Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand) Rachel was buried on the way to Ephrath and Jacob set up a pillar on her grave

Describe how Rachel died. • Genesis 35: 16 – 20 • • • Jacob and his household left Bethel A little distance from Ephrath (Bethlehem), Rachel had hard labor Rachel died in childbirth, but named the boy Ben-Oni (Son of My Sorrow) Jacob called him Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand) Rachel was buried on the way to Ephrath and Jacob set up a pillar on her grave

Describe how Rachel died. Mahanaim Succoth Shechem Penial Bethel Bethlehem

Other events • Genesis 35: 22 • When Israel dwelt in the land, Reuben lay with Bilhah (his father’s concubine) and Israel heard about it • Genesis 35: 27 – 29 • Isaac died at 180 years and was buried by Esau and Jacob

Is there anything you find interesting in the account of the death of Isaac or the genealogy of Esau recorded in Genesis 36? • Genesis 36: 6 – 8 • Esau took all that was his and dwelt in Mount Seir because the land couldn’t support both Jacob and Esau • Genesis 36: 8 • Esau is Edom (means red), the father of the Edomites • Deut 23: 7 You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother

Lesson 10 Joseph’s Dreams to Slavery Genesis 37 – 39

Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him? • Genesis 37: 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him • Genesis 37: 2 When Joseph was 17, he brought a bad report of the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah to his father (Dan, Naphtali, Gad Asher) • Genesis 37: 3 Israel made Joseph a coat of many colors (this probably added to the brother’s hatred) • Genesis 37: 5 When Joseph told his brothers of his dream, they hated him even more

Describe Joseph’s two dreams and his family’s reaction to them. • First Dream • Joseph and his brothers were binding sheaves in the field. Then Joseph’s sheaf stood upright and all his brother’s sheaves stood all around and bowed down to Joseph’s sheaf. • Brothers’ reaction “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us? ” They hated him even more for his dreams and his words. • Second Dream • The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to Joseph • Father’s reaction rebuked him and said “Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed bow down to you? ” Father kept the matter in mind. • Brothers’ reaction his brothers envied him

When do you think Joseph dreamed his dreams, before or after Rachel died? What makes this question hard to answer? Support for before Rachel died • Genesis 37: 10 Israel says shall your mother bow down before you • Genesis 37: 3 Joseph was called the son of Israel’s old age (wouldn’t Benjamin be called the son of Israel’s old age if was born by this time? ) • Genesis 37: 32 – 34 Benjamin is referred to as “the lad” which doesn’t seem to indicate he would have been old enough • Genesis 37: 3 Israel loved Joseph more than all his children. Why would he have loved Joseph more than Benjamin?

When do you think Joseph dreamed his dreams, before or after Rachel died? What makes this question hard to answer? Support for after Rachel died • Genesis 37: 9 -10 Joseph dreams of 11 stars bowing down which refers to his brothers • Genesis 46: 21 Appears that Benjamin had 10 sons when he came to Egypt If before Rachel died, then the 11 th star could be prophetic If after Rachel died, then mother could refer to Leah as his step-mother

When do you think Joseph dreamed his dreams, before or after Rachel died? What makes this question hard to answer? Jacob & family leave Haran (Joseph 6) Gen 30: 25, 31: 41 Joseph was 30 when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams Gen 41: 46 Gen 47: 28 Israel was 130 when he came to Egypt (died at 147 and lived in Egypt for 17 years) Jacob was therefore about 91 when Joseph was born after Jacob had been in Haran for 14 years Gen 30: 25 After Joseph’s birth, Jacob asked to be sent away, but then stayed and worked 6 more years for Laban Joseph dreams Joseph sold Life of Joseph Appears Benjamin comes to Egypt with 10 sons Gen 46: 8, 21, 27 (don’t know how many wives he had) Joseph was 17 when he gave a bad report of his brothers Gen 37: 2 Joseph was about 39 when Israel came to Egypt Gen 45: 6, 11 (five years of famine left) After leaving Haran, Jacob went to Mahanaim (Gen 32: 1 -2), then to Penuel (Gen 32: 30 -32), then to Succoth, where he built a house and shelters for his cattle (Gen 33: 17). After an unspecified amount of time, he left there and moved to Shechem, where he bought land (Gen 33: 18 -20). After another unspecified period of time, he went to Bethel in Canaan (Gen 35: 1), and they lived there for a period of time (Gen 35: 4 -15). Then, they left Bethel and traveled towards Ephrath (Gen 35: 16). It was during this journey that Rachel gave birth to Benjamin, and she died in childbirth (Gen 35: 16 -20).

When do you think Joseph dreamed his dreams, before or after Rachel died? What makes this question hard to answer? Jacob & family leave Haran (Joseph 6) Gen 30: 25, 31: 41 Joseph was 30 when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams Gen 41: 46 Gen 47: 28 Israel was 130 when he came to Egypt (died at 147 and lived in Egypt for 17 years) Jacob was therefore about 91 when Joseph was born after Jacob had been in Haran for 14 years Gen 30: 25 After Joseph’s birth, Jacob asked to be sent away, but then stayed and worked 6 more years for Laban Joseph dreams Joseph sold Life of Joseph Appears Benjamin comes to Egypt with 10 sons Gen 46: 8, 21, 27 (don’t know how many wives he had) Joseph was 17 when he gave a bad report of his brothers Gen 37: 2 Joseph was about 39 when Israel came to Egypt Gen 45: 6, 11 (five years of famine left) If Rachel was still alive when Joseph had these dreams, then Benjamin’s max age would be about 22 years old If Rachel had already died when Joseph had the dreams, then Benjamin could have been up to about 33 years old (likely years less because of all that occurred after leaving Haran)