Genesis 28:1-35:29

Jacob’s Family
CHARACTERS:
Jacob:
 Younger twin brother of Esau, his name sounding like the Hebrew for “heel” and “cheat”
 Father: Isaac, Mother: Rebecca
 Told Esau to sell his birth right to him
 Received Isaac’s blessing for Esau by disguising himself as his brother and deceived his
father by following his mother’s command
 Has 12 sons and 1 daughter
Laban:
 Brother of Jacob’s mother Rebecca
 Jacob’s uncle
 Father of Rachel and Leah
Rachel:
 Younger daughter of Laban and sister of Leah
 The girl whom Jacob loved
 Bore Joseph and Benjamin
 Died after giving birth to Benjamin
Leah:
 Laban’s daughter whom he gave to Jacob instead of Rachel
 Jacob loved her less than Rachel
 Bore Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah (daughter)
Bilhah:
 Rachel’s slave whom she had given to Jacob as his concubine
 Bore Dan and Naphtali
Zilpah:
 Leah’s slave whom she had given to Jacob as his concubine
 Bore Gad and Asher
Simeon and Levi:
 Brothers of Dinah who killed all the men in the City of Shechem in the land of Canaan,
including Hamor and his son Shechem (the person who raped Dinah but later on claimed
that he fell in love with her)
Reuben:
 Son of Jacob and Leah
 Had intercourse with Bilhah (Rachel’s slave and Jacob’s concubine)

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OUTLINE OF THE PASSAGE

 Isaac Sends Jacob to Laban (Genesis 27:46 – 28:5)

o Rebecca told Isaac of how she is sick and tired of Esau’s foreign wives and
according to her, if Jacob also marries one of these Hittites, she might as well die.
o Isaac told Jacob to marry one of his Uncle Laban’s daughters in Mesopotamia.

 Jacob's Dream at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22)

 o Jacob left Beersheba and started toward Haran. As he was asleep, he dreamed of
seeing a stairway reaching from earth to heaven, with angels going up and
coming down it.
o There, the Lord standing beside him, told him of the promise He made to
Abraham and promised the same thing to Jacob. He also reminded Jacob that He
will be with him wherever he goes and the land where he sleeps at that moment
will be given back to him.
o He woke up and recognized God’s presence and was terrified.
o When he got up, he took the stone that was under his head and set it up as a
memorial. Then, he poured olive oil on it to dedicate it to God and named the
place Bethel (once known as Luz, and means “house of God”).
o Jacob made a vow to the Lord.

 Jacob Arrives at Laban's Home (Genesis 29:1-14)

o When Jacob met Rachel along with his Uncle Laban’s flock, he went to the well,
rolled the stone back, and watered the sheep. Then he kissed her and began to
cry for joy.
o He told her that he was the son of Rebecca, her father’s relative.

 Jacob Serves Laban for Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29:15-30)

o In return for the seven years of work Jacob will be doing for Laban, he asked to
marry Rachel since he was in love with her.
o When the time was up, Laban gave a wedding feast and invited everyone. But
that night, he took Leah to Jacob instead of Rachel. Jacob had intercourse with
Leah.
o Laban also gave his slave woman, Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maid.
o The next morning, Jacob knew of Laban’s trickery and confronted him.
o According to Laban, it was not the custom there to give the younger daughter in
marriage before the older one. He told Jacob to wait until the week’s marriage
celebrations were over and he was willing to give Rachel to Jacob if he will work
again for Laban for another seven years.
o Jacob agreed and Laban gave Rachel to Jacob as a wife after the celebration.
o Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.

 The Children Born to Jacob (Genesis 29:31 – 30:24)

(red: Leah, green: Bilhah, violet: Zilpah, blue: Rachel)
o 1st son: Reuben
o 2nd son: Simeon
o 3rd son: Levi
o 4th son: Judah
 o 5th son: Dan
o 6th son: Naphtali
o 7th son: Gad
o 8th son: Asher
o 9th son: Issachar
o 10th son: Zebulun
o Daughter: Dinah
o 11th son: Joseph
o 12th son: Benjamin

 Jacob's Bargain with Laban (Genesis 30:25-43)

o After the birth of Joseph, Jacob asked Laban to let him go so he and his family
can go home.
o In return for Jacob’s service to Laban, Laban asked him to name his wages for he
will pay him. However, Jacob answered that he does not want any wages and
proposed a suggestion to Laban.
o According to Jacob, he will continue to take care of Laban’s flocks if Laban lets
him take all the black lamb and every spotted or speckled young goat. If ever
Laban finds any goat that isn’t spotted nor speckled and lambs that aren’t black,
he would know that it has been stolen. Laban agreed to this.
o However, on that day, Laban removed the male goats that had stripes or spots
and all the females that were speckled and spotted or which had white on them.
He also removed all the black sheep. He put his sons in charge of them and went
away from Jacob with this flock as far as he could travel in three days.
o Jacob took care of the rest of Laban’s flocks. He made the animals breed
according to his favor and soon enough he had all the healthy ones while Laban
had the weak ones.
o Jacob became very wealthy and had many flocks, slaves, camels, and donkeys.

 Jacob Flees from Laban (Genesis 31:1-21)

o Laban became less friendly than he was before. Then the Lord told him to go
back to the land of his fathers and his relatives and that He will be with him.
o So, Jacob talked with Rachel and Leah regarding the situation and how God
helped him in everything that he has done. He also told them of God’s command
of him.
o Rachel and Leah were convinced based on how their father also treats them,
thus, convincing Jacob to follow God’s orders.
o Jacob got ready to go back to his father in the land of Canaan and brought with
him his wives, children, and everything he had gotten in Mesopotamia.
 o When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household gods that
belonged to her father.
o Jacob deceived Laban by not letting him know that he was leaving and left in a
hurry.

 Laban Pursues Jacob (Genesis 31:22-42)

o Three days later, Laban knew from his sons that Jacob had fled and he took his
men with him. He pursued Jacob for seven days until he caught up with him in
the hill country of Gilead.
o God came to Laban in a dream that night and warned him to be careful not to
threaten Jacob in any way.
o Jacob set up his camp on a mountain and Laban set up his camp with his
relatives in the hill country of Gilead.
o Laban confronted Jacob of his deeds and told him that if he only informed him of
his plans, he would have sent him away while rejoicing. He also let him know of
his dream where God appeared to him. He also confronted and accused him of
stealing his household gods.
o Jacob, unaware of Rachel’s actions, replied to Laban by saying that anyone
among them who has his gods will be put to death. Laban searched for them
however, he did not find them for Rachel was sitting on them, saying that she
could not stand up because she was having her monthly period. Hence, Laban
did not find his household gods.
o Then Jacob lost his temper and angrily told Laban of his hardships and troubles
and how God has helped him all the way.

 The Agreement between Jacob and Laban (Genesis 31:43-55)

o Since Laban cannot do anything to keep his daughters and their children, he told
Jacob that he was ready to make an agreement with him.
o They built piles of stones to mark their agreement of never attacking each other
and going their separate ways.

 Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau (Genesis 32:1-21)

o As Jacob went on his way, Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother
Esau in the country of Edom, carrying the message he instructed them to say
(about his previous experiences, wealth, and gaining his brother’s favor).
o The messengers came back and told Jacob that Esau was on his way to meet him,
along with his 400 men.
o This made Jacob frightened and worried so he into 2 groups the people who
were with him and also his sheep, goats, cattle, and camels. Then, he prayed to
God for guidance and protection from his brother Esau.
 o Jacob chose and prepared livestock of his possession as a present for his brother.
He divided them into herds and put one of his servants in charge of each herd.
He told them to go ahead of him and leave a space between each herd and the
one behind it. He instructed them to tell Esau that the herd belongs to his
servant Jacob and he gives it to him as present and that Jacob is right behind
them whenever Esau would ask what they were for and who it came from.
o Jacob sent the gifts ahead of him and he spent that night in camp.

 Jacob Wrestles at Peniel (Genesis 32:22-32)

o On the same night, Jacob let his family and everything he owned cross the
Jabbok River while he stayed alone behind.
o Then a man came and wrested with him until just daybreak.
o When the man saw that he was not winning, he hit Jacob on the hip and it was
thrown out of joint. The man told Jacob to let him go for daylight was coming.
o Jacob replied that he would not unless the man blesses him.
o The man asked for his name and Jacob answered. Then, the man told him that
his name will no longer be Jacob, instead, he will be Israel (for he has struggled
with God and with men, and he has won).
o Jacob asked for the man’s name but the man replied with a question asking why
Jacob wants to know his name. He then blessed Jacob.
o Jacob declared that he saw God face-to-face and he was still alive. So, he named
the place Peniel (which sounds like the Hebrew for “the face of God”).

 Jacob Meets Esau (Genesis 33:1-20)

o Jacob met Esau along with his 400 hundred men. Esau ran to meet him, threw
his arms around him, and kissed him. They both cried.
o Esau noticed the women and their children when he looked around and asked
Jacob who they were. Jacob replied accordingly.
o Esau told Jacob to keep his presents for him and that he already has enough. But
Jacob insisted to his brother accept the gifts for Esau has been friendly to him.
o When Esau urged them to get ready and leave together, Jacob denied the
request and reasoned that he will go with the livestock and his children for they
are weak.
o Thus, Esau went his way back to Edom on his own but Jacob went to Sukkoth
where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock.
o On his return from Mesopotamia, they arrived safely at the city of Shechem in
the land of Canaan and set up his camp in a field near the city.

 The Rape of Dinah (Genesis 34:1-31)

 o When Dinah went to visit some of the Canaanite women, Shechem son of Hamor
the Hivite saw her, took her, and raped her.
o Later on, he found the woman so attractive that he fell in love with her and tried
to win her affection. He told his father that he wants Dinah as his wife.
o Jacob knew of this disgrace and has done nothing until his sons came back from
the fields.
o When they heard about it, they were shocked and furious for the insult that
Shechem had done to the people of Israel.
o Hamor told Jacob of Shechem’s desire and convinced him that they should make
an agreement of intermarriage between his and Jacob’s people. In return, they
are willing to give them everything that they want.
o However, Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully,
saying that they cannot let their sister marry a man who is not circumcised.
Hence, their condition was to have all the men in the city to be circumcised.
o They agreed to this condition and informed all their people about the
agreement.
o Three days after the circumcision, Simeon and Levi, the brothers of Dinah, killed
all men (including Hamor and Shechem) in the city without arousing suspicion.
They took Dinah from Shechem’s house and left.
o Jacob’s other sons looted the town to take revenge for the disgrace of their
sister and took everything else in the city and the fields.

 God Blesses Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 35:1-15)

o God commanded Jacob to go to Bethel and live there. He also instructed him to
build an altar for Him.
o So, Jacob told his family to get rid of all the foreign gods they have and purify
themselves by putting on clean clothes. He also told them of God’s command of
him.
o When Jacob returned from Mesopotamia, God appeared to him again and
blessed him. (Genesis 35:10-12)
o After God left him, he built a memorial stone and consecrated it by pouring wine
and olive oil on it, naming the place Bethel.

 The Death of Rachel (Genesis 35:16-21)

o Jacob and his family left Bethel and when they were still some distance from
Ephrath, Rachel had her baby and was having a difficult labor. Rachel was dying
and as she breathed her last, she named her son Benoni, but Jacob named him
Benjamin.
o Rachel was buried beside the road to Ephrath, now known as Bethlehem. Jacob
also set up a memorial stone there which marks Rachel’s grave.
 The Sons of Jacob (Genesis 35:22-26)
o While Jacob was living in that land, Reuben had sexual intercourse with Bilhah
and this made Jacob furious.
o Jacob’s twelve sons were born in Mesopotamia.

 The Death of Isaac

o Isaac lived to be 180 years old and died at a ripe old age. Jacob and Esau buried
him.