The book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, is found in the Chumash or Pentateuch. Chapters 26-32 recount God’s encounters with Abraham’s son Isaac and Jacob’s grandson; Esau’s loss of his birthright; and Jacob’s marriage and prosperity in Haran. This study is a continuation of Parts 1 and 2 of the same title.
The Medicine of the Word of God
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my words. Do not lose sight of them; keep them inside your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and medicine to their whole body – Proverbs 4:22
Genesis Part 3: Chapters 26-32 – test yourself
1. Name the two children of Abraham and Sarah.
2. Name of the two sons of Isaac and Rebekah
3. What major fault of Abraham did Isaac show?
4. Why did Abimelech insist on a treaty with Isaac?[Gen 26:28].
5. Where did Jacob flee after stealing his brother’s birthright? [Gen 27:43]
6. What does the name Bethel mean?
7. What was the blood relationship between Esau and his wife Mahalat, and what was their reason for the marriage?
8. Name Jacob’s two wives and their female servants. Why were handmaidens important to the nation of Israel?
9. Why did G-d preferentially open Leah’s womb? (Genesis 29:31)
10. Name the first four sons of Leah, and the meaning of their names [Gen 30:4-12]
11. Name the four children of Bilhah and Zilpah, in chronological order of their birth.
12. Name the remaining four sons of Jacob, indicating their mothers.
13. Where and when did Jacob fight with G-d, and what was the consequence? [Gen 31:22-32]
14. What does Peniel mean?
15. Whom did Abraham marry after Sarah’s death, and how many children did they have?
Highlights of Genesis chapters 26-32
Isaac marries two Canaanite women, much to his mother’s chagrin. Jacob steals Isaac’s birthright and is forced to flee his home in Canaan. At sunset on the day of his flight, he stops for the night and dreams of a ladder linking heaven and earth, with angels. Above is the Lord, who promises to give the land on which he is lying to him and to his numerous offspring. G‑d tells him, “I am with you and I will take care of you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you.” Astonished, Jacob anoints the stone he had been using as a pillow and changes the name of the place from Luz to Bethel. He, in turn, makes a vow to worship the Lord and begin tithing his income.
As previously indicated by his mother Rebekah, Jacob goes to Haran and stays at the house of his uncle Laban. There, he meets and marries Rachel, the love of his life, but only after Laban tricks him into marrying Rachel’s sister Leah first. The two sisters compete for Jacob’s attention in the motherhood (which confers status on them), involving their maids in the competition. Twenty years later, Jacob returns to his ancestral home in Beersheba, taking with him his wives and his maidservants (now his concubines), his twelve sons, and all the riches he had gathered beyond the river. Euphrates. On his way back, he wrestles with G‑d and takes on a new name: Israel.
Jacob’s wrestling
The name Israel (Hebrew Israel) is derived from the Hebrew words yisra (prevail) and The (G*d). The relationship between the biblical heroes and those who follow G‑d in spirit and in truth is also one of active dialogue, struggle and even confrontation with G‑d, since it is written:
“The effective and fervent prayer of the righteous can do much” – (James 5:16).
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until morning. When the man saw that he couldn’t beat him, he touched his hip joint, dislocating Jacob’s hip as he wrestled with him. Then the man said: “Let me go, because it is day.”
But Jacob replied, “I won’t let you go unless you hurt me.”
Then the man asked him: “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he replied.
Then the man said: “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men, and you have won.” Genesis 32:24-28
answers
1. The two sons of Abraham and Sarah were Ishmael (of Hagar) and Isaac
2. The two sons of Isaac and Rebekah were Esau and Jacob.
3. Isaac lied to Abimelech the Philistine king about his wife, claiming that she was his sister.
4. Abimelech insisted on a treaty with Isaac because he saw that the Lord was with him, so he took steps to ensure his own safety in the presence of such a powerful neighbor.
5. After stealing his brother’s birthright, Jacob fled to Haran in Paddam Aram, Mesopotamia, to the house of his uncle Laban.
6. Bethel means ‘house of God’.
7. Esau’s wife, Mahalat, was the daughter of Ishmael, her father’s half-brother. Believing that his previous marriages to Hittite wives displeased his parents, Esau married Mahalat to settle them.
8. Jacob’s two wives were the sisters Rachel and Leah. Rachel’s servant was called Bilhah and Leah’s servant Zilpah. The maidens are important in the history of Israel because they gave birth to the founders of four of the 12 tribes of Israel.
9. G-d preferentially opened Leah’s womb because he saw that she was not loved.
10. Jacob’s first four sons were Reuben (see, one son); Simeon (he who hears); Levi (attached); and Judah (praise).
11. From Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, came Dan (he has vindicated) and Naphtali (my fight). From Zilpah came her number seven, Gad (good fortune) then Asher (happy).
12. From Leah the next son was Issachar (reward) followed by Zebulun (honor); and finally, from Raquel, José (let him add) and Benjamin (son of my right hand).
13. Jacob wrestled with G‑d at a place he called Peniel, at the desert stream of Jabbok, while on his way to pacify Esau. The result was a blessing and a change of his name to Israel.
14. Peniel means Face of God.
15. After Sarah’s death, Abraham married Keturah and they had 6 children.