How did Jacob get two wives and twelve kids?
Well, it wasn’t easy. He worked for seven years for a woman he fell in love with—Rachel. But Rachel’s father, Laben, tricked Jacob and gave him his other daughter instead, Leah. So Jacob married both women and worked fourteen years altogether for his wives. The two wives were deeply jealous of each other and so Leah had many children to earn Jacob’s love, and Rachel tried to have kids, but couldn’t so she gave him her slave to have children with, so Leah gave Jacob her slave to have children with… well, it was a mess. But Jacob got a lot of kids out of it.
Why did Jacob call Esau “lord”?
Esau was showing his power, by meeting his brother with an army, and Jacob was scared to death. The prophecy said that Esau would serve Jacob. But Jacob is using his words to turn the tables, so that Esau would feel that Jacob was serving him. Jacob was being very humble, so that Esau would not be angry with him for stealing the blessing of their father. It seemed to work, but Jacob wasn’t so sure. By the way, the word Jacob used for “lord” wasn’t calling Esau “god”. He was calling him “master”, as a slave would speak to his master.
Why did Jacob wrestle with an angel?
This is a much disputed passage, and there are many difficulties in interpreting it. Most scholars, however, think that Jacob was really wrestling the angel over Esau, and over Esau’s nation, Edom. He is a powerful spirit, one that would be called a “god” in other parts of the Bible. So when Jacob was wrestling, he was actually fighting for his survival in his meeting with Esau. If he won the angel’s blessing, then he would be successful in his meeting with Esau. Some passages say that Jacob wrestled with “God”—but it was really a god—Esau’s spiritual power— he was wrestling with.
Why did Jacob have his name changed?
“Jacob” means deceiver or trickster. This wasn’t a great name for the father of a great and powerful nation. The angel Jacob wrestled with gave him the name “Israel” which means “God strives” or “Striving with god”. This is talking about two things—on the one hand it means that God would work hard for this people. Secondly, it means that the people Israel will be fighting against gods, doing spiritual warfare. A much more honorable name than “Jacob.” Yahweh confirmed this name when Jacob finally met him at Bethel. Interestingly, though, throughout the rest of Genesis, Jacob is called by his original name, not Israel. Israel is sometimes, but not all the time, used in reference to the nation, not the person.
How did Esau treat Jacob? Why did Jacob run away from him?
Actually, Esau treated Jacob pretty well. He hugged and kissed him, giving him the idea that he was forgiven. And he tried to refuse the gifts. However, this may have been all a show. If he truly forgave him, Jacob surely thought, he would have insisted on giving the gifts back. And Esau accepted Jacob calling him “lord” and didn’t place Jacob on an equal level. So this could mean that Esau was planning on making Jacob a true servant of his. Jacob didn’t want to have anything to do with that, so he ran away in the opposite direction.
Why did Levi and Simeon kill the whole town?
Levi and Simeon were concerned about their own honor. They felt that unless they got full, complete revenge against the town they would have to live with their shame. If they only killed the prince, others of the town would come after them. So it was kill everyone or live with their shame. Jacob thought this was ridiculous, and he gave Levi and Simeon less honor than their brothers because of their unrighteous anger.
Did Jacob’s family worship other gods?
Yes they did. We don’t know which gods, but we know that Rachel and Leah worshipped other gods from their land. Other slaves had their own gods as well. But when Jacob went to Bethel, he kept his promise and insisted that everyone in his household worship Yahweh alone. This is the turning point in Jacob’s life, where he focuses on God’s plan, and not his own.
Showing posts with label Jacob. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jacob. Show all posts
Monday, January 19, 2009
Jacob and Esau-- Genesis 32-33, 35
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Genesis 28:15
Jacob ran away from his brother Esau, taking with him the blessing of Yahweh. And Yahweh blessed Jacob greatly while he was away. Through the trickery of his mother’s brother, Laben, Jacob married two of Laben’s daughters and through them had 11 children. And through his dealings with his uncle over twenty years, Jacob gained large flocks of sheep and goats and servants and became wealthy in his own right. Finally, Jacob decided that it was time to go home, so he collected his family and flocks and servants and they traveled back to Canaan.
On the way back, Jacob’s fear of his brother, Esau, grew in his mind. When he left, Esau was threatening to kill Jacob—and now, who did Jacob have to protect him and his family. Even as Jacob left, Esau was gathering servants to him—servants that could fight and kill. What did Jacob have? Women, children and a few shepherds. They were completely defenseless and a battle would destroy them all. So Jacob sent some of his servants ahead to Esau’s land with a message: “Your slave Jacob comes to you, lord Esau, with all the wealth he gained.” The servants came back to Jacob and said, “Esau is coming to meet you with 400 men.” Jacob was very nervous now—400 men was the size of an army!
Jacob prayed to Yahweh, reminding Yahweh of the promises he had given and to ask for deliverance. Then Jacob sent hundreds of sheep and goats to Esau as a present to him, hoping to placate him. Then he divided his caravan into two camps so that if Esau attacks one camp, he might not attack the other.
The night before he was to meet Esau, Jacob spent moving things about from one side of a river to another, trying to figure out how best to escape an attack. Finally, he left the camps alone and wandered off by himself to think. There, a power of heaven met him and they wrestled for superiority. The power could not defeat Jacob, and so he touched Jacob’s leg and caused him to limp. Jacob would not let go of the power, however. The power pleaded, “Let go of me—it is almost morning.” Jacob replied, “I will not release you until you give me a blessing.” The power asked, “So, what is your name?” “Jacob. And what is your name?” “Why should you need my name? But you will no longer be called Jacob but Israel because you fought both men and gods and have won.” And the power blessed him. Jacob later realized that he fought with the power of Edom, the angel over Esau.
Jacob went back to camp, limping, and he saw Esau coming toward him, with his 400 men. Jacob lined his family up before Esau, with all of his flocks and servants on the other side of the river. Then Jacob bowed before Esau seven times until Esau came up to him. Esau stopped before Jacob and embraced him and kissed him on the cheeks. All of Jacob’s family bowed before Esau. Esau said, “Who are all these?” Jacob said, “These are the wives and children Yahweh has given your slave.” Esau said, “And what of all of the flocks you sent ahead?” Jacob replied, “I seek your favor, lord.” Esau said, “I don’t need this, here, you keep it.” Jacob replied, “No, you keep them please.” So Esau kept them after Jacob’s urging. In this way, Jacob knew that Esau did not intend to forgive Jacob and his life was still threatened. Esau said, “My land is not far from here. Come with us and you can stay with us.” Jacob replied, “We are so slow, we don’t want to keep you. You ride on ahead and we will catch up with you.” Jacob insisted, so Esau rode ahead.
However, Jacob did not follow Esau west, but traveled far south to Shekham. In his fear of Esau, Jacob forgot the promise he had made to Yahweh that he would return to Bethel and worship God.
As Jacob and his family were living near Shekham, Dinah, Jacob’s daughter was walking outside of her father’s camp. A prince of a local kingdom there lusted after her and raped her there in the wilderness. Afterwards, though, he regreted his actions and offered to marry her. His father, the king, explained the situation to Jacob, and asked permission to arrange the wedding.
Simeon and Levi, two of Jacob’s sons, spoke for their father and began to make arrangements. “Of course you can have our sister,” they said, “but we cannot allow her to marry just anybody. Your son, your family and your whole town would have to be circumcised. Only then can we be one family.” The king hesitated, the son pleaded for agreement. The king convinced his community to do this by saying that they could be very rich if they agreed to this “little” thing. So the whole community was circumcised. Three days after the circumcision, when all the men were in terrible pain, Levi and Simeon killed everyone in the town with their swords. Jacob confronted them on this evil deed, but they replied, “But they treated our sister like a whore!”
Jacob was furious and knew they had to move again. Yahweh spoke to Jacob and said, “Go to Bethel and keep the promise you made me.” So Jacob took his family and wealth and went north to Bethel. There he made all of his company get rid of any idols and false gods they had and they all dedicated themselves to Yahweh. Jacob offered sacrifices there at the rock he had placed there so many years ago. And from that time, Jacob was called Israel and he dedicated himself to Yahweh alone—no longer deceiving or tricking. And God blessed Israel there and gave him the blessing of Abraham.
Jacob ran away from his brother Esau, taking with him the blessing of Yahweh. And Yahweh blessed Jacob greatly while he was away. Through the trickery of his mother’s brother, Laben, Jacob married two of Laben’s daughters and through them had 11 children. And through his dealings with his uncle over twenty years, Jacob gained large flocks of sheep and goats and servants and became wealthy in his own right. Finally, Jacob decided that it was time to go home, so he collected his family and flocks and servants and they traveled back to Canaan.
On the way back, Jacob’s fear of his brother, Esau, grew in his mind. When he left, Esau was threatening to kill Jacob—and now, who did Jacob have to protect him and his family. Even as Jacob left, Esau was gathering servants to him—servants that could fight and kill. What did Jacob have? Women, children and a few shepherds. They were completely defenseless and a battle would destroy them all. So Jacob sent some of his servants ahead to Esau’s land with a message: “Your slave Jacob comes to you, lord Esau, with all the wealth he gained.” The servants came back to Jacob and said, “Esau is coming to meet you with 400 men.” Jacob was very nervous now—400 men was the size of an army!
Jacob prayed to Yahweh, reminding Yahweh of the promises he had given and to ask for deliverance. Then Jacob sent hundreds of sheep and goats to Esau as a present to him, hoping to placate him. Then he divided his caravan into two camps so that if Esau attacks one camp, he might not attack the other.
The night before he was to meet Esau, Jacob spent moving things about from one side of a river to another, trying to figure out how best to escape an attack. Finally, he left the camps alone and wandered off by himself to think. There, a power of heaven met him and they wrestled for superiority. The power could not defeat Jacob, and so he touched Jacob’s leg and caused him to limp. Jacob would not let go of the power, however. The power pleaded, “Let go of me—it is almost morning.” Jacob replied, “I will not release you until you give me a blessing.” The power asked, “So, what is your name?” “Jacob. And what is your name?” “Why should you need my name? But you will no longer be called Jacob but Israel because you fought both men and gods and have won.” And the power blessed him. Jacob later realized that he fought with the power of Edom, the angel over Esau.
Jacob went back to camp, limping, and he saw Esau coming toward him, with his 400 men. Jacob lined his family up before Esau, with all of his flocks and servants on the other side of the river. Then Jacob bowed before Esau seven times until Esau came up to him. Esau stopped before Jacob and embraced him and kissed him on the cheeks. All of Jacob’s family bowed before Esau. Esau said, “Who are all these?” Jacob said, “These are the wives and children Yahweh has given your slave.” Esau said, “And what of all of the flocks you sent ahead?” Jacob replied, “I seek your favor, lord.” Esau said, “I don’t need this, here, you keep it.” Jacob replied, “No, you keep them please.” So Esau kept them after Jacob’s urging. In this way, Jacob knew that Esau did not intend to forgive Jacob and his life was still threatened. Esau said, “My land is not far from here. Come with us and you can stay with us.” Jacob replied, “We are so slow, we don’t want to keep you. You ride on ahead and we will catch up with you.” Jacob insisted, so Esau rode ahead.
However, Jacob did not follow Esau west, but traveled far south to Shekham. In his fear of Esau, Jacob forgot the promise he had made to Yahweh that he would return to Bethel and worship God.
As Jacob and his family were living near Shekham, Dinah, Jacob’s daughter was walking outside of her father’s camp. A prince of a local kingdom there lusted after her and raped her there in the wilderness. Afterwards, though, he regreted his actions and offered to marry her. His father, the king, explained the situation to Jacob, and asked permission to arrange the wedding.
Simeon and Levi, two of Jacob’s sons, spoke for their father and began to make arrangements. “Of course you can have our sister,” they said, “but we cannot allow her to marry just anybody. Your son, your family and your whole town would have to be circumcised. Only then can we be one family.” The king hesitated, the son pleaded for agreement. The king convinced his community to do this by saying that they could be very rich if they agreed to this “little” thing. So the whole community was circumcised. Three days after the circumcision, when all the men were in terrible pain, Levi and Simeon killed everyone in the town with their swords. Jacob confronted them on this evil deed, but they replied, “But they treated our sister like a whore!”
Jacob was furious and knew they had to move again. Yahweh spoke to Jacob and said, “Go to Bethel and keep the promise you made me.” So Jacob took his family and wealth and went north to Bethel. There he made all of his company get rid of any idols and false gods they had and they all dedicated themselves to Yahweh. Jacob offered sacrifices there at the rock he had placed there so many years ago. And from that time, Jacob was called Israel and he dedicated himself to Yahweh alone—no longer deceiving or tricking. And God blessed Israel there and gave him the blessing of Abraham.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Questions about Genesis 25-28
Why was there conflict between Esau and Jacob?
There were three conflicts between the two of them. First of all, they had distinct personalities. Jacob hung around the tents and often assisted the women. Esau was a “man’s man” hunting and leaving for many days at a time. But they also had a conflict as to who would have the best inheritance from their father. And this is complicated by the prophecy that their mother received—that the older—Esau— would serve the younger—Jacob. These conflicts all came to a head when their mother convinced Jacob to sneak off with the blessing their father wanted to give Esau.
How can twins be first or second born?
It all depends which one comes out of the womb first. Being a first born is such a big deal in the ancient world, it had to be determined, even if it’s only a minute apart.
What is the blessing?
The blessing the two boys were both clamoring to get is the blessing of Abraham, passed on from generation to generation. Isaac figured that since Abraham could only give the blessing to one of his sons, and not the others, then Isaac himself could only give the blessing to one of his two sons.
What is the birth right?
The birth right is different from the blessing. It is the extra inheritance that the first born son only receives. In many ancient societies, the first born son would receive twice as much inheritance as his brothers. So, for instance, if a man had three sons, his property and possessions would be split into four parts, and the first son would receive half of his property, the other sons only receiving a quarter. Esau traded half of his inheritance for a bowl of soup.
Why is Esau the bad guy?
This is a good question, because Jacob seems like the heel, here. He’s the one lying and tricking. But Scripture makes it clear that Esau wasn’t as honorable as Jacob, in that he didn’t have as much faith. Jacob would do anything to receive God’s fullness for his future. He would trick and deceive for it, true—and that was not good—but it was his desire for it that was honorable. Esau didn’t care that much. It didn’t matter to him if he received a part of God’s blessing or the whole thing. It didn’t matter if he got part of his inheritance or the whole thing. Jacob wanted all that God could give him, even if he had to suffer to get it.
What is so powerful about the Bethel?
Jacob made a deal with God that would be significant for the rest of his life. He wanted Yahweh to protect him in his journey, and if God did, then Jacob would return and have Yahweh as his only God. However, we will see what happens when Jacob decides to reject this agreement.
There were three conflicts between the two of them. First of all, they had distinct personalities. Jacob hung around the tents and often assisted the women. Esau was a “man’s man” hunting and leaving for many days at a time. But they also had a conflict as to who would have the best inheritance from their father. And this is complicated by the prophecy that their mother received—that the older—Esau— would serve the younger—Jacob. These conflicts all came to a head when their mother convinced Jacob to sneak off with the blessing their father wanted to give Esau.
How can twins be first or second born?
It all depends which one comes out of the womb first. Being a first born is such a big deal in the ancient world, it had to be determined, even if it’s only a minute apart.
What is the blessing?
The blessing the two boys were both clamoring to get is the blessing of Abraham, passed on from generation to generation. Isaac figured that since Abraham could only give the blessing to one of his sons, and not the others, then Isaac himself could only give the blessing to one of his two sons.
What is the birth right?
The birth right is different from the blessing. It is the extra inheritance that the first born son only receives. In many ancient societies, the first born son would receive twice as much inheritance as his brothers. So, for instance, if a man had three sons, his property and possessions would be split into four parts, and the first son would receive half of his property, the other sons only receiving a quarter. Esau traded half of his inheritance for a bowl of soup.
Why is Esau the bad guy?
This is a good question, because Jacob seems like the heel, here. He’s the one lying and tricking. But Scripture makes it clear that Esau wasn’t as honorable as Jacob, in that he didn’t have as much faith. Jacob would do anything to receive God’s fullness for his future. He would trick and deceive for it, true—and that was not good—but it was his desire for it that was honorable. Esau didn’t care that much. It didn’t matter to him if he received a part of God’s blessing or the whole thing. It didn’t matter if he got part of his inheritance or the whole thing. Jacob wanted all that God could give him, even if he had to suffer to get it.
What is so powerful about the Bethel?
Jacob made a deal with God that would be significant for the rest of his life. He wanted Yahweh to protect him in his journey, and if God did, then Jacob would return and have Yahweh as his only God. However, we will see what happens when Jacob decides to reject this agreement.
Isaac, Jacob and Esau-- Genesis 25-28
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. Hebrews 12:15-16
Yahweh promised Isaac the same promise he gave to Abraham—that he would have many descendants and would be a blessing to many nations. Abraham had many children, but the promise was only given to Isaac. When Isaac was forty, he married a woman named Rebecca who was from Abraham’s old country. In time, Abraham and Sarah died and Isaac mourned them and buried them properly. Isaac and Rebecca were married for many years, but still did not have children. Isaac prayed for his wife to Yahweh, and then she became pregnant. But the pregnancy was very difficult, and Rebecca was in agony. She cried out to Yahweh, “How can I live this way?” Yahweh replied to her, “The agony you have is because there are two children inside you and these two children are two nations. They are both powerful, but one is stronger than the other—the older will serve the younger.”
Over time, Rebecca was ready to give birth. The first child came out and he was red in color and was hairy, and so he was named Esau, which means “red”. The second came out right after the first, but his hand was holding onto the heel of the first and so he was called Jacob which means “grasper.” Esau, when he was grown, was a great hunter of wild beasts. Jacob, when he was grown was a quiet man, tending the flocks and staying by the tents. Isaac loved the wildness of Esau and his skill at hunting, and he felt that the promise of God should fall upon Esau, his oldest. Rebecca, though, remembered the word of God to her and paid close attention to Jacob, desiring to see him receive the blessing of God.
At one point, Esau went out to hunt, but had no luck. He returned home, without having eaten all day. Jacob was sitting at home, having made a pot of red lentil soup. Esau saw this and said, “Please, I am starving to death, give me some of your soup!” Jacob got a scheme in his mind and said, “Will you sell me your birth position for that soup? Let me be the firstborn, and I will give you some.” Esau replied, “What good is it that I am the firstborn if I die? Just give me something to eat!” So Esau sold part of his inheritance.
Over time, Isaac became blind due to age and felt that he was ready to die. So he called Esau to him and said, “Son, I am preparing to die. Go out, capture a wild animal and fix me my favorite meal. Then I will place upon you God’s blessing.” Esau immediately went out to obey his father. Rebecca heard Isaac and called Jacob to her. “Jacob, your father is about ready to give Esau the blessing. We must hurry!” Jacob said, “Why? If Esau is about to receive God’s blessing, there is nothing I can do about it.” Rebecca said, “Stop chattering and listen to me! I can fix your father’s favorite meal and you can serve it to him and so receive the blessing.” Jacob doubted her and said, “He will know who I am, of course! Esau has so much hair and I have little. How could I possibly fool him? And when he figures it out, he will not bless me, but curse me. ” Rebecca said, “We will put animal skins on your arms—don’t worry about it! It will all work out, I know. Now, go get me two goats.”
So Jacob slaughtered the goats and Rebecca made the food. Then they placed animal skins and Esau’s clothes on Jacob and he went in to his father. Jacob said, “My father, here I am.” Isaac couldn’t see, but he could hear the slight difference in his son’s voices, “Who are you, my son?” Jacob said, “I am Esau, your firstborn. Take your meal and bless me.” Isaac was confused and said, “Come close to me.” Isaac felt his arms and said, “Your voice sounds like Jacob’s, but your arms feel like Esau. Are you really Esau?” Jacob replied, “Yes, I am.”
Isaac ate the food and said, “Come and kiss me, my son.” Jacob kissed his father and Isaac smelled Esau’s clothes. Then Isaac said, “My son smells like the outer land which the Lord has blessed. May God bless you and grant you all the wealth of the land. May your brothers bow down to you and honor you as lord. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed. And may peoples and nations honor you.” Then Jacob quickly left.
Esau then came in his father’s tent and said, “Eat the food, father, and bless me.” Isaac was very confused now. “Who are you?” Esau said, “I am Esau, your son.” Isaac said, “Then who gave me food just now? I have blessed him, whoever it was and he shall surely be blessed.” Esau cried, “What are you saying father? Don’t you have a blessing for me, your firstborn?” Isaac replied, “Your brother took your blessing. There is no blessing left for you, my son. But listen, for you shall have the growth of the land and shall have many children. But your brother will rule over you.”
Esau left the tent in anger and hated his brother from that day on. He began to tell people, “As soon as my father dies, I will kill Jacob.” Rebecca heard him and went to Isaac. “Isaac,” she said, “It is time for Jacob to marry. But I don’t want him to marry one of the women around here. Send him to my home to find a girl there.” Isaac agreed and sent Jacob away, repeating to him the blessing of Abraham.
Jacob, out of fear of Esau, left immediately. His first night out, Jacob slept in front of a rock. That night he had a dream of the spirit world and dreamed that angels were walking up and down, to and from heaven at that place. From heaven, Jacob saw a vision of Yahweh in heaven saying, “I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham and Isaac. The land you sleep on shall be your children’s. You shall go from this land, but I will go with you and bless you. And I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have given you what I promised.”
Jacob woke up immediately and said, “This place is a powerful place and I didn’t know it.” Jacob set the rock he was sleeping near upright and established it as an altar for Yahweh. Then Jacob made a deal with Yahweh, “Yahweh, if you keep me safe and bless me during my journey and bring me back safely, then I will make you my God and I will return here and worship you at this place.” So Jacob named this place “Bethel”, or “house of God,” and left on his journey.
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. Hebrews 12:15-16
Yahweh promised Isaac the same promise he gave to Abraham—that he would have many descendants and would be a blessing to many nations. Abraham had many children, but the promise was only given to Isaac. When Isaac was forty, he married a woman named Rebecca who was from Abraham’s old country. In time, Abraham and Sarah died and Isaac mourned them and buried them properly. Isaac and Rebecca were married for many years, but still did not have children. Isaac prayed for his wife to Yahweh, and then she became pregnant. But the pregnancy was very difficult, and Rebecca was in agony. She cried out to Yahweh, “How can I live this way?” Yahweh replied to her, “The agony you have is because there are two children inside you and these two children are two nations. They are both powerful, but one is stronger than the other—the older will serve the younger.”
Over time, Rebecca was ready to give birth. The first child came out and he was red in color and was hairy, and so he was named Esau, which means “red”. The second came out right after the first, but his hand was holding onto the heel of the first and so he was called Jacob which means “grasper.” Esau, when he was grown, was a great hunter of wild beasts. Jacob, when he was grown was a quiet man, tending the flocks and staying by the tents. Isaac loved the wildness of Esau and his skill at hunting, and he felt that the promise of God should fall upon Esau, his oldest. Rebecca, though, remembered the word of God to her and paid close attention to Jacob, desiring to see him receive the blessing of God.
At one point, Esau went out to hunt, but had no luck. He returned home, without having eaten all day. Jacob was sitting at home, having made a pot of red lentil soup. Esau saw this and said, “Please, I am starving to death, give me some of your soup!” Jacob got a scheme in his mind and said, “Will you sell me your birth position for that soup? Let me be the firstborn, and I will give you some.” Esau replied, “What good is it that I am the firstborn if I die? Just give me something to eat!” So Esau sold part of his inheritance.
Over time, Isaac became blind due to age and felt that he was ready to die. So he called Esau to him and said, “Son, I am preparing to die. Go out, capture a wild animal and fix me my favorite meal. Then I will place upon you God’s blessing.” Esau immediately went out to obey his father. Rebecca heard Isaac and called Jacob to her. “Jacob, your father is about ready to give Esau the blessing. We must hurry!” Jacob said, “Why? If Esau is about to receive God’s blessing, there is nothing I can do about it.” Rebecca said, “Stop chattering and listen to me! I can fix your father’s favorite meal and you can serve it to him and so receive the blessing.” Jacob doubted her and said, “He will know who I am, of course! Esau has so much hair and I have little. How could I possibly fool him? And when he figures it out, he will not bless me, but curse me. ” Rebecca said, “We will put animal skins on your arms—don’t worry about it! It will all work out, I know. Now, go get me two goats.”
So Jacob slaughtered the goats and Rebecca made the food. Then they placed animal skins and Esau’s clothes on Jacob and he went in to his father. Jacob said, “My father, here I am.” Isaac couldn’t see, but he could hear the slight difference in his son’s voices, “Who are you, my son?” Jacob said, “I am Esau, your firstborn. Take your meal and bless me.” Isaac was confused and said, “Come close to me.” Isaac felt his arms and said, “Your voice sounds like Jacob’s, but your arms feel like Esau. Are you really Esau?” Jacob replied, “Yes, I am.”
Isaac ate the food and said, “Come and kiss me, my son.” Jacob kissed his father and Isaac smelled Esau’s clothes. Then Isaac said, “My son smells like the outer land which the Lord has blessed. May God bless you and grant you all the wealth of the land. May your brothers bow down to you and honor you as lord. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed. And may peoples and nations honor you.” Then Jacob quickly left.
Esau then came in his father’s tent and said, “Eat the food, father, and bless me.” Isaac was very confused now. “Who are you?” Esau said, “I am Esau, your son.” Isaac said, “Then who gave me food just now? I have blessed him, whoever it was and he shall surely be blessed.” Esau cried, “What are you saying father? Don’t you have a blessing for me, your firstborn?” Isaac replied, “Your brother took your blessing. There is no blessing left for you, my son. But listen, for you shall have the growth of the land and shall have many children. But your brother will rule over you.”
Esau left the tent in anger and hated his brother from that day on. He began to tell people, “As soon as my father dies, I will kill Jacob.” Rebecca heard him and went to Isaac. “Isaac,” she said, “It is time for Jacob to marry. But I don’t want him to marry one of the women around here. Send him to my home to find a girl there.” Isaac agreed and sent Jacob away, repeating to him the blessing of Abraham.
Jacob, out of fear of Esau, left immediately. His first night out, Jacob slept in front of a rock. That night he had a dream of the spirit world and dreamed that angels were walking up and down, to and from heaven at that place. From heaven, Jacob saw a vision of Yahweh in heaven saying, “I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham and Isaac. The land you sleep on shall be your children’s. You shall go from this land, but I will go with you and bless you. And I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have given you what I promised.”
Jacob woke up immediately and said, “This place is a powerful place and I didn’t know it.” Jacob set the rock he was sleeping near upright and established it as an altar for Yahweh. Then Jacob made a deal with Yahweh, “Yahweh, if you keep me safe and bless me during my journey and bring me back safely, then I will make you my God and I will return here and worship you at this place.” So Jacob named this place “Bethel”, or “house of God,” and left on his journey.
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