Genesis 31 - 35

© John Stevenson, 2009

The Jacob NarrativeThe Jacob Narrative

Birth of Twins: Jacob is named (25:19-34)Interlude: Rebekah in foreign palace, pact with foreigners (26)

Jacob fears Esau and flees (27:1 - 28:9)Jacob’s encounter with God — ladder (28:10-22)

Arrival in Haran (29:1-30)Jacob’s wives are fertile (29:31 - 30:24)

Jacob’s flocks are fertile (30:25-43)Flight from Haran (31)

Jacob’s encounter with God — angel (32)Jacob returns and fears Esau (33:1-20)

Interlude: Dinah in foreign palace, pact with foreigners (34)

Death of Rebekah’s nurse: Named Israel (35)

Genesis 31:1-2 Genesis 31:1-2 Now Jacob heard the words of

Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.” 2 Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly.

Genesis 31:3Genesis 31:3Then the LORD said to Jacob,

“Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

Same promise God made to Isaac in Genesis 26:3

Genesis 31:1-2 Genesis 31:1-2 Now Jacob heard the words of

Laban's sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.” 2 Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly.

Genesis 31:4-6 Genesis 31:4-6 So Jacob sent and called

Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as formerly, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength….”

Genesis 31:7 Genesis 31:7 ““Yet your father has cheated

me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me…”

Genesis 31:8-9 Genesis 31:8-9 ““If If he spoke thus, ‘The speckled

shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth speckled; and if he spoke thus, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth striped. 9 Thus God has taken away your father's livestock and given them to me.”

Genesis 31:14-16 Genesis 31:14-16 Rachel and Leah said to him,

“Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father's house? 15 Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price. 16 Surely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children; now then, do whatever God has said to you.”

Genesis 31:17-18 Genesis 31:17-18 Then Jacob arose and put his

children and his wives upon camels; 18 and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac.

Genesis 31:19Genesis 31:19When Laban had gone to shear

his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.

(~ypir'T.)

Teraphim

Genesis 31:21 Genesis 31:21 So he fled with all that he had;

and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

Haran

Genesis 31:22-24 Genesis 31:22-24 When it was told Laban on the

third day that Jacob had fled, 23 then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days' journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”

Genesis 31:25 Genesis 31:25 Laban caught up with Jacob.

Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead.

Genesis 31:26Genesis 31:26Then Laban said to Jacob,

“What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword?”

Genesis 31:27-28 Genesis 31:27-28 “Why did you flee secretly and

deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; 28 and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly.”

Genesis 31:29-30 Genesis 31:29-30 “It is in my power to do you

harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’ 30 Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father's house; but why did you steal my gods?”

Genesis 31:31Genesis 31:31Then Jacob replied to Laban,

“Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force….”

Genesis 31:32 Genesis 31:32 “The one with whom you find

your gods shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

Genesis 31:33 Genesis 31:33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent

and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.

Genesis 31:34 Genesis 31:34 Now Rachel had taken the

household idols and put them in the camel’s saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them.

Genesis 31:35 Genesis 31:35 She said to her father, “Let not

my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household idols.

Jacob’s ComplaintJacob’s Complaint

• I have kept my part of the bargain

• I served you for your daughters

• You changed my wages ten times

• You only treated me right because God made you do it

LabanLabanCalled the stone

Jegar-sahadutha

(“heap of the testimony”)

JacobJacobLabanLaban

Called the stone Galeed

(“witness pile”)

Also known as Mizpah (“place

of looking”)

Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his kinsmen to the meal; and they ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain.

Genesis 31:54 Genesis 31:54

Genesis 32:1-2 Genesis 32:1-2 Now as Jacob went on his way,

the angels of God met him. 2 Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

Genesis 32:3-5 Genesis 32:3-5 Then Jacob sent messengers

before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He also commanded them saying, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: ‘Thus says your servant Jacob, “I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now; 5 I have oxen and donkeys and flocks and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.”’”

Genesis 32:6Genesis 32:6The messengers returned to

Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

Genesis 32:7-8Genesis 32:7-8Then Jacob was greatly afraid

and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; 8 for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.”

Jacob’s PrayerJacob’s Prayer• Jacob points out that he got into this

situation by obeying the direction of the Lord: And Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who didst say to me, 'Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you’” (32:9).

• Jacob recognizes his own unworthiness: I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which Thou hast shown to Thy servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies (32:10).

• Jacob points out that he got into this situation by obeying the direction of the Lord.

Jacob’s PrayerJacob’s Prayer

Jacob’s PrayerJacob’s Prayer

• Jacob prays for deliverance: Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me, the mothers with the children (32:11).

• Jacob points out that he got into this situation by obeying the direction of the Lord.

• Jacob recognizes his own unworthiness.

Jacob’s PrayerJacob’s Prayer

• Jacob prays according to the promise of God.

• Jacob points out that he got into this situation by obeying the direction of the Lord.

• Jacob recognizes his own unworthiness.

• Jacob prays for deliverance.

Genesis 32:22-23Genesis 32:22-23Now he arose that same night

and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had.

Genesis 32:24Genesis 32:24Then Jacob was left alone, and

a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

qbea'YE

Niphal imperfectof qb

;a'

Genesis 32:25Genesis 32:25When he saw that he had not

prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.

Genesis 32:26Genesis 32:26Then he said, “Let me go, for

the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Genesis 32:27-28Genesis 32:27-28So he said to him, “What is your

name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”

~yhil{a/-~[i t'yrIf-yKi'

Genesis 32:29Genesis 32:29Then Jacob asked him and

said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.

Genesis 32:30Genesis 32:30So Jacob named the place

Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”

Genesis 32:31-32Genesis 32:31-32Now the sun rose upon him just

as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.

32 Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.

Jacob Jesus

He won by losing but refusing to let go

His victory obtained grace for us

Wrestled with an angel

Was a victor by grace

Wrestled with sin and with Satan

He won by losing His life on the cross

His hip was thrown out of joint

All His bones were out of joint

Jacob Jesus

As a memorial, the Israelites did not eat the sinew of the joint

He died that we might see God

He released the angel before the sun rose

He called the place Peniel; the face of God

The sun hid its face as He was on the cross

As a memorial, we are called to come and eat at the Lord’s table

Jacob wants to Jacob wants to be delivered in be delivered in his upcoming his upcoming meeting with meeting with

EsauEsau

Jacob fears Esau

Jacob has been Jacob has been delivered after delivered after meeting Godmeeting God

Jacob’s fear of Esau is gone

Before meetingGod

After meetingGod

Genesis 33:18-20Genesis 33:18-20Now Jacob came safely to the

city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city. 19 He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20 Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

Shechem

“You are not greater

than our father

Jacob, are You?”

(John 4:12)

The Dinah EpisodeThe Dinah Episode• Dinah is raped by the son

of a Canaanite chieftain

• The Canannites proposes a policy of inter-marriage

• The sons of Jacob answer with deceit (34:13).

• They slaughter all the inhabitants of the city.

The Dinah EpisodeThe Dinah Episode

Why is this story Why is this story included in the included in the

Genesis Account?Genesis Account?

The Dinah EpisodeThe Dinah Episode

How does this story How does this story relate to the Israelites relate to the Israelites

for whom Moses is for whom Moses is writing the book of writing the book of

Genesis?Genesis?

Genesis 35:2-3Genesis 35:2-3So Jacob said to his household

and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.”

Genesis 35:4Genesis 35:4So they gave to Jacob all the

foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.

Jacob’s call for purity is a Jacob’s call for purity is a regular theme in the regular theme in the

Scriptures, but is there a Scriptures, but is there a negative slant to hiding such negative slant to hiding such

things under a tree?things under a tree?

Then God appeared to Then God appeared to Jacob again when he Jacob again when he

came from Paddan-aram, came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him. and He blessed him.

(Genesis 35:10).(Genesis 35:10).

God said to him, God said to him,

““Your name is Your name is Jacob; Jacob; You shall no longer You shall no longer be called Jacob, be called Jacob, But Israel shall be But Israel shall be your name.” your name.” Thus He called him Thus He called him Israel. (Genesis Israel. (Genesis 35:9-10).35:9-10).

God also said to him, God also said to him, “I am God Almighty; “I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and Be fruitful and multiply; multiply; A nation and a A nation and a company of nations company of nations shall come from you, shall come from you, And kings shall come And kings shall come forth from you.” forth from you.” (Genesis 35:11).(Genesis 35:11).

““The land which I The land which I gave to Abraham gave to Abraham and Isaac, and Isaac, I will give it to you, I will give it to you, And I will give the And I will give the land to your land to your descendants after descendants after you.” (Genesis you.” (Genesis 35:12).35:12).

Genesis 35:16-17Genesis 35:16-17Then they journeyed from

Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor. 17 When she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for now you have another son.”

Genesis 35:18-19Genesis 35:18-19It came about as her soul was

departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

““Son of my sorrows”Son of my sorrows” ““Son of mySon of myright (hand)”right (hand)”

Rachel’s StoryRachel’s Story

• Rachel’s untimely death is a part of a curse unwittingly placed on her by Jacob

““The one with whom you find your gods The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our shall not live; in the presence of our

kinsmen point out what is yours among my kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” For belongings and take it for yourself.” For

Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. (Genesis 31:32).them. (Genesis 31:32).

Rachel’s StoryRachel’s Story

• Rachel’s untimely death is a part of a curse unwittingly placed on her by Jacob

• Rachel is buried “on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)”

• A later reference to “Rachel weeping for her children” will point to untimely deaths in Bethlehem.

• We have a “Son at the right hand” from Bethlehem who became a curse for us.

JacobJacobHe was the younger

brother

JesusJesusHe is our elder brother

He sought to steal the blessing that belonged

to another

He sought to share the blessing that was

rightfully HisHe took on the flesh of

a goat in order to accomplish the

deception

He took on flesh in order to accomplish

our salvation

JacobJacobJacob Has a Vision of

a Ladder between Heaven and Earth

JesusJesusJesus is the Ladder,

the way between Heaven and Earth

Jacob starts his family with twelve sons that

grow and prosper until he takes them home.

Jesus starts with twelve disciples that

continues to grow and prosper until He takes

us Home

JacobJacob

He struggles with an angel and sees the

face of God

JesusJesus

Submits to the Father so that we might see

the Face of God

Known for his Deceit and deceitful tactics

Known for his innocence, is betrayed with deceit, takes on

our guilt

JacobJacob JesusJesusHe can only love the lovely and meets his

perfect, pure, and beautiful bride at a

well

He meets an imperfect, unclean,

and unlovely woman at the well, whom he

will make perfect, clean, and lovely enough to be His

bride.

Rolls away the stone no man could

Rolls away the stone no man could