Genesis: The Mysterious Beginning (Part 3)

The brief description of the various Genesis stories continues...

> Esau Finds a Wife (Gen. 26)       

This is one of the briefest stories in the Book of Genesis. Two verses (26:34-35) enlighten that Esau married a woman named Judith, much to the dismay of his parents, Isaac and Rebekkah. Not much else is known about these nuptials other than Esau was 40 years old and Judith was the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Bashemath (daughter of Elon the Hittite). Marrying outside the family tribe was disheartening to Esau's parents, but whether Isaac and Rebekkah ever accepted the union is still unknown.

> Isaac and the Blessing Deception (Gen. 27)
Many years pass and the continuing saga finds Isaac an old man who has now gone blind (27:1). The patriarch of the family called his eldest son, Esau, into his tent and asked him to go hunt venison, make him a tasty stew and bring it to him so that he could pass a blessing to him as he feared his days on Earth were numbered (27:4). His wife overheard the conversation and quickly called for her youngest son, Jacob. Rebekkah instructed Jacob to kill two goat kids so she could make a savory meal for his father, Isaac. (27:9). The deception began when Jacob did not argue with his mother, but pointed out the fact that he [Jacob] was a smooth man and his brother [Esau] was a hairy man (27:11). Rebekkah told Jacob not to worry. "And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:" (27:15-16). While Isaac was at first hesitate and confused when Jacob came to him in disguise, for he thought it was Jacob's voice that spoke to him, he relinquished his thoughts when he felt his son's 'hairy hands and neck' (27:22). The deception worked and Jacob was given the blessing of his father. It is not recorded how Isaac reacted when he learned the truth, but when Esau discovered what his brother had done, he begged his father to give him a blessing too (27:34); Isaac sadly informed his eldest son that he could not undo the blessing that was presented to Jacob. Esau was so angry that he threatened to kill Jacob (27:41), so Rebekkah sent Jacob away to the home of her brother, Laban, and instructed him to stay put until his brother's fury dissipated (27:45). The deception continued when Rebekkah told her husband, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?" Isaac agreed to send Jacob to Laban to take a wife from his uncle's family.

> Esau Takes Another Wife (Gen. 28)

After Isaac agreed to send Jacob to Laban's household and Esau being told that his father did not approve of the women of Canaan (28:8), Esau decided to take a wife from the tribe of Abraham's oldest son, Ishmael. He married Mahalath, who was the daughter of Ishmael (28:9).  Why this short story was incorporated in scripture is somewhat daunting. Whether this marital union was accepted by Isaac and Rebekkah remains unknown. However, we learn that polygamy is introduced into scripture again.

> Jacob's Ladder (Gen. 28)

Verses 10-22 produces the story of Jacob falling asleep and having a dream in which he saw a ladder that was climbing into Heaven, and many angels were seen ascending and descending it (28:12). Jacob was amazed and somewhat wary when the voice of the Lord called out to him, "I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;" (28:13). God went on to reiterate the promise He had made to Abraham to make his descendants many great nations. Upon waking, Jacob was overwhelmed by such a dream and quickly made a pillar from the stones his head had been resting upon (28:18).  Jacob called this holy place Bethel (28:19) and vowed, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:" (28:20-21).

> Jacob, Rachel and Leah (Gen. 29)

This is another tale of deception and heartache. Not long after his strange dream, Jacob reaches the land of his mother's brother, Laban. There he finds the men out in the field rounding up the sheep for watering (29:8). Then he sees her... coming with her father's sheep to the well of water (29:10) and was instantly smitten by her beauty. Laban hears of his nephew's arrival and quickly comes to meet him. "And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?" (29:15). Jacob insisted that he would work seven years for Laban in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage (29:18). When the seven years were up, Laban held a grand feast and later sent his oldest daughter (Leah) to Jacob instead of Rachel (29:23). Isaac's son was not too happy with these turn of events when he discovered his father-in-law's subterfuge, but Laban informed him that it was their custom to marry off the oldest before the youngest (29:26), but made a promise to Jacob he could wed Rachel also if he fulfilled his matrimonial duties for one week with Leah and work another seven years for his father-in-law (29:27). Jacob agreed. Polygamy is again mentioned in the Bible. Both daughters of Laban were awarded each a handmaid - Zilpah and Bilhah. The Lord noted that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah and closed up Rachel's womb (29:31). Leah bare four sons to Jacob - Rueben, Simeon, Levi and Judah - and then became temporarily barren, too.

> Jacob and the Handmaids (Gen. 30)

When Rachel saw that her sister was producing sons for their shared husband, the younger sibling became envious (30:1). Rachel pleaded with Jacob to take her handmaid (Bilhah) as a surrogate to produce children unto her husband on her behalf (30:3). Bilhah conceived two children and they were named Dan and Naphtali. "When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife." (30:9). Zilpah produced two more sons - Gad and Asher- on Leah's behalf. Eventually a squabble occurred between the sisters and the race for more kids was enacted (30:14-16). Leah evidently won the quarrel as she bore Jacob two more sons - Issachar and Zebulun - as well as a daughter - Dinah. Rachel remained barren until, "God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb." (30:22). Rachel gave birth to Joseph and another child [Benjamin], Jacob's youngest son (30:23-24). All of Jacob's sons would comprise the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

> Jacob's Agreement and Covenant with Laban (Gen. 30-31)

When Jacob felt it was time to leave his father-in-law's land and journey home, Laban began scheming on how to keep the man in his land because Jacob had made him rich and prosperous (30:27). Laban pleaded with Jacob to stay a while longer, to which Jacob agreed to if he could have his choice of livestock. (30:31-33). "And Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!” So he removed that day the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons." (30:34-35). However, this ploy did not deter Jacob. He concocted a method of working with the livestock Laban had left him, to which Jacob separated the good stock [which he kept] from the weak [which he put aside for Laban]. The method he used included rods he made from green poplar, almond and chestnut trees (30:37). God blessed Jacob with many prime stock animals, as well as servants, camels and donkeys. (30:43). The story escalates when Laban's sons accuse Jacob of stealing from their father. It's at this point that God comes to Jacob and tells him, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you." (31:3). Jacob consulted with his wives and explained a dream in which the angel of God showed him how Laban was using him. Leah and Rachel, who understood, agreed with their husband (31:14-16). So Jacob and his household  "fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead." (31:21). Laban was furious when he discovered Jacob left and pursued him (31:22). When God came to Laban in a dream and told him to watch what he says to Jacob, it is unclear if Laban was frightened because he continued to follow after his son-in-law. When Laban caught up with Jacob, he accused him of stealing [his gods] from him. (31:30). Jacob had no idea that Rachel had taken the gods from her father's house and encouraged Laban to search for them. Rachel concealed the idols and Laban was none the wiser (31:35). Now it was Jacob's turn to get angry, reminding him that he had served his father-in-law for 20 years and it was now time for him to leave in peace. "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.” (31:42). This declaration finally got through to Laban and they made a covenant with one another not to bring hardship upon the each other in the future. "And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place." (31:55).  It is not recorded if Jacob ever found out about Rachel hiding "the gods" from her father or what ever became of the idols that Laban had accused Jacob of stealing.

> Jacob Sends a Gift to His Brother (Gen.32)

A new story emerges in which Jacob nears the land of his brother, Esau, and sends word that he would like to see him and comes baring gifts. (32:3-5). The messengers return to inform Jacob that Esau received the message and was, in turn, coming to meet him with an army of 400 men (32:6). Of course, Jacob had no idea what his brother's intentions were and divided his household into two units, therefore saving a remnant of his household should one or the other units be killed by Esau. Jacob called upon the Lord and entreated Him to watch over his house (32:9-12), then instructed his servants to go ahead of him so they could present Esau with the gifts of livestock and servants. "In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’" For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” (32:9-20). At this point in the saga of Jacob, the story abruptly ends on a cliffhanger!

> Jacob Wrestles with God (Gen 32)

Evidently Jacob was somewhat wary of his brother's imminent arrival and moved his family across the ford of Jabbok, making sure all crossed safely until he was the last one on the opposite side of the waterway (32:22-24). The story goes on to relate how Jacob wrestled with a 'man' until the breaking of day. When the stranger noted that Jacob did not prevail against him, he touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip, which was out of place from wrestling with this man throughout the night (32:25). When the sun began to come up, the man told Jacob to let him go, to which Jacob replied, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" The mysterious man asked the son of Isaac what his name was and then announced [when Jacob enlightened of his name], "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." (32:28). However, when Israel (Jacob) asked the man his name it was not forthcoming (32:29). "So Jacob called the name of the place Penuel:“For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (32:30).

> Jacob and Esau Meet (Gen. 33)

This is the continuing tale of Jacob/Israel that ended on a cliffhanger earlier in the saga. This story is about two brothers reuniting after a 20 year absence, as well as 20 year spat. Jacob remained cautious as he saw his brother drawing near. "And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last." (33:2). However, Esau was thrilled to see his brother and surprised Jacob by embracing him instead. When Jacob tried to give the many gifts of livestock and servants to Esau, his brother jovially told him, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” But Jacob [Israel] insisted on bestowing this blessing upon his brother and Esau finally accepted. (33:10-11). When Esau invited Jacob and his family to his house, Jacob said they would follow at a slower pace so as not to push the weak children and the nursing animals beyond their limits (33:13-14). The story ends with Esau agreeing to his brother's plan and Jacob setting up house at a place called Succoth (33:17).

> Dinah, Shechem and Her Brothers (Gen 34)

A tale of love and woe is incorporated into this story. Dinah, who is Jacob's only daughter mentioned by name in the Bible, decided to one day go into the city to see what other women looked like in the land (34:1). A prince notices her and she catches his fancy. "And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her." (34:2). When the young man asked his father to make it possible for him to marry Dinah, Shechem's father went to talk to Jacob about the matter. This news troubled Jacob exceedingly and while Hamor the Hivite was talking to Israel, Dinah's brothers came in from the fields and heard the conversation, which made them angry (34:7). Even though a pact was made with the house of Hamor to circumcise their males in order to allow a marriage to occur between the tribes (34:22), two of Dinah's brothers - Simeon and Levi - did not agree and, in retribution, killed all the male scions in the city (34:25). Jacob was quite disappointed in his sons' rebel actions, "Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.” But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?” (34:30-31). How Jacob reacted to their declaration remains unknown as this is another story that comes to an abrupt end.

> Jacob Returns to Bethel (Gen. 35)

Not long after the Dinah incident, the Creator came to Jacob and said, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." (35:1). So Jacob uprooted his family and moved back to Bethel (the place where Jacob's dream about the ladder occurred). The patriarch of the family ordered the tribe to "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments." (35:2). Israel hid the foreign gods under the terebinth tree which was by [the city of] Shechem (35:4). Evidently the Lord caused a distraction to aid Jacob in escaping the land, as it is recorded, "And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob." (35:5). However, the sudden announcement that Rebekkah's nurse (Deborah) dies and is buried in Bethel under the terebinth tree comes out of nowhere! (35:8). First time the woman is mentioned up until this point, so why include her extremely brief mention? Regardless, God reiterates Jacob's name change to Israel, then added, "The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.” (35:12). "So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it." (35:14).

> The Death of Rachel (Gen. 35)

Here is the brief story of Rachel's death as recorded in the Bible. The family once more uprooted and journeyed from Bethel towards Ephrath (today known as Bethlehem) where Rachel went into labor with Jacob's 12th child, Benjamin (35:16). Unfortunately, Rachel died in childbirth (35:18) and was buried on the way to Ephrath (35:19). "And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day." (35:20). Jacob's clan continued their journey after this and pitched their tents beyond the tower of Eder. How odd this story should end with Jacob finding out his son, Reuben, had sexual relations with his father's concubine, Bilhah (35:22). What a bizarre way to end a sad story!

> The Death of Isaac (Gen. 35)

This story comes straight to the point. It is told that Jacob/Israel came to his ailing father, Isaac, who was living at Mamre (later known as Hebron). Jacob evidently resided with his father until his death at 180 years. It is recorded, "So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him." (35:29). End of story.

> Genealogy of Esau (36)

The following chapter is not so much a story, but a genealogy of Isaac's firstborn son, Esau, with snippets of information thrown in between the names of Esau's clan. "Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth." (36:2-3). "Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom. (36:6-8). Esau had a total of five sons: Eliphaz (by Adah); Jeush, Jaalam and Korah (by Aholibamah); and, Reuel (by Basemath). From these five sons of Esau the mighty kingdom of Edom would be born.

> Introduction of Joseph (Gen. 37)

A new story develops about Jacob's 11th son, Joseph. It's recorded when he was seventeen years old Joseph was feeding the flock with some of his brothers (who were the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah) and brought a bad report of them to Jacob (37:2). What the 'bad report' was is not entirely clear, but it was said his brothers "hated him and could not speak peaceably to him." (37:4) because, "Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors." (37:3). Not a good way to start off an introduction to a story!

> Joseph and His Prophetic Dreams (Gen. 37)

The saga of Joseph begins with two separate dreams he enlightened his father and his brothers about. The first vision: "There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf." (37:7). The second vision: "Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." (37:9). Both dreams were similar and caused more discontent among the brothers. While Jacob rebuked his son for sharing such a dream with the family, although he secretly mused upon what Joseph had said (37:11), the dreams only caused more tension between Joseph and his brothers. 

> Joseph Sold By His Brothers (37)  

When Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers, whom were keeping watch over the flock in Shechem, he would not know it would be the last time he would see him [for many years to come]. Israel had told him, "Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me." So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem." (37:14). On his journey to Shechem, a man stopped and asked what Joseph was seeking, unto which he replied, "I am seeking my brothers." (37:16). The unnamed man led him in the correct direction (37:17), then completely vanished from the story. As Joseph neared the site where his brethen were tending the flock, his brothers began conspiring how to kill him, except for Reuben. "And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father." (37:22). The brothers agreed to the plan and stripped Joseph of his colorful tunic and threw him into the pit (37:23-24). While eating a meal, the brothers noticed a band of Ishmaelites travelling towards Egypt and the fourth born brother, Judah, suggested a different course of action by selling their brother to these [Midianite] traders (37:27). And that's exactly what they did (37:28). The horrid story they concocted for their father was very convincing and Jacob/Israel mourned exceedingly over the loss of his son, Joseph (37:33-35).  

> Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38)  

The next story that evolves concerns Jacob's fourth son, Judah. It is recorded that he married a Canaanite woman named Shua (38:2) and bore Judah three sons: Er, Onan and Shelah (38:3-5). Then the story jumps ahead 20+ years and we learn, "Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar." (38:6). But the Creator found Er to be a wicked man and killed him (38:7). When Judah went to Onan and replied, "Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother." (38:8), Onan was not happy with these turn of events and displeased the God of Abraham, when he let his seed fall unto the ground instead letting it make entrance into the womb. God killed him, too. (38:9-10). With only one son left to marry Tamar, who was still yet a child, she spent the next few years as a 'widow in her father's house' (38:11). Upon Shelah growing up and Tamar not being wed to him yet, she worried that Judah would find him another wife, so she concocted a plan so she would always be able to abide in her father-in-law's household (38:13-14). Disguising herself, Judah was tricked into believing Tamar was a harlot and had sexual relations with her. (38:15-16). They had agreed the price of the liaison would be a young goat, to which Judah sent to her a few days later, only the favoring gift was not received because they could not find the young woman (38:22-23). When Judah discovered it was Tamar that played the harlot, he was incensed and called for her to be burned at the stake (38:24). Upon discovering that she was with his child, Judah changed his mind. "So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again." (38:26). Judah and Tamar had twin sons who were named Perez and Zerah.

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