Genesis 34
This chapter is a bit confusing, Jacob his family and all his other servants and animals have settled and built a home. Dinah one of Jacob's daughters ... well lemme just start with the verse.
1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 And Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her; and he took her, and lay with her, and humbled her. 3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. 4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. 5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter; and his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.
So Jacob and his sons are mad because Dinah has been defiled by this man. So the father of the man visits Jacob and his sons and begins to ask for Dinah's hand, for his son, in marriage. He is not received well at all by Jacob and his sons but on in this chapter we'll see something that we never really thought about as being a bad thing...
8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you, give her unto him to wife. 9 And make ye marriages with us; give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
He goes on to offer, favors and gifts, anything that Jacob would ask for. Trading and such for the ability to wed with his daughters and also their own ability to wed with Hamor's daughters.
13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with guile, and spake, because he had defiled Dinah their sister, 14 and said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us. 15 Only on this condition will we consent unto you: if ye will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised; 16 then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
So they strike a deal with Hamor and son Shechem that if they and all their men will be circumcised that they will agree to give up their daughters and basically settle this issue. So Hamor goes back to his men and communes with them and explains this deal.
21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for, behold, the land is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the men consent unto us to dwell with us, to become one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.
Okay so the deal has been struck and Hamor's men agree to have this done so that Jacob and his people can basically coexist with these people.
24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city unawares, and slew all the males. 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went forth. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
So as soon as these men get circumcised, something that has been commanded by God, and offered to these men by Jacob his two sons come in and kill all the men! After that all the other brothers come in and plunder the city (looters). As the verses go on they take all their herds; sheeps, asses, etc. They also take all their money and their children and their wives. So basically they steal everything and take even their women and children captive [29 and all their wealth, and all their little ones and their wives, took they captive and made a prey, even all that was in the house.] Now that's terrible.
Next Jacob does scold Simeon and Levi for doing this, but he's more worried about the Canaanites and the Perizzites than anything else (go figure). Then they tell him...
31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?
This chapter could be a good discussion, but I think it's a lesson in what NOT to do. Even with the sister being with Shechem I don't think God wants us to kill all the males, steal all their stuff and take captive their women and children. Especially I don't think God wants us only to worry about our own hides just because we are like Jacob... a COWARD.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Genesis 33
Genesis 33
This chapter deals with Jacob and Esau finally meeting. It's amazing with all of Jacob's cowering around he truly has no faith, he villainizes Esau but this is farther from the truth.
1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
Wow! What a coward Jacob is and all his brother wanted was to hug his neck. Notice how Jacob is always positioning his people in front and in back of himself, he is always hiding himself in the middle of them.
Then Esau lifts up and sees all these women and children and asks Jacob who these people are and he explains to his brother that these are his wives, handmaids and children. Esau asks about why Jacob had all this company meet him.
8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this company which I met? And he said, to find favor in the sight of my lord. 9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; let that which thou hast be thine.
It's funny here, Jacob speaking about favor in his lord's sight, he's actually talking about Esau. Think about it. He goes on...
10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found favor in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand; forasmuch as I have seen thy face, as one seeth the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my gift that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
Jacob says "thou wast pleased with me", he's talking again about Esau, he does give God praise about dealing with him graciously. But I think he's probably talking about Esau dealing with him graciously more than anything.
They move on with this large caravan, Jacob goes on to Succoth, builds a house and builds a stable for his animals. Then Jacob goes to Shechem and builds an altar, now what he builds this altar for I don't know. He bought a parcel of land and builds this altar, and he calls it El-Elohe-Israel.
This chapter deals with Jacob and Esau finally meeting. It's amazing with all of Jacob's cowering around he truly has no faith, he villainizes Esau but this is farther from the truth.
1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
Wow! What a coward Jacob is and all his brother wanted was to hug his neck. Notice how Jacob is always positioning his people in front and in back of himself, he is always hiding himself in the middle of them.
Then Esau lifts up and sees all these women and children and asks Jacob who these people are and he explains to his brother that these are his wives, handmaids and children. Esau asks about why Jacob had all this company meet him.
8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this company which I met? And he said, to find favor in the sight of my lord. 9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; let that which thou hast be thine.
It's funny here, Jacob speaking about favor in his lord's sight, he's actually talking about Esau. Think about it. He goes on...
10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found favor in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand; forasmuch as I have seen thy face, as one seeth the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my gift that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
Jacob says "thou wast pleased with me", he's talking again about Esau, he does give God praise about dealing with him graciously. But I think he's probably talking about Esau dealing with him graciously more than anything.
They move on with this large caravan, Jacob goes on to Succoth, builds a house and builds a stable for his animals. Then Jacob goes to Shechem and builds an altar, now what he builds this altar for I don't know. He bought a parcel of land and builds this altar, and he calls it El-Elohe-Israel.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Genesis 32
Genesis 32
Starts off with Jacob leaving the mountains going back to his kin after staying with Laban. He sends messengers to his brother Esau.
3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the field of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now: 5 and I have oxen, and asses, and flocks, and men-servants, and maid-servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in thy sight.
This is the first example of the art of sucking up or eating crow... If you remember Jacob stole Esau's blessing from their father Isaac and thus Esau was a bit mad. This was the reason Jacob departed their lands and went to visit Laban. Now Jacob is coming home and is trying desperately to buy his brother's favor.
6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and moreover he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed: and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies; 8 and he said, if Esau come to the one company, and smite it then the company which is left shall escape.
Now Jacob trembles because of what he fears his brother greatly. Jacob has been commanded to go home and here he begins to doubt and starts praying and struggling with himself and god. So he begins sending Esau gifts in droves that pass before Jacob and each is to tell Esau that the gifts are from his servant Jacob (thus begins the full eating crow for Jacob).
In verses 22 and on Jacob begins wrestling with himself, physically, all the way through daybreak. He touches the hollow of his thigh and his thigh was strained.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? and he said Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou has striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Starts off with Jacob leaving the mountains going back to his kin after staying with Laban. He sends messengers to his brother Esau.
3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the field of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now: 5 and I have oxen, and asses, and flocks, and men-servants, and maid-servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in thy sight.
This is the first example of the art of sucking up or eating crow... If you remember Jacob stole Esau's blessing from their father Isaac and thus Esau was a bit mad. This was the reason Jacob departed their lands and went to visit Laban. Now Jacob is coming home and is trying desperately to buy his brother's favor.
6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and moreover he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed: and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies; 8 and he said, if Esau come to the one company, and smite it then the company which is left shall escape.
Now Jacob trembles because of what he fears his brother greatly. Jacob has been commanded to go home and here he begins to doubt and starts praying and struggling with himself and god. So he begins sending Esau gifts in droves that pass before Jacob and each is to tell Esau that the gifts are from his servant Jacob (thus begins the full eating crow for Jacob).
In verses 22 and on Jacob begins wrestling with himself, physically, all the way through daybreak. He touches the hollow of his thigh and his thigh was strained.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? and he said Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou has striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Genesis 26 thru 31 --- a bit of a catch up update
I'm trying to do a catch up so we can move on through the book of Genesis quickly.
Genesis 26
6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife. And he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, My wife. Lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah. Because she was fair to look upon.
So once again they don't tell the truth about their wives in order to stay in a place without fear.
8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. 9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is they wife. And saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die because of her. 10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? One of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
Wow, Abimelech actually is a better person than Isaac, or at least he's smart enough to realize how absolutely wrong this action by Isaac actually was. I don't remember ever being taught this... anyway we will go on.
After this many verses talk about Isaac sowing in this land and finding a hundred fold, sheep and wells and such, It goes on and on.... Isaac is blessed for some reason, far more than others and I can't get my head around it... but we will go on.
Genesis 27
Isaac is old so he calls his oldest son Esau in to him.
2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, they weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison. 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may east. That my soul may bless thee before I die.
Isaac is trying to bless his oldest and most beloved son with his last blessing which would give him rights to all that belongs to Isaac at the time of his death.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, say, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless thee before Jehovah before my death.
Now to abbreviate the rest of this... Rebekah commands Jacob to go get a goat so she can prepare it like venison, she then took the skins of the goat and put them on the arms and neck of Jacob because his brother Esau was a very hairy man. Jacob goes in to see Isaac with the food and the goat skins on and Isaac eats the food and feels the skins and determines that this is his son Esau and thus he blesses Jacob (the wrong son) with his blessings. Then Esau comes in with venison for his father to eat and Isaac begins shaking and telling Esau he has already given his blessing to Jacob who has deceived him. Esau asks his father to give him a blessing and Isaac says:
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother. And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt break loose, That thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.
So Esau threatens to kill Jacob, Rebekah hears this and sends Jacob away to Haran for a "few days" until Esau cools off a bit.
Genesis 28
1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Paddanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father. And take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
Wait, that would be his cousin. *yuck.
Then Esau goes out after seeing his brother being blessed by his father and decides to take a wife from Canaan, besides the wives he already had, he takes a "daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife." (v. 9)
Next Jacob goes out to Beer-sheba and decides to make camp and sleep somewhere near Haran. There he has a dream and God speaks to him about how he will bless him with all the lands and he will seed all the earth to the west, east, north and south. So Jacob wakes and blesses the spot he slept.
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, 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, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Jehovah will be my god, 22 then this stone which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
We're gonna blow through Chapter 29, 30 and 31 quickly...
Chapter 29
Jacob comes to a well around Haran, he meets Rachel, goes to his Uncle's house, works 7 years for the hand of Rachel in marriage, she has a sister Leah, so his Uncle gives him Leah, Jacob is mad, so he has to work another 7 years for Rachel's hand in marriage, he gets both sisters with their handmaids and Jacob is happy?... right... He loves Rachel more so Jehovah opens up Leah's womb and not Rachel and Leah has 3 sons for Jacob and thus believes he will love her more. This whole chapter is pitiful.
Chapter 30
Jacob takes Rachel's handmaid to conceive a child with her because Rachel is mad that Leah is able to conceive children, they have several children, back and forth between handmaids and Leah even negotiating mandrakes for services with Jacob to have more kids. It's pitiful and disgusting. Finally Jacob asks Laban to let him leave with his wives and children to go somewhere else. Laban does not want Jacob to leave because he has prospered with Jacob there so they begin this long thing with sheeps and goats speckled and spotted and ring necked and feeding flocks and such. It's all quite confusing. Basically Jacob takes all the good sheeps and goats and breeds them giving Laban the feeble goats and sheeps. Something in there about rods and such but I have no idea what they are talking about.
Chapter 31
In this verse Jacob takes all his wives and children, his flocks and belongings and begins fleeing back to his father Isaac and the land of Canaan. They begin traveling while Laban is away, once he returns he takes off after them. Rachel has stolen one of Laban's idols and he is furious to find it. Once he catches up to Jacob and his caravan it has been a week. Laban is very upset, Jacob has taken his daughters his flocks and his idol. He looks furiously for it, but Rachel has hidden it in a camel pack a camel that she is sitting on. She tells her father that she cannot come off the camel because she is in the time of woman matters. So Jacob and Laban decide finally to make a covenant with one another because Laban had a vision from God that told him to do no harm to Jacob. They create a pillar, give it a bunch of names and eat around it. They agree to a covenant with one another and go there separate ways.
On to the next chapters after all these settle in... hopefully I can keep up and be able to do one chapter at a time.
Genesis 26
6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife. And he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, My wife. Lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah. Because she was fair to look upon.
So once again they don't tell the truth about their wives in order to stay in a place without fear.
8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. 9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is they wife. And saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die because of her. 10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? One of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
Wow, Abimelech actually is a better person than Isaac, or at least he's smart enough to realize how absolutely wrong this action by Isaac actually was. I don't remember ever being taught this... anyway we will go on.
After this many verses talk about Isaac sowing in this land and finding a hundred fold, sheep and wells and such, It goes on and on.... Isaac is blessed for some reason, far more than others and I can't get my head around it... but we will go on.
Genesis 27
Isaac is old so he calls his oldest son Esau in to him.
2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, they weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison. 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may east. That my soul may bless thee before I die.
Isaac is trying to bless his oldest and most beloved son with his last blessing which would give him rights to all that belongs to Isaac at the time of his death.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, say, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless thee before Jehovah before my death.
Now to abbreviate the rest of this... Rebekah commands Jacob to go get a goat so she can prepare it like venison, she then took the skins of the goat and put them on the arms and neck of Jacob because his brother Esau was a very hairy man. Jacob goes in to see Isaac with the food and the goat skins on and Isaac eats the food and feels the skins and determines that this is his son Esau and thus he blesses Jacob (the wrong son) with his blessings. Then Esau comes in with venison for his father to eat and Isaac begins shaking and telling Esau he has already given his blessing to Jacob who has deceived him. Esau asks his father to give him a blessing and Isaac says:
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother. And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt break loose, That thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.
So Esau threatens to kill Jacob, Rebekah hears this and sends Jacob away to Haran for a "few days" until Esau cools off a bit.
Genesis 28
1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Paddanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father. And take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
Wait, that would be his cousin. *yuck.
Then Esau goes out after seeing his brother being blessed by his father and decides to take a wife from Canaan, besides the wives he already had, he takes a "daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife." (v. 9)
Next Jacob goes out to Beer-sheba and decides to make camp and sleep somewhere near Haran. There he has a dream and God speaks to him about how he will bless him with all the lands and he will seed all the earth to the west, east, north and south. So Jacob wakes and blesses the spot he slept.
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, 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, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Jehovah will be my god, 22 then this stone which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
We're gonna blow through Chapter 29, 30 and 31 quickly...
Chapter 29
Jacob comes to a well around Haran, he meets Rachel, goes to his Uncle's house, works 7 years for the hand of Rachel in marriage, she has a sister Leah, so his Uncle gives him Leah, Jacob is mad, so he has to work another 7 years for Rachel's hand in marriage, he gets both sisters with their handmaids and Jacob is happy?... right... He loves Rachel more so Jehovah opens up Leah's womb and not Rachel and Leah has 3 sons for Jacob and thus believes he will love her more. This whole chapter is pitiful.
Chapter 30
Jacob takes Rachel's handmaid to conceive a child with her because Rachel is mad that Leah is able to conceive children, they have several children, back and forth between handmaids and Leah even negotiating mandrakes for services with Jacob to have more kids. It's pitiful and disgusting. Finally Jacob asks Laban to let him leave with his wives and children to go somewhere else. Laban does not want Jacob to leave because he has prospered with Jacob there so they begin this long thing with sheeps and goats speckled and spotted and ring necked and feeding flocks and such. It's all quite confusing. Basically Jacob takes all the good sheeps and goats and breeds them giving Laban the feeble goats and sheeps. Something in there about rods and such but I have no idea what they are talking about.
Chapter 31
In this verse Jacob takes all his wives and children, his flocks and belongings and begins fleeing back to his father Isaac and the land of Canaan. They begin traveling while Laban is away, once he returns he takes off after them. Rachel has stolen one of Laban's idols and he is furious to find it. Once he catches up to Jacob and his caravan it has been a week. Laban is very upset, Jacob has taken his daughters his flocks and his idol. He looks furiously for it, but Rachel has hidden it in a camel pack a camel that she is sitting on. She tells her father that she cannot come off the camel because she is in the time of woman matters. So Jacob and Laban decide finally to make a covenant with one another because Laban had a vision from God that told him to do no harm to Jacob. They create a pillar, give it a bunch of names and eat around it. They agree to a covenant with one another and go there separate ways.
On to the next chapters after all these settle in... hopefully I can keep up and be able to do one chapter at a time.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Genesis 25
Genesis 25
Today we talk about Isaac and Rebekah's twin sons Esau and Jacob.
27 And the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. And Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison. And Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 And Jacob boild pottage. And Esau came in from the field, and he was faint. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage. For I am faint. Therefore was his name called Edom. 31 and Jacob said, Sell me first thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die. And what profit shall the birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me first. And he sware unto him. And he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. And he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
So basically one child was especially loved by one parent for his manliness and the other was loved by his other parent for being a bit of a home body. As any of us know as parents this of course is a "what NOT to do" situation. Because of this there is of course a great deal disfunction between these two brothers. As a result Jacob cons Esau out of his birthright. He takes advantage of his brother being exhausted and leverages his birthright away from him .... basically for a bowl of pottage. We can look at Jacob and say he is a bad person, true, but the fact the Esau was so easily deceived into accepting such a terrible offer is just about as revolting. I would say this a lesson for both brothers for sure. The disfunction and deceit continues (of course) in the next blog.
Today we talk about Isaac and Rebekah's twin sons Esau and Jacob.
27 And the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. And Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison. And Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 And Jacob boild pottage. And Esau came in from the field, and he was faint. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage. For I am faint. Therefore was his name called Edom. 31 and Jacob said, Sell me first thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die. And what profit shall the birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me first. And he sware unto him. And he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. And he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
So basically one child was especially loved by one parent for his manliness and the other was loved by his other parent for being a bit of a home body. As any of us know as parents this of course is a "what NOT to do" situation. Because of this there is of course a great deal disfunction between these two brothers. As a result Jacob cons Esau out of his birthright. He takes advantage of his brother being exhausted and leverages his birthright away from him .... basically for a bowl of pottage. We can look at Jacob and say he is a bad person, true, but the fact the Esau was so easily deceived into accepting such a terrible offer is just about as revolting. I would say this a lesson for both brothers for sure. The disfunction and deceit continues (of course) in the next blog.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Genesis 21
Genesis 21
In this chapter Sarah has had a child Isaac and Abraham is 100 years old. Isaac is weaned and Abraham has a party. At the party Sarah sees her handmaid and Ishmael.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son. For the son of this handmaid shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.
So now that Sarah has had Isaac she wants to throw her handmaid and her child to the curb. Of course Abraham obliges her request.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and gave her the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 And the water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot. For she said, Let me not look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.
So basically Abraham sends this woman and her child, his child, out to the wilderness with bread and a bottle of water. She goes until they run out of said provisions and then prepares to die. If you're Abraham could you do this? Well thank goodness God always has a plan.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad. And the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not. For God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thy hand. For I will make him a great nation. 19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
Thank goodness God always has a plan... for the handmaid and child's sake for sure. Left to Sarah and Abraham, these two would have died. Definately a case of what Not to do! ... thank God for grace and mercy.
In this chapter Sarah has had a child Isaac and Abraham is 100 years old. Isaac is weaned and Abraham has a party. At the party Sarah sees her handmaid and Ishmael.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son. For the son of this handmaid shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.
So now that Sarah has had Isaac she wants to throw her handmaid and her child to the curb. Of course Abraham obliges her request.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and gave her the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 And the water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot. For she said, Let me not look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.
So basically Abraham sends this woman and her child, his child, out to the wilderness with bread and a bottle of water. She goes until they run out of said provisions and then prepares to die. If you're Abraham could you do this? Well thank goodness God always has a plan.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad. And the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not. For God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thy hand. For I will make him a great nation. 19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
Thank goodness God always has a plan... for the handmaid and child's sake for sure. Left to Sarah and Abraham, these two would have died. Definately a case of what Not to do! ... thank God for grace and mercy.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Genesis 20
Genesis 20
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold thou art but a dead man, Because of the woman whom thou hast taken. For she is a man's wife. 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation? 5 Said he not himself unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this.
So once again Abraham and Sarah come into a city and say that Sarah is Abraham's sister only getting the leader of that city into trouble for taking a man's wife. The only trouble is that this time Abraham has condemned basically a man of integrity. His lying has truly made another man stumble. Sarah also goes along with this.
6 And God said unto him in the dream, Yea, I know that in the integrity of thy heart thou has done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore the man's wife.
Of course Abimelech restores Abraham's wife to him but not before he asks him why. You won't believe this response.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? And wherein have I sinned against thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. 10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? 11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place. And they will slay me for my wife's sake.
Much like some christians today who judge people, especially when they start judging others are a believers themselves, Abraham just starts judging these people before he knows if they have a fear of God. This of course is a terrible practice and another example of what "not to do".
This next verse will blow you away if you've been following this blog from the beginning.
12 And moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife: 13 and it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me. At every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
WHAT!!! Abraham tells that his wife is ACTUALLY his half sister, *ooo!* and that he has ordered her to lie when they come to a city and that this is the kindness she WILL show him. i.e. he hides behind Sarah because he is a huge coward. It's amazing that this is the first time we hear this "she is indeed my sister" story ... where was this earlier. The incest, the lies, causing others to stumble, causing your wife to sin with other men... I would say this is definately a case for my "what NOT to do" theory about Abraham.
Next we'll deal with Sarah throwing out her handmaid...
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold thou art but a dead man, Because of the woman whom thou hast taken. For she is a man's wife. 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation? 5 Said he not himself unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this.
So once again Abraham and Sarah come into a city and say that Sarah is Abraham's sister only getting the leader of that city into trouble for taking a man's wife. The only trouble is that this time Abraham has condemned basically a man of integrity. His lying has truly made another man stumble. Sarah also goes along with this.
6 And God said unto him in the dream, Yea, I know that in the integrity of thy heart thou has done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore the man's wife.
Of course Abimelech restores Abraham's wife to him but not before he asks him why. You won't believe this response.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? And wherein have I sinned against thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. 10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? 11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place. And they will slay me for my wife's sake.
Much like some christians today who judge people, especially when they start judging others are a believers themselves, Abraham just starts judging these people before he knows if they have a fear of God. This of course is a terrible practice and another example of what "not to do".
This next verse will blow you away if you've been following this blog from the beginning.
12 And moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife: 13 and it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me. At every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
WHAT!!! Abraham tells that his wife is ACTUALLY his half sister, *ooo!* and that he has ordered her to lie when they come to a city and that this is the kindness she WILL show him. i.e. he hides behind Sarah because he is a huge coward. It's amazing that this is the first time we hear this "she is indeed my sister" story ... where was this earlier. The incest, the lies, causing others to stumble, causing your wife to sin with other men... I would say this is definately a case for my "what NOT to do" theory about Abraham.
Next we'll deal with Sarah throwing out her handmaid...
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Genesis 19:31
I'm talking today about Lot and his two daughters after they leave Sodom and Gomorrah and it's been destroyed (without Lot's wife of course... she didn't listen). They go up to some mountain because they feared a place they went to first called Zoar... for some reason Lot and his two daughters take refuge in a cave. Now they believe the world has come to an end because of the massive destruction that had just taken place (I'm assuming here).
31 And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 32 come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
Wow! That's intense, I'ld say this is a definate what NOT to do. Now I realize they were living in a cave, but that was because Lot had some issue with Zoar and decided to live in this cave. It was a different time and maybe the men would have killed Lot for his daughters... but how could a daughter, much less both sleep with their own father?
34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the youger arose and lay with him; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
So you get your younger sister to do the same thing to "preserve seed of our father"? As well supposedly Lot never remembers any of this. Also, notice he's made to drink wine that makes him forget, that's for all you christians out there that think wine in the bible wasn't fermented.... well it was. Lot seems to forget everything from both these nights. And even after all this and his two daughters become pregnant Lot never questions why his daughters are pregnant. Every father knows that even if you only have a sheep herder's stick you're going to go find out who has been in your hen house (a bit of an example of the modern day father with a shotgun). Each of his daughters bare a son Moab and Ben-ammi. Poor little mongoloids.
31 And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 32 come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
Wow! That's intense, I'ld say this is a definate what NOT to do. Now I realize they were living in a cave, but that was because Lot had some issue with Zoar and decided to live in this cave. It was a different time and maybe the men would have killed Lot for his daughters... but how could a daughter, much less both sleep with their own father?
34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the youger arose and lay with him; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
So you get your younger sister to do the same thing to "preserve seed of our father"? As well supposedly Lot never remembers any of this. Also, notice he's made to drink wine that makes him forget, that's for all you christians out there that think wine in the bible wasn't fermented.... well it was. Lot seems to forget everything from both these nights. And even after all this and his two daughters become pregnant Lot never questions why his daughters are pregnant. Every father knows that even if you only have a sheep herder's stick you're going to go find out who has been in your hen house (a bit of an example of the modern day father with a shotgun). Each of his daughters bare a son Moab and Ben-ammi. Poor little mongoloids.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Genesis 19:4
Next we have the two visitors (angels) that visited Abraham then they go to visit Lot in Sodom... So this story is a little bit more about Lot than Abraham.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; 5 and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men that came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out unto them to the door, and shut the door after him. 7 And he said, I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now I have two daughters that have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing, for as much as they are come under the shadow of my roof.
Really? You give up your two virgin daughters who are probably in their early teens to the men surrounding your house. I this really something you are suppose to do when two angels come to visit and the your neighbors decide to surround your house? Offer your two daughters to them? Wow definately a "what NOT to do" situation here. Because the angels eventually pull Lot back in the house and "smote" all the men around the house and this blinds them all.
11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
In other words, those two angels needed no help.
Next we will continue in Chapter 19 with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the subsequent incest that goes on between Lot and his two daughters... *gross*.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; 5 and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men that came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out unto them to the door, and shut the door after him. 7 And he said, I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now I have two daughters that have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing, for as much as they are come under the shadow of my roof.
Really? You give up your two virgin daughters who are probably in their early teens to the men surrounding your house. I this really something you are suppose to do when two angels come to visit and the your neighbors decide to surround your house? Offer your two daughters to them? Wow definately a "what NOT to do" situation here. Because the angels eventually pull Lot back in the house and "smote" all the men around the house and this blinds them all.
11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
In other words, those two angels needed no help.
Next we will continue in Chapter 19 with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the subsequent incest that goes on between Lot and his two daughters... *gross*.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Genesis 16:1
In this chapter Sarai has not been able to bare Abram any children so she gets the bright idea to give him her handmaid as a wife so that she may conceive and produce a son for him.
Genesis 16
1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.
This is Sarai's idea to give her handmaid to Abram and Abram goes along with it. The idea of giving your housekeeper to your husband so that they can have children together is outrageous. Also look at the verse where Sarai believes any children that Hagar has will be Sarai's children, probably because of slave laws and ideas where any child born of a slave are basically the property of the owner??? I guess... she's believes the children will be hers... we continue...
3 And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Incredibly Sarai is despised with Hagar??? This is outrageous to me ... Hagar is despised for doing what she's been told to do... there's more.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I gave my handmaid into they bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: Jehovah judge between me and thee. 6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her that which is good in thine eyes. And Sarai dealt hardly with her, and she fled from her face.
That's a lot to take in... so Sarai is upset about this arrangement that she created to begin with and then she deals with her handmaid "hardly" thus basically running her off. I haven't even begun to talk about Abram's role in this sorted plan yet, but I guess it's time. Abram agreed to this arranged relationship and agreed to even marry this handmaid and of course proceeded to have a child with her as well. So she basically lived with Abram and Sarai and shared their bed, as it were. After this Sarai gets aggravated about the fact the Hagar conceives and subsequently goes to talk to Abram about this... Does Abram give Sarai good advice, does he look to Jehovah for a sound response, the answer of course is, no... Abram proceeds to tell Sarai to deal with her handmaid as she sees fit to. So she does by confronting her about the sorted affair that she, Sarai, set up to begin with. Again this is a resounding... What not to do! - ever.
The next few verses are an interesting read. Hagar goes and basically licks her wounds by a water fountain, an angel comes along and counsels her to go back and submit to her master, Sarai, and that she will have a son that will be called Ishmael. I think the real meat of the story would be more around the handmaid and her endurance during all this... but that's a whole other blog.
Genesis 16
1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.
This is Sarai's idea to give her handmaid to Abram and Abram goes along with it. The idea of giving your housekeeper to your husband so that they can have children together is outrageous. Also look at the verse where Sarai believes any children that Hagar has will be Sarai's children, probably because of slave laws and ideas where any child born of a slave are basically the property of the owner??? I guess... she's believes the children will be hers... we continue...
3 And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Incredibly Sarai is despised with Hagar??? This is outrageous to me ... Hagar is despised for doing what she's been told to do... there's more.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I gave my handmaid into they bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: Jehovah judge between me and thee. 6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her that which is good in thine eyes. And Sarai dealt hardly with her, and she fled from her face.
That's a lot to take in... so Sarai is upset about this arrangement that she created to begin with and then she deals with her handmaid "hardly" thus basically running her off. I haven't even begun to talk about Abram's role in this sorted plan yet, but I guess it's time. Abram agreed to this arranged relationship and agreed to even marry this handmaid and of course proceeded to have a child with her as well. So she basically lived with Abram and Sarai and shared their bed, as it were. After this Sarai gets aggravated about the fact the Hagar conceives and subsequently goes to talk to Abram about this... Does Abram give Sarai good advice, does he look to Jehovah for a sound response, the answer of course is, no... Abram proceeds to tell Sarai to deal with her handmaid as she sees fit to. So she does by confronting her about the sorted affair that she, Sarai, set up to begin with. Again this is a resounding... What not to do! - ever.
The next few verses are an interesting read. Hagar goes and basically licks her wounds by a water fountain, an angel comes along and counsels her to go back and submit to her master, Sarai, and that she will have a son that will be called Ishmael. I think the real meat of the story would be more around the handmaid and her endurance during all this... but that's a whole other blog.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Genesis 12:11
The following was inspired simply by me reading Genesis as an adult through discerning eyes. It is an opinion and as such should only be treated as one.
I believe the book of Genesis has much to say about a lot of things, but the meat of the text in this book after the creation and then Noah and the Ark is almost entirely about Abraham. I don't particular view the stories of Abraham to be a "what you SHOULD do" text as much as a cautionary tale about what NOT to do.
Genesis 12:11-13 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 and it will come to pass when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.
This is the first instance of Abraham in the book of Genesis. He begins by lying about his own wife to save his neck in Egypt... we continue.
14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And he dealt well with Abram for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels. 17 And Jehovah plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 why saidst thou, She is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? now therefore behold the wife take her, and go thy way.
In other words Abram gave up his wife Sarai to the Pharaoh to be one of his wives... including all the rights of a husband.
Who would do this to their own wife?
I believe the book of Genesis has much to say about a lot of things, but the meat of the text in this book after the creation and then Noah and the Ark is almost entirely about Abraham. I don't particular view the stories of Abraham to be a "what you SHOULD do" text as much as a cautionary tale about what NOT to do.
Genesis 12:11-13 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 and it will come to pass when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.
This is the first instance of Abraham in the book of Genesis. He begins by lying about his own wife to save his neck in Egypt... we continue.
14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And he dealt well with Abram for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels. 17 And Jehovah plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 why saidst thou, She is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? now therefore behold the wife take her, and go thy way.
In other words Abram gave up his wife Sarai to the Pharaoh to be one of his wives... including all the rights of a husband.
Who would do this to their own wife?
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