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Begin your study with prayer
No matter when or where you study, it is always a good idea to begin your study with sincere prayer. Start by addressing God. Then ask Him for wisdom and understanding as you read. Ask for specific guidance to your life.
When you’re done, end your prayer “in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” Praying before we study shows God that we are humble and want His help and direction.
Topic 2: The Book of Genesis - Form Bible Knowledge Notes
The book of genesis
Genesis is the first among 5 first books of the bible called Pentateuch or Torah. These are:
- Genesis - Numbers
- Exodus - Deuteronomy
- Leviticus
First Creation Account (Genesis 1:26–31)
The story of the bible begins with the opening words “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, The earth was without form and void. The spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters”. The word creation means making something out of nothing (ex-nihilo).
Using the method of creation God created all plants and other creatures by the word of mouth and things came into being. God used six days to create all what he wanted to create and on seventh day he rested. The following is the order of creation.
1st day ………… Light(day and night)
2nd day ………… Firmament (Heaven)
3rd day ………… (a) separated water from dry land (earth and seas)
(b) Vegetation
4th day ………… Sun, Moon and stars
5th day ………… (a) in the sea ……… fish
(b) On the air-birds
6th day ………… (a) creeping animals
(b) Four footed animals
(c) Man
7th day ………… Rested blessed it and made it holy
God created everything in six days then he said “let us make man in our own image after our likeness” and let them have dominion over the fish of the see and over the birds of the airs and over cattle and over all the earth and over creeping things that creeps upon the earth.
God created man in his own image, male and female he created them. (Gen 1: 27 –28). God blessed them and said to them “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over all the created things” (Gen 1:28) God gave Adam the power over all what he had created so that he can take care of them.
Second Creation Account (Genesis 2:4-25)
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them. God finished his work and on the seventh day he rested
There was no man to till the land but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground, then God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became living being. Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden and there he put the man he had created.
At Eden there were the following trees:
- In the middle there was
(i) a tree that gives life, and
(ii) the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad.
- A stream flowed in the garden. It was divided into four rivers namely
(i) Pishon – where there is gold
(ii) Gihon – flow around the whole land of Cush
(iii) Tigris – flowed East of Assyria
(iv) Euphrates
The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it. He said to him “you may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. If you eat you will die. Then the Lord said “it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him” Adam also gave names to all creature (Genesis 2: 1-17).
Then the Lord God made, the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping he took out one of the ribs and closed up the flesh. He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. Then the man said “At least here is one of my own kind, bone taken from my bone and flesh from my flesh.
Therefore she shall be called a woman because she was taken out of man. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife. And they become one. The man and woman were both naked but they were not embarrassed/ashamed.
Chapter 3: The fall
Among the things created by God, serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made. The snake/serpent went and said to the woman (Eve). “Did God tell you not to eat of the fruit of this garden?” Gen 3:
Eve answered that they were to eat all the fruits except the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, we shall not touch it or we will die But the serpent said to Eve that God was telling lies “You will not die.” The serpent insisted that those fruits would open their eyes and if they ate they would be as God and would know good and evil.
The tree had three things in it:
(i) The tree looked good for food
(ii) It was pleasant to the eyes
(iii) It was desired to make one wise
She believed that she would know what is good and evil
Therefore she ate and took some fruits and gave Adam and he also ate
Result of eating the fruit
(i) Their eyes were opened and they realized that they were naked.
(ii) They made aprons of fig leaves to cover their nakedness.
(iii) They hid from God when God came and talked to them. God said, “Where are you? Adam said, “I heard the sound of thee of the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself.” God asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Adam said, “The woman that you gave me gave me the fruit and I ate”. The woman said the serpent beguiled me and I ate. Because of all these God provided some punishment/curses to the serpent, woman and man (Adam).
The serpent
(i) Using its belly in crawling
(ii) Eating dust all the days of its life.
(iii) There would be enmity between the serpent seed and woman and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heels.
The woman (Eve)
(i) God will multiply woman’s pains in child bearing
(ii) She will have desire upon her husband
(iii) She will be controled/ruled by her husband
The Man (Adam)
(i) The land will bring thorns and thistles.
(ii) The curse will be upon the ground.
(iii) He shall eat herb (plant) of the field.
(iv) He shall get food through hard work and sweat.
(v) There will be death.
After the punishments the man called his wife’s name Eve which means the mother of all living beings and Adam meant father of all living beings. Then God made garments of skins and clothed Adam and his wife.
Then God sent the man forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. After driving the man out of the Garden of Eden, God placed the Cherubin and flaming sword which turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. God did not want man to eat the left tree (tree of life) so as he may not live forever.
Chapter 4: Cain and Abel
Adam knew his wife Eve and she conceived and bore Cain. She said, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” Again she bore another child called Abel. Abel was a keeper sheep and Cain was a tiller of the ground farmer.
Abel brought the produce of his work and offered the first animal as sacrifice to God as he had been instructed. Cain brought the first fruits of the ground into the Lord as sacrifice but God rejected.
God accepted the sacrifice of Abel. Cain was unhappy because of this and he asked his brother to go to the field where he slew him. God asked Cain “Where is your brother Abel? Cain replied “I do not know am I my brother’s keeper?” Gen 4:9
Because of this Cain was cursed and he became a vagabond and fugitive. However God forbade people to slay Cain. He put a mark on him. Cain went to the land of Nod east of the garden of eden.
The generation of Cain was:-
- Enoch, Cain built city and called the name of the city after the name of his son
- Irad was born by Enoch
- Mehujael was born by Irad, mehujael became the father of Methushael, who became the father of Lameck
Lamech was the first person in the history of Bible to Marry two wives. These were
- Adah who bore Jabal (the father of those who dwell in tents and keep cattle) and Jabal who was the father of those who play lyre and pipe
- Zillah who bore Jabal-Cain. He was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron
- The sister of Jubal-Cain was Na’amah.
Adam got a third child called Seth when he was 130 years old. Eve said “God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, for Cain slew him” (Gen 4:25) to Seth also a son was born called Enosh.
Seth became the father of all those who disobeyed God. Adam also got some other sons and daughters.
Chapter 6 – 7: The Flood
When men began to multiply on the face of the ground and daughters were born to them the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and they took any of them as they chose to marry.
Then the Lord said, “My spirit shall not abide in man forever for he is flesh but days shall be a hundred and twenty years”. Then he said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground, man and beast and creeping things and birds of the air for I am sorry that i have made them.” So God decided to destroy the earth with water because man was so wicked.
God saw that Noah and his family were righteous therefore he appointed Noah to make an ark which was completed after 120 years. Noah was helped by others to build it but they did not believe his words.
After finishing to build the ark Noah, his wife and his three sons (Japheth, Shen and Ham) and their wives were told to enter the ark.
Also animals entered the ark. These include one pair of each unclean and seven pairs of each clean animals , the male and his mate, and seven pairs of the birds of the air male and female.
They put food for themselves and for the animals and after everything was done God shut the door of the ark. God opened the doors of heaven and it rained for 40 days and 40 nights starting seven days after they had entered. Also water from underground (Fountains of the deep) came up for 40 days and 40 nights. Noah was 600 (six hundred) years old when the flood waters came.
As a result, all animals and creatures outside the ark died. The ark floated for five months (150 days)after rain had stopped.
On the 17th of the month the ark rested on top of Mount Ararat.
Noah sent messengers to see if the water was abated. He first sent raven and then he sent a dove but they came back as the water was still covering the earth. After seven days he sent a dove that come back with an olive tree leaf. He sent another dove after seven days but this time the dove didn’t come back because the land began to be dry.
When the water abated Noah and his family came out. Then God allowed Noah to use herbs and meat as part of his food. God told Noah “Be fruitful and multiply upon the earth” God then promised not to destroy the earth with water. As a sign he used the rainbow as the covenant.
The sons of Noah who came from the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. From these three sons of Noah the whole earth was full of people.
Noah was the first tiller of the soil. He planted a vineyard and made wine. He drank the wine and was drunk he lay down uncovered. When Ham and his son Canaan saw his nakedness they laughed at him. Japheth and Shem did not do so. They covered the nakedness of their father. When Noah awoke he knew what his young son had done so he cursed him (Gen 9:25) but blessed Japheth and Shem.
Chapter 11: The tower of Babel
Now the whole earth had one language and few words. And as they migrated to the east they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly ...... come let us build ourselves a city” (Gen 11:1–3)
They had two purposes:
(i) To make themselves a name (famous)
(ii) Not to scatter all over the world
As a results God punished them by confusing their language hence the name Babel (confusion). He gave them different languages and scattered them all over the earth.
- A man named Teral became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot.
- They were living at Ur of chaldeans. They moved towards Canaan, but settled at Haran.
Chapter 12:1–17: The call of Abram
Now the Lord said to Abram “Leave your country, your relatives and your kindred and your father’s house and go to the land that i will show you” (Gen 12:1).
Abram and his wife left their home and the city of Haran when Abram was 75 years old and Sarah 65 years old Terah had died at Haram. Abram and Sarah left with Lot and his family and their father Terah. Also they took their possessions which they had gathered and the children they had bore in Haran and they set to go to the land of Canaan.
God’s promises to Abram
(i) I will make you a great nation.
(ii) I will bless you.
(iii) I will make your name great.
(iv) All who bless you will be blessed.
(v) All who curse you will be cursed.
(vi) You will be father of many nations.
(vii) In you all families will be blessed.
They traveled with their animals. They passed through Shechem and built an altar at Bethel to worship God for God had appeared to Abram at shechem and said “To your descendants i will give this land” (Gen 12:7).
At the land of Canaan, there was famine, therefore Abram and Sarai went to Egypt where there was food. When he was about to enter Egypt Abram said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman, beautiful to behold and when the Egyptians see you they will say this is his wife. Then they will kill me but they will let you live so when we reach there say that you are my sister that it may go well because of you and that my life may be spared on your account.” In Egypt Pharaoh knowing that Abram was a brother of Sarai he took her to be his wife but God plagued him that night. (Pharaoh therefore returned Sarai to Abram and apologized when he knew Sarai was the wife of Abram)
ABRAHAM’S JOURNEY
Chapter 13: Abram and Lot.
Abram went up from Egypt into Negev. Now Abram was very rich in cattle silver and gold. He travelled from Negev to Bethel. Lot also had flocks of sheep and herbs of cattle so the land could not support both of them to dwell together, for possessions were great. Quarelling between the herd’s man of Abram’s cattle and that of Lot arose. Abraham said “Let there be no strife between you and me and between your herdsmen and mine for we are kinsmen” (Gen 13:8).
So Lot lifted his eyes and saw that the Jordan valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Zoar. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan while Lot dwelt among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were great sinners against the Lord.
The Lord said to Abraham after Lot separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look at the place where you are standing, northward and southward and eastward and eastward for all the land which you see I will give to you and your descendants for ever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth so that no one can count the dust of the earth, your descendants also can be counted. So Abram moved his tent and came to dwelt by the oaks of mamre which are at Hebron and there he built the altar to the Lord.
Chapter 14 -15: Abram Rescues Lot
Five kings made war with Bera king of Sodom and Birshan king of Gomorrah and fought the enemies, took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their provisions and went their way. They also took Lot son of Abram’s brother who dwelt in Sodom and his goods and departed. One who had escaped came and told Abram about the Hebrew. When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken as captive he led forth his trained men born in his house 218 of them and went in Pursuit as far as Dan. He brought back all goods as well as his nephew Lot, his goods and the women and the people. After rescuing Lot, king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (the king’s valley), and Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priests of God most high and he blessed him.
Abram gave him a tenth of everything and the King of Sodom said to Abram: “Give me the persons but take the goods for yourself.” Abram said to the King of Sodom: “I have sworn to the Lord God most high maker of heaven and earth that i would not take a thread or a sandal thong or everything that is yours. Lest you should say I have made Abram rich.” I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten and the share of the men who went with me. Let Abner, Eshcol and Mamre take their share. (Gen 14:21 – 24). After this the word of God came to Abram in vision. “Fear not Abram I am your shield; your reward shall be very great” (Gen 15:1). Abram noted that God promised him to be a big nation but he was childless. He told God that Eliezer could be his heir. But God refused. “This man shall not be your heir. Your own son shall be your heir” (Gen 15:4). God assured him that his generation would be as the stars of the heaven through his own seed. He was also to occupy between Egypt and river Euphrates. Abram said, “O Lord, how am I to know that I shall possess it? (Gen 15:8).
In order to prove to him, God told Abram to offer the following:
- A heifer of three years
- A she goat/sheep of three years
- A ram of three years
- A turtle dove
- A pigeon
- He cut them two and laid each half over against the other but he did not cut the birds
When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold a smoking fire pot a flaming torch passed between the pieces of meat. From that God mad a covenant between him and Abram that he will give the mentioned places.
Chapter 16: Sarai gives hagar (Her maidservant) to Abram
Sarai was 90 years old and Abram was 100 years old without a child. Sarai said to Abram,” Behold now the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go into my maid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her” (Gen 16:2). Of Abram, Hagar conceived as a result to that she despised Sarai. Sarai accused Hagar to Abram and Abram told her to deal with that issue. Sarai therefore dealt harshly with Hagar therefore Hagar escaped. An angel of God came to Hagar and gave her assurance that her son could be a great nation. She got a child and named him Ishmael. However, God assured Abram to be a great nation through Sarai. Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore Ishmael.
Chapter 17: The Covenant of Circumcision
When Abram was 99 years old the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God almighty. Walk before me and be blameless and I will make my covenant between me and you and will multiply you exceedingly” (Gen 17:3). Then Abram fell on his face and God said “Behold my covenant is with you and you shall be father of a multitude of nations but your name shall be Abraham for I have made you the father of multitude of nations. Hence Abraham means “father of multitude of nations.
God asked Abraham and all male children to be circumcised as a sign of separating the people of God from others. God said “as for Sarai your wife you shall not call her name Sarai but Sarah will be her name. I will bless her and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her and she shall be mother of nations. Abraham laughed and said “shall a child be born to man who is 100 years old? Shall Sarah who is 90 years old bear a child?” Then Abraham said “O that Ishmael might live in thy sight!” God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son and shall call his name Isaac. Therefore Abraham meant father of nations and Sarah meant mother of nations.
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oak of Mamre as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. Then he saw three men. He welcomed them and spoke to them. As they were talking one said that next year like today Sarah will have a son. When Sarah heard this she laughed.
Then Abraham escorted them and they went away. The Lord talked to Abraham and told him about what was going to happen at Sodom and Gomorrah.
The men went to Lot’s house. Then at night the people of Sodom and Gomorrah came to Lot asking him to let the people go out to meet them. But Lot promised to give them his two daughters who were virgins to sleep with them, but they disagreed.
Then the visitors pulled Lot inside and they blinded the people who wanted to harm them. Next day the angels commanded Lot and his family to leave Sodom because God was going to destroy it. As they were running, Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.
Lot run and hid in the small mountain called Zoar. He stayed there along with his two daughters. Because there was no man to marry them and get children. The elder daughter made Lot drunk and slept with him and became pregnant. The next day the young daughter made Lot drunk and slept with him and she also became pregnant.
The older daughter bore a child and named him Moab, This became the origin of all Moabites (The tribe of Moabite). The youngest daughter also bore a child and named him Benjamin and this became the origin of all Ammonites (The tribe of Ammonite).
The life of Isaac (Gen 21:1 – 7, 22:1 – 19, 22:5 – 11)
(a) Birth of Isaac
Sarah was barren for sometime until when she was 90 years. Then she was visited by the Lord and she was told that she would bear a child. She bore a son and Abraham called him Isaac. Abraham circumcised Isaac on the 8th day then the child grew up.
(b) Isaac as sacrifice
God tempted Abraham and asked him to go to Mount Moriah and sacrifice his son Isaac Abraham obeyed and rose early in the morning. He went with Isaac and his two menservants. They took wood, fire and a knife. They travelled for three days and they saw the place far from them Abraham told the menservants to wait there while he proceeded with Isaac to Mount Moriah to offer the sacrifice. As they travelled Isaac asked his father, “Behold the fire and the wood but where is the lamb for burnt offering?” (Gen 22:7)! Abraham said, “God will provide”. On arrival at Mount Moriah he built an altar, put firewood, bound Isaac and put him on the altar and took out his knife to kill him. Then the angel of God called and prohibited Abraham from killing his son by saying, “Abraham, Abraham do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God” (Gen 22:12). As Abraham lifted his eyes he saw a ram caught in the thicket by his thongs. Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it instead of Isaac. Abraham called the place Jehovah-Jireh meaning “in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen”. The angel called again blessed Abraham to multiply as the stars of heaven and as the sand of the seashore. He promised Abraham also to conquer his enemy. Then Abraham returned and dwelt at Beersheba.
Sarah lived 127 years then she died at Kiriatharba (Hebron). Abraham bought a land of machpellah from Ephron the son of Zohar, the Hittites and buried Sarah.
Chapter 24: Isaac & Rebekkah
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. He said to his servants the oldest of his house who had charge of all he had: “Put my hand under my thigh and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and of the earth that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred and take a wife for my son Isaac” (Gen 24:1 – 4).
Eliezer the servant of Abraham went and saw Rebekkah the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milkah the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Eliezer chose her to be the wife of Isaac. Now Isaac had come from Beer-la hai-roi and was dwelling in the land of Negev. He went out to meditate in the field in the evening and when he lifted up his eyes he saw Rebekkah and Rebekkah saw Isaac. She alighted from the camel and said to the servant. “Who is the man yonder walking in the field to meet us?” (Gen 24:65). The servant said, “It is my master”. So she took her veil and covered herself. From that day Rebekkah became the wife of Isaac and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Chapter 25: Death of Abraham
Abraham took another wife whose name was Keturah. Then at the age of 175 years old Abraham died and was buried at the cave of Machipellah by Isaac and Ishmael. Through Keturah Abraham bore the following children, Zimran, Jokshar, Medan, Ishbak and shuah
The Birth of Esau and Jacob
Although Rebekkah was barren Isaac prayed and she conceived. The children struggled together within her and she said, “If it is thus, why should I live?” So the Lord said to her. “Two nations are in your womb and two peoples born of you shall be divided, the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger”. (Gen 25:23)
When they were born in their life Esau became a hunter and Jacob stayed at home. Jacob was loved mostly by his mother and Esau was loved by his father because he brought venison to him (he ate of the game). Isaac was 60 when he bore these children.
One day Esau came back very hungry and asked Jacob for food. Let me eat some of that red strew for I am exhausted therefore is name was Edom. Jacob promised to give food if Esau sold his birth right to him and therefore Esau agreed and was given food made out of Lentis.
Chapter 27: Jacob cunning of Blessing
When Isaac was old and blind he asked Esau “You see that I am old and I may die soon. Now take your weapon, your quiver and your bow and go out to the field and hunt game for me and prepare for me savory food which I love and bring it to me that I may eat and bless you before I die” (Gen 27:2). Rebekkah heard this and wanted the blessing to be given to Jacob. She therefore told Jacob to get a goat and prepare the venison while Esau had gone to hunt. Rebekkah cooked the savory meat and put Esau’s Coat on Jacob. She also put the goat’s skin on the arms of Jacob to cheat Isaac because he was blind. This was done because Esau body was hairy. Jacob took the savory meat of the goat and gave it to Isaac. Isaac note that the voice was Jacob’s but when he touched Jacob’s body he noted it to be Esau’s. He then smelled that coat of Esau which Jacob had put on and it smelled like that of Esau therefore two things surprised Isaac i.e. the voice and smell. He therefore blessed Jacob thinking that it was Esau.
Shortly after that, Esau brought the savory meat to the father and Isaac noted that Jacob had cheated him, Jacob took Esau’s blessing. Esau cried bitterly and promised to kill Jacob when Isaac dies. This was told to Rebekkah, she therefore told Jacob to escape to his uncle Laban at Haran. Esau hated Jacob, so he planned to kill him after the death of their father.
Because of this Rebekkah said to Jacob. “Behold your brother Esau comforts himself by planning to kill you. Now therefore my son obey my voice; arise flee to Laban to my brother in Haran and stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury goes away and he forgets what you have done to him, then I will send for you and fetch you there” (Gen 27:42-45). Then Rebekkah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the Hittite woman. If Jacob marries one of the women such as those one of the women of the land what good will my life be to me?”
Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and told that he shall not marry one of the Canaanite women. “Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father and take a wife from there, one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s uncle.
Thus Isaac sent Jacob away who went to paddan-aram to Laban the son of Bethuel the Aramean brother of Rebekkah. When Esau realized that Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father he went to Ishmael and took a wife besides those he had. He took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.
Jacob left Beershaba and went to Haran. After reaching a certain place he stayed there because it was night. He took one stone and put under his head as a pillow. He dreamt that there was a ladder set up to the earth, and the top it reaching to heaven and behold the angels of the Lord were ascending and descending on it and the Lord stood above it and said “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac, the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants and your descendants shall be like the sand of the earth and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to north........” (Genesis:13-14). Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said. “Surely the Lord is in this place. I did not know it” and he was afraid and said “How awesome is this place!
This is none other than the house of God and this is the gate to heaven”. So he rose early in the morning, took the stone under his head, set it up for a pillow and poured oil on top of it and he called the place Bethel. Before it was called LUZ. Then Jacob went on with his Journey up to Laban’s home. After staying with his uncle for a month he said to Jacob: “Because you are my kinsman should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me what shall your wages be? “Now, because Laban had two daughters Leah and Rachel, Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and lovely Jacob loved Rachel. He said: “I will serve you seven years for your young daughter Rachel”. So at the end of seven years Laban cheated Jacob and during the night he handed Leah, the elder sister to Jacob. In the morning Jacob complained to Laban but he claimed that according to their custom the elder sister was to be married first. He then asked Jacob to work for seven more years for Rachel which he did. Leah’s handmaid was Zilphah and Rachel’s handmaid was Bilhah.
As a result
- God favoured Leah and she got the following four children: Reuben, Simon, Levi and Judah
- When Rachel saw that she had no children she said to Jacob “Gave me children or I shall die” (Gen 30:1) she gave Bilhah her maid to sleep with Jacob and get children for her. Bilhah got two children Dan and Naphtali.
- Then Leah gave Zilphah her maid to Jacob and he slept with her and got two children for her, Gad and Asher.
- Then Leah got three more children who are Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah (the only girl). Lastly Rachel got Joseph and on the way to Ephrath she got Benjamin. Then Rachel died at Bethlehem where she was buried. When Rachel bore Joseph, Jacob said to Laban “Send me away that I may go to my own home and county. Give me my wives and children”.
Now, one day Jacob heard the sons of Laban saying “Jacob has taken all what was our father’s and from what was our father’s he has gained his wealth.”
MAP: JACOB JOURNEY
Then the Lord said to Jacob: “Return to the land of your father and to your kindred and I will be with you.” So, Jacob arose and set up for the journey to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. Later, Laban took his Kinsmen and pursued him. After getting him they made an agreement after a long discussion. So, Jacob took a stone and set up as a pillar and Laban called the place Jegarsahadutha but Jacob called it Galeed. Laban said: “This heap is a witness between you and me today.”
Therefore he named it Galeed and the pillar Mizpah for he said: “The Lord watch between you and me. So, if you ill-treat my daughters or if you take wives besides my daughters although no man is with us, remember God is the witness between you and me”.
Jacob went on with his Journey but he feared meeting his brother Esau. Jacob prepared some presents (gifts) for his brother Esau and handed over to his servants.
These were
- 200 she - goats - 20 he - goats - 200 owes - 20 rams - 30 milk camels and their colts | - 40 cows - 10 bulls - 20 she-asses - 10 he-asses |
The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two maids and his eleven children and crossed the ford of Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream and likewise everything that he had. And Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. Later the man touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh,
Jacob said to the man: “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
The man asked Jacob: “What is your name?”
He said Jacob the man said: “Your name shall no more be called Jacob but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” Jacob called the place Peniel saying “I have seen God face to face and yet my life is prevailed.”
At last Jacob met with Esau, Esau ran, embraced him and fell of his neck and kissed him and they wept. When Esau saw the women and children he said: “Who are those with you? (Gen 33:5). They both drew near and bowed down. Then Esau said, Let us journey on our way and I will go before you. Later Esau returned that day on his way to Seir but Jacob journeyed to Succoth. He later came to Shechem which is in the land of Canaan on his way from Paddam-aram.
Now according to Genesis 29:31–24, the sons of Jacob were 12.
Sons of Leah
- Reuben (Jacob’s first born)
- Simeon
- Levi
- Judah
- Issachar
- Zebulun
Sons of Rachel
- Joseph
- Benjamini
Sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s maid)
- Dan
- Naphtali
Sons of Zilphah (Leah’s maid)
- Gad
- Asher
Dina, the only daughter of Jacob whose mother is Leah makes the total number of Jacob’s children to be 13..
In Genesis 35, God told Jacob again to go to Bethel where God appeared for the first time when he was running from Esau.
So when he came to LUZ (Bethel) which is in the land of Canaan he built an altar and called the place El-Bethel because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. God appeared to Jacob again when he came from paddam-aram and he blessed him and God said to him “Your name is Jacob no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name (Gen 35:9-10). He blessed him to be fruitful and multiply. Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre or Kiriatharba (that is Hebron) where Abraham and Isaac had journeyed. At the age of 180 Isaac died and was buried by Esau and Jacob at the land of Machpellah.
Chapter 37: Joseph in Egypt.
Jacob dwelt in the land of father’s sojournings in the land of Canaan. This is the history of the family of Jacob, Joseph being 17 years old was participating with his brothers to look after the flock (Shepherding) because usually he remained at home while his brothers looked after the flock.
His father loved him because he reported all what his brother did. Also it is because he got him in his old age. He made him a coat of many colours. However, his brothers hated and envied of him. Further to that Joseph had the following dreams:
(i) He was binding sheaves with his brothers but his sheaf stood upright while his brothers’ sheaves made obeisance (bowed) to his sheaf. This meant that Joseph would rule over his brothers.
(ii) He saw the sun moon and eleven stars making obeisance (bowing) to him. This meant that his father, mother and eleven brothers would bow down to him.
One day Jacob sent Joseph to Shechem to see his brothers who were feeding the flock to see if they were well. On the way Joseph learnt that his brothers had moved to Dothan. As he approached Dothan his brother said, “Here comes the dreamer, come now let us kill him.”
Reuben advised them not to shed blood but throw him into a pit. He intended to rescue Joseph secretly. They took off his coat of many colours and followed Reuben’s advise.
Soon after Reuben went away, his other brothers saw Ishmaelites coming from Gilead with their Camels carrying balm and myrrh. They were travelling to Egypt. Judah suggested that they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites and they did so at 20 pieces of silver. On coming back Reuben was very sad burnt his clothes. The brothers then killed a goat dipped the coat into its blood and took it to their father and send; “This is what we have found, see now whether it is your son’s robe or not” (Gen 37:33) Jacob thought a wild beast killed him and he said “ No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son mourning.”
Therefore he mourned for many days. On arrival to Egypt Joseph was sold to Potiphar a captain of Pharaoh.
Due to this God blessed both Joseph and Potiphar’s house. As a result Potiphar made Joseph in charge of his household. While people were away Potiphar’s wife persuaded Joseph to sleep with her on several occasions but he refused. Then one day she caught him forcing him to sleep with her. Joseph fled leaving his garments with her. Then she called people claiming that Joseph wanted to sleep with her by force but when she cried he escaped and left his clothes behind.
When this was told to Potphar he Put him into prison. In the prison there ware two people, the butler of the king of Egypt and the baker. These officers had dreams and Joseph was able to interpret them. The chief bulter’s dream was “There was a vine before him and on the vine there were three branches as soon as it budded its blossoms shot forth and the cluster ripened into grapes. Pharaohs cup was in his hand and he took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup into Pharaoh’s hand” (Gen 40:9–10
Two years later pharaoh had the following dreams:
- He saw ugly and gaunt cows and seven fat cows by the river; the cows ugly and gaunt swallowed the fat ones.
- He saw seven good ears of corn, more stalk and thin ears of corn after them. The seven thin ears devoured the seven good ones. The following morning pharaoh requested all his magicians and wise men to interpreting the dreams but they failed. However the chief butler told pharaoh of Joseph’s skills in interpret dreams for him and the baker while in prison. Thus Joseph was taken out of the prison and gave the interpretation as follows.
- Both the cows and the ears of corn are seven years, the seven years, the seven good (fat) ones would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph advised pharaoh to look for a discreet and wise person for a job, of collecting and storing food during the time of plenty. Pharaoh chose Joseph for the job for he and his officials said “we will never find a better man than Joseph, a man who has God’s spirit in him” He put special clothes on him and his own gold chain, he gave a verbal charges he gave him to ride his second. Chariot and signet ring at this time Joseph was 30 years Pharaoh then gave Joseph an Egyptian name called Zaphenath Paneah. He also gave him a wife called Assenath, daughter of Potipherah and then got two sons Manasseh which means God has made me forget all my sufferings and all my father’s family also Ephraim which means God has given me children in the land of only trouble.
When famine started after the seven years of good harvest, Jacob from Canaan sent 10 of his sons (leaving Benjamin behind with him) to purchase food in Egypt. They found Joseph who was the governor in Egypt but they were not able to recognize him. He also spoke through an interpreter.
He asked them “Where do you come from?” (Gen 42:7) “We have come from Canaan,” they answered. He remembered his dreams he dreamt about them and said “You are spies; you have come to find out where our country is weak” (Gen 42:9) He asked one of them to go and bring the youngest brother at home.
Those brothers were kept for three days then sent back while each one’s sack filled with provisions and the money returned into their sacks.
On the way one brother discovered that his money was put into his sack and told the rest about it. Arriving home they all found out that each had money in his sack. Moreover, Joseph and retained Simeoni and he also requested that he would only be released if they came back with the youngest child to prove that they were not spies.
Jacob was so sad as Joseph and Simeon were both unknown as to their fate. Reuben promised that he would bring back Simeon and if he failed his two sons should be killed. Also Judah persuaded Jacob to release Benjamin as they could not stay without food and could not face the governor in Egypt without Benjamin. He said “The man sternly warned us that we would not be admitted to his presence unless we had our brother with us (Gen 43:3).
Jacob asked them
- Carry fruits, a little balm, honey, myrrh, nuts and almond as presents.
- Take double money
- Return the money put into their sack
- Take Benjamin with them
On their arrival in Egypt Joseph prepared a party for them. They were afraid that they would be punished due to the money they found in their sacks but they were told God had done so. The servant said to them. “Don’t worry don’t be afraid, your God, the God of your father must have put the money in your sacks (Gen 43:23).
They all bowed to Joseph and Joseph was over whelmed and left and wept. During the party he arranged them in order of their birth and instructed that Benjamin get five times of each ratio.
Then Joseph commanded his stewards to:
- Put their money back into their sacks
- Put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack
After their departure he asked his steward to pursue them and inquire why they stole his cup. When the servant caught up with them they denied. On searching the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Therefore they all returned bowed to Joseph and asked him to allow them to be slaves “God has uncovered our guilt all of us are now your slaves and not just the one with whom the cup was found” (Gen 44:16). Joseph refused saying that they could go except Benjamin in whose sack the cup was found. Judah pleaded and said: “Please sir allow me to speak with you freely. Don’t be angry with me you are like the king himself. Sir you asked us “If we had got a father or another brother, we answered that we have a father who is old and a younger brother born to him in his old age” (Gen 44:18-20). He requested Joseph to release Benjamin otherwise father would die of sadness. Then Joseph revealed himself of his brothers. Joseph fell on the neck of Benjamin and kissed all his brothers. He said “I am Joseph is my father still alive?” (Gen 45:3).
He told them to tell Jacob and his household to come to Egypt as the famine would last for five more years. He also told Pharaoh about this and Pharaoh sanctioned it.
He gave the following to bring Jacob to Egypt
- Wagons to carry property
- Changes of clothes to his brothers
- 300 pieces of silver to Benjamin and five changes of clothes
- Ten asses full of corn, bread and meat to his father
When Jacob saw them he fainted and didn’t believe them until he saw all the things which were sent to him. He said “My son Joseph is still alive! This is all I could ask for! I must go and see him before I die” (Gen 45:28)
JOSEPH’S JOURNEY INTO EGYPT
Jacob moves to Egypt and lives to his Death
Jacob left Canaan for Egypt carrying his entire household. Arriving at Beersheba he offered sacrifice to God. Then God assured him that he would be with him in Egypt and then bring him back to Canaan. Jacob carried his property and animals. At Egypt he was allowed to stay at Goshen. By then he was 130 years old. His household to Egypt was 70 people (The total number of Jacob’s family who went in Egypt). While in Egypt at Goshen Jacob instructed that when he dies he should be taken and buried with his father in Canaan. Joseph agreed to this.
Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
Some time later Joseph was told that his father was ill, so he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim and went to see Jacob. Jacob said to Joseph “Almighty God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. He said “I will give you many children so that your descendants will become many nations, I will give this land to your descendants as their possession for ever. So, Joseph your two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came here belong to me. Ephraim and Manasseh as just as my sons as Reuben and Simeon. If you have more sons they will not be considered mine ......” (Gen 48:3-6).
When he saw Joseph’s sons he asked “Who are these boys?”
Joseph answered: “These are my sons whom God has given me in this land” Jacob said “bring them so that I may bless them” Joseph put Ephraim at his left and Manasseh at his right but Jacob crossed his hands and put his right hand on the head of Ephraim even though he was younger and his left hand on the head of Manasseh who was the elder then he blessed them. Jacob called for his sons and told them what will happen in the future and he died t the age of 147 years. His body was taken and buried in Canaan at the cave of Machpelah. Abraham had bought it as a burial place.
Processes of Burying Jacob
- Joseph commanded that Jacob’s body be embalmed
- Mourning ceremony took 70 days
- Procession to burial place included:
(i) All the servants of Pharaoh
(ii) The elders of Pharaoh
(iii) All the elders of Egypt
(iv) All the household of Joseph
(v) All Joseph’s brothers
(vi) All his father’s house
(vii) Chariots and horsemen
(viii) At Arah they mourned for 7 days
Joseph and his brothers (Gen 50:1-21)
Jacob having been dead. His brothers were moved with fear that Joseph could revenge for what they had done to him. Therefore they visited him confessing their wrong deeds and pleading for forgiveness. Then they bowed to him to the ground. Joseph wept telling them it was God’s plan for him to go to Egypt and save them. He then commissioned them to carry his bones with them when God would take them back to Canaan.
The Death of Joseph (Gen 50: 22-26)
Joseph lived to see Ephraim’s children and grandchildren. He also lived to receive the children of Machir the son of Manasseh into the family. Then Joseph said to his brothers. “I am about to die. God will certainly take care of you and lead you out of this land to the land he solemnly promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Gen 50:24). At the age of 110 Joseph died and he was embalmed in Egypt and kept in coffin. He was buried at Shechem, which had been bought by Jacob for 100 pieces of silver.
