Ch. 6: Ancestors Ch. 23-50

Ch. 23-4: Sarah’s Death and Isaac’s Wife Sarah dies at 127 and Abraham grieves and mourns Culturally respectful to have proper burial https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/ancientburial.html Abraham set the precedent Deut. 28:26 discusses a curse being to feed one’s corpse to the animals How much did Abraham purchase Ephron’s field for? (Hittite) (v. 16) Was this expensive do you think? (103.6914) Bartering process was expected in ancient times but Abraham refuses. Why? In his old age Abraham calls his senior servant (Eliezer) to make a deal How is this deal made? Why? (testify) What is the deal? Why didn’t he want Isaac to go with him? Eliezer leaves with 10 camels (why so many) and sets out for Aram Nahariam Asks God to give him precise sign. What was the sign? (v. 12-14) The “spring” or “well” archetype and motif are back Rebecca meets criteria of sign and Eliezer is brought back to her house to meet/ask father Why is it necessary for the author of Genesis to recap redundant information? (v. 34-49) Eliezer gets wined and dined and the next day asks to leave with Rebecca but is stopped by Laban and mother What do they want him to do? How does he refute this? (v. 55-56) Rebecca returns and marries Isaac (40 yrs.) which comforted him after his Mother’s death

Ch. 25:1-18 Genealogy

Ch. 25:19-34 Esau's Birthright Stolen Isaac prays for Rebekah to become pregnant and she conceives twins that “jostled” within her. Foreshadow much? When asking the LORD what was his response? (v. 23) When Isaac was 60 Rebekah gives birth Describe the uniqueness of this delivery? Could this be symbolic? (v. 24-26) How did Jacob and Esau differ? (v. 27-28) Esau comes in one day and smells Jacob’s lentil soup and desires some. Jacob offers some in return for Esau’s birthright What does Esau’s response mean? (v. 32 “Look I am about to die…” Why was a birthright such a big deal? Esau eats, drinks and gets up and leaves nonchalantly, thus proving he “despised” his birthright. (v. 34)

Ch. 26: Are we just reading the same thing again? Isaac's life is very similar to his father Abraham's. Verse 1 clarifies its not just the same story mistakenly restated. He leaves Canaan to escape a famine Makes a covenant with God. Same promises. Tries to pull the sister-wife switch. How is Isaac more justified? (v. 2-7) How did Abimilek find out this time? (v. 8) Gets super rich Cuts a deal with Abimelech. How was this deal different than his fathers? (v/ 17-31)

Ch. 27 Blessing Stolen Isaac is old and his vision is going He calls for Esau and wants to bless him after Esau hunts and prepares some meat for him. Rebekah overhears the whole conversation and reports the details to Jacob.  She urges Jacob to do it himself so that he might acquire the blessing. Isaac is blind!!!! How does Rebekah help in this trickery (v. 14-17) Jacob goes to his old, near-sighted dad and commits “identity theft” by pretending to be Esau. Success! But Isaac was suspicious at first for some reason. Why?  How does Jacob refute this? What might this say about God’s opinion on this matter? Esau returns from his hunt asking for the blessing as well and Esau realize what Jacob did. How does Esau respond? (v. 36-41) Rebekah overhears Esau plotting to kill Jacob and tells Jacob to take off and go hang out with the extended family in Haran. Why could Isaac not just take the blessing back and give it to Esau?

Ch. 28 Jacobs Dream Isaac blesses Jacob, then prohibits him from marrying a foreign woman. This negative attitude toward marriage with foreigners is a type scene throughout Who is Jacob supposed to marry? Isaac says that Jacob will be the son to carry on the covenant That means he will possess the land of Canaan just like God promised to Abraham. Isaac sends Jacob to the house of his uncle Laban (Rebekah’s Brother) Esau overhears Isaac's order to Jacob not to marry a foreign wife. So Esau up and marries Ishmael's daughter, Mahalath and with some other wives. On his way to his uncle Laban's place, Jacob stops for the night. He uses a stone for a pillow and falls asleep. He dreams about some kind of ladder, stairway, or ramp, which rises all the way to heaven. Messengers of God are going up and down the stairway.  A theophany or God himself appears to Jacob and reminds him that land of Canaan will be all his  Jacob re-names the place Bethel, which means "house of God."  Unlike Abraham and Isaac, who are quiet after God makes big promises, Jacob presses the Lord for more. He more or less says, "I'll tell you what, big dog: if you do all you promised, plus throw in some food and clothes, then I'll worship you as my God right here in Bethel. I'll even throw in 10% of my earnings."