Good Morning. And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it. (Genesis 35:22) Tragedy, disappointment and even betrayal seems to be common themes in Jacob’s life story. Most of...

Good Morning. And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. (Genesis 35:16) Obviously, Jacob didn’t want his son’s name to be associated with the mourning of his beloved Rachel, and so he...

Good Morning. Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. (Genesis 35:16) As it turned out, her labor was so intense that it resulted in her death. As she died, she...

Good Morning. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I...

Good Morning. And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. (Genesis 35:5) How is it that such a small group of people could cause so many others to fear them? It certainly wasn’t...

Good Morning. And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the...

Good Morning. “Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.” (Genesis 34:23) In an effort to secure Dinah as his son’s wife, Hamor and Shechem agreed to terms presented by the...

Good Morning. But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves. So you shall dwell with us, and the...

Good Morning. Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land (Genesis 34:1) Just after overcoming the crisis with Laban and then with Esau, Jacob encountered  another trying situation. His young daughter was...

Good Morning. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan. (Genesis 33:17-18) It seems...

Good Morning.  And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. (Genesis 33:15-16) When Jacob declined Esau’s...

Good Morning.  Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.” But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all...