BIBL 410
MODULE SEVEN ISAAC — JACOB JACOB AND ESAU Study Questions Answer the following questions (based on the reading), save it and then submit it to the professor. 1. Who is Eliezer? He is was Abrahams trusted servant who was with Abraham for a long time, he sent him to find a wife for Isaac (Davis pg. 227) 2. Remember the discussion about the location of Ur (Module 5). Does the location of the city of Nahor, as given give n by Davis, influence the location of Ur? Explain your answer. In module 5 Davis provided a specific location, It is not referenced here. 3. Why was Eliezer’s journey successful? His successful? His journey was successful because he sought the Lord for guidance with a specific prayer (Davis pg 230) 4. Whose decision was it for Rebekkah to go with Eliezer? It was Rebekkah’s decision to with Eliezer to Palestine Palestine and to Marry Isaac(Davis Isaac(Davis pg 230) How old was Isaac at Abraham’s death? Ishmael?Isaac Ishmael?Isaac was was 75 years old. Ishmael was 89 years old.(Davis pg 231) Genesis 16 /21. 5. What does the mentioning of Ishmael and his sons tell us about God? That God’s kept his promises for both Issac and Ishmael -there was potentiall y some reconciliation between Isaac and Ishmael (Davis pg 231). 6. ―The elder shall serve the younger‖ tells us what about God? God has the authority to overridded traditional customs for his glory (Davis pg 232) 7. Explain in detail the patriarchal custom of the b irthright. The birthright (25:27 – 34). The eldest son enjoyed particular privileges in the ancient patriarchal household. During During his father’s lifetime he took precedence over his brothers (Gen. 43:33); after his father died, he received a double share of the inheritance (Deut. 21:17) and became head and priest (cf. Exod. 22:29; Num. 8:14 – 17; 17; Deut. 21:17) of the family. He could lose the rights of primogeniture, however, if he committed a grave offense: 16 ―The status of the first-born first-born was thus bound up with responsibilities and obligations on the one hand, a nd rights, privileges and prerogatives on the other, including a double portion of the patrimony. (Davis pg 232) 8. How did Esau feel about his birthright (Heb 12:15-17)? He did not value it (Davis pg 233) 9. What practical lesson can parents learn from the story of Jacob and Esau? We should not show favoritism towards our children, it can cause them to become competitive. 10. When a famine hit the land, what did Isaac do? He received instructions instructions from the Lord, disobeyed God and did not remain in in Canaan, He went to Gerar and became subject to the same lie that his father did, he lied to Abimelech declaring Rebekah as his sister, while in tehe valley valle y of Gerar God still blessed him (Davis pg 233)
Page 1 of 3
BIBL 410
11. What do the weaknesses of Biblical characters tell us about the Bible? That they are very similar to us not perfect, and we can see ourselves in them and can relate in various circumstances when it comes to challenges we may be faced with and despite there imperfection God still uses them. 12. Give another practical lesson to be learned from the story of Jacob’s deception of Isaac. Although the deception was seemingly ―wrong‖ it was spoken to Rebekah while the children were in her stomach struggling. 13. Which of the interpretations of Isaac’s promise to Esau makes the most sense to you? The second, however, makes this more of a curse: the Edomites would inhabit a region less fertile than Canaan. (Davis pg 239) 14. Did Rebekkah ever see Jacob again? Explain your answer Rebekah’s explanation to Isaac of why Jacob should depart was quite different from the truth. She said she was sending Jacob to Haran because she had wearied of Esau’s Hittite wives and wanted Jacob to marry a woman from her family. Her explanation pleased Isaac for obvious reasons. Rebekah’s deceit had worked, but it meant that she would never see Jacob again. (Davis pg 239) 15. Discuss the uniqueness of the patriarch’s monotheism. The uniqueness of the faith of the patriarchs sets them apart from their polytheistic background and again reminds us of the amazing mercy and grace of a loving God. (Davis 240) 16. Describe Jacob’s vision and its meaning. Jacob dreamed about a ladder going up from earth into heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. At the top of the ladder God was there and he told Jacob about the covenant promise of the land. Because it soothed Jacobs loneliness in his state of weariness, I believe it The stairway symbolized the genuine and uninterrupted fellowship between God in heaven and His people on earth. The angelic messengers reflect God’s constant care of His own. (Davis pg 244) 17. Bethel means House of God (Davis pg 244) 18. Did Laban adopt Jacob? Explain your answer. Yes. Since the discovery of the Nuzi documents it has been assumed that Laban adopted Jacob, and that this defined the working agreement between them and seems to support this assumption (Davis pg 246) 19. List the children of Jacob and the meaning of their names. Leah had four sons in rather rapid succession , and the name of each reflected her state of mind. Reuben (v. 32) means ―See, a son!‖; Leah regarded him as a pledge of Jehovah’s favor. Simeon (v. 33) means ―hearing‖; the Lord had heard how much Leah was hated. Levi (v. 34) means ―attachment‖; Judah (v. 35), which comes from a Hebrew root meaning ―to praise,‖ meant not merely ―the praised one,‖ Issachar – hired for love Zebulun- to honour" or "to dwell Dinah – vindications - Bilhah’s Rachels servant girl - Dan, meaning ―judgment‖, Naphtali, meaning, ―wrestle‖ Zilpah, Leah’s servant girl-Gad, meaning ―good fortune‖ Asher, meaning ―happy‖- With Rachel Joseph, meaning ―to take away‖ or ―to add‖ Benjamin, meaning ―son of my pain‖ Jacob, however, called him Benjamin (―son of the right hand‖). (John J. Davis. Paradise to Prison. 1998)
Page 2 of 3
BIBL 410
20. Are these the only children Jacob had? Explain. Genesis 37:35 and Genesis 46:7 reference the word daughter as daughters 21. What are the possible causes for Laban’s attitude change tow ard Jacob? I think Laban attitude was greed he saw the God’s favor on Jacob’s life and because of Jaconb his wealth increased 22. Define ―teraphim‖? symbols which represented a false idol that Laban believed in 23. Who did Jacob wrestle with? Hosea 12: He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there-24. What is the meaning of ―Israel‖? (―God’s fighter‖ 31 or ―may God strive [for him]‖ (Davis pg 256) 25. ―Peniel‖ means to have seen God face to face (Davis pg.255) 26. Describe the events at Bethel when Jacob returned there. Jacob returned to Bethel and worshiped God. (Davis pg 258) 27. Why does Moses include the descendants of Esau in chapter 36? He includes him because the relationship between Esau and Jacob, and then between the nations of Edom and Israel, is a theme of the entire Old Testament. (John J. Davis. Paradise to Prison. 1998)
Page 3 of 3
