Rachel and Isaac die, leaving Jacob to carry out God’s plan for mankind (Genesis 35:16-29)
Jacob and his family moved from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath (ancient Jerusalem), Rachel went into labor. She had great difficulty during labor but a midwife comforted her and said, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” As Rachel took her last breath, she named her…
Isaac blesses Jacob (again) with instructions on who to marry (Genesis 27:46 – 28:9)
Rebekah told Isaac, “I’m disgusted with these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a Hittite wife, my life will not be worth living.” In response to her complaint, Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and commanded, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan-Aram (where Rebekah’s father, Bethuel…
Jacob tricks Isaac and cheats Esau out of his blessing (Genesis 26:34 – 27:45)
When Esau was 40 years old, against his parents’ wishes, he married two Hittite wives – Judith and Basemath. Marrying outside the extended clan greatly bothered his parents, Isaac and Rebekah. Isaac was old and his eyes were weak. He called for his Esau and told him, “I am now…
Abimelek makes peace with Isaac (Genesis 26:26 – 26:33)
After Isaac settled in Beersheba, King Abimelech arrived from Gerar to visit him. Abimelech brought with him Ahuzzath, his personal advisor, and Phicol, the commander of his forces (possibly the same commander that was recorded as dealing with Isaac’s father, Abraham). Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to visit…
Isaac’s wealth and power threaten others (Genesis 26:12 – 26:25)
After Abimeleh issued orders to the citizens that nobody should harm Isaac or his family, Isaac had a very successful year with his crops (despite a famine in the land). Because God had blessed Isaac – he reaped a hundred times what he had sown. Isaac became rich and his fortune continued to…
Isaac tells men Rebekah is his sister (Genesis 26:1 -26:11)
During a famine in the land of Canaan, Isaac went to Abimelek (aka Abimelech), who was the king in Gerar where the Philistines lived. On his way, God stopped Isaac and instructed him to not go to Egypt (as his father Abraham had done during the last famine). God reminded…
Esau gives up his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:27 – 25:34)
Jacob and Esau have become grown men. Esau is a very good hunter, a wild sort of man, who loves the outdoors. Jacob on the other hand, is more civilized and mature, preferring to stay within the home. Their father, Isaac, loved the taste of wild game and as a…
The Birth of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:19 – 25:26)
After a quick peek at Ishmael’s genealogical record, the Bible now turns back to the family line of Abraham and Isaac. We are reminded that Abraham was the father of Isaac who, at 40 years of age, married Rebekah. After 20 years of marriage, Isaac prayed for a child and…
The death of Abraham (Genesis 25:1 – 25:11)
In later age, Abraham took a new wife, Keturah who bore him six sons, including some lines which would become significant (and enemies of Isaac) in later chapters – the Ashurites (Assyrians), Letushites, Midianites, Shuhites, and Leummites. Abraham left everything to Isaac and gave gifts to his remaining sons and…
A wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:1 – 24:67)
Abraham was an advanced age when he asked his servant to swear he would find a wife for his son Isaac and that he not get a wife for Isaac from the Canaanites (from the area where Abraham was living at the time) but would instead travel to his old…
