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 son Ben-Oni, but Jacob named
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 lived) and take a wife for
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 an old man and near death.
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 me at my home since previously
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 grow until he became very
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 Isaac that he should live
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 result, grew close to Esau.
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 God answered the call. Rebekah became
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 sent them away to land
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 country to find a wife