9.12.2023

Genesis 25-32

Genesis 25 - Abraham has more children by another concubine (!), but sends them away and gives Isaac his inheritance.  (This causes problems for Jew-Arab relations for centuries.)  Abraham dies.  Ishmael's descendants are listed.  Isaac has twin sons, and God chooses the younger and weaker, according to the world's standard.  But Jacob the younger is also willing to exploit and grab for the birthright himself.

26 - Isaac repeats the sins of his father, but God prospers him among the Philistines, making them hostile to him, but wanting peace with him.  God repeats promises he made to Abraham, to Isaac.  Esau marries a Hittite, to the grief of his parents.

27 - Isaac want to bless Esau, against God's plan.  Rebekah thwarts it by deception: Jacob pretneds to be Esau, and Isaac blesses Jacob to be the heir, when he meant to give it to Esau.  He doesn't (can't?) undo it when he realizes it.  Jacob flees to Laban at Rebekah's suggestion, Esau is so mad at him.

28 - Isaac, corrected by Rebekah, directs Jacob to a wife from Laban's clan.  Jacob dreams and sees angels going up and down on a ladder between heaven and earth.  He promises to be faithful to God, if God will be faithful to him.

29 - Jacob meets Rachel at a well, and is lured into employment with Laban for her.  As he tricked his father pretneind to be a sibling, Laban tricks him with a sibling substitute at the wedding.

30 - God gives Jacob 11 children by Leah, Rachel, and their two servants.  God prospers Jacob, despite Laban's efforts to thwart it.

31 - God tells Jacob to go home.  He persuades Rachel and Leah apart from their father.  They flee, Laban pursues, and a bitter encounter ensues.  Laban insists all that is Jacob's is his, but God said not to harm Jacob.

32 - Jacob prepares to meet Esau, trying to appease him.  God (a "man") wrestles with Jacob and blesses him.

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