Jacob's Dozen - Genesis 30

1. An expositional study taught by Harry Morgan

2. For those of you online post your comments or questions in the “comment section” on your screen. As time affords they may be read to the class.

3. The Chiasm of Jacob’s Life Chapters 25, Jacob and Esau 35, Benjamin Chapters Birth of Sons Relations with the People of the Land 26, Isaac in Gerar Alienation & Reconciliation with Esau 27:1-28:9 Jacob Meets with God Jacob comes to, & departs from Padan-Aram & Laban Each out bargains the other The birth of Jacob’s Children 34, Jacob in Shechem 33 32 31 28:10-22 29:1-14 29:15-30, for wives 30:25-43, for flocks 29:31-30:24 The balance of chapter 30, like 29:15-30, deals with commercial transactions between Jacob and Laban. H. Van Dyke Parunak (2003) www.cyber-chapel.org

4. 1. When do the events of Genesis 30 occur in the chronology of the patriarchs? http://britishbibleschool.com/biblos/abraham-isaac-and-jacob-a-chronology

5. 2. What was Rachel’s reaction to the births of Leah’s 4 sons? (qā·nāʾ) = be jealous, be envious, i.e., ק ָ נ ָ א have a feeling of ill will ranging even to anger, based on a perceived advantage, or a desire for exclusivity in relationship

6. 3. Who did Rachel blame for her barrenness? • Children were considered a blessing from the Lord (Psa. 127:3-5). • Barrenness was considered a curse. 30:22–23 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”

7. 4. What did Rachel threaten would happen? (mûṯ) = die, be dead 35:16–18 …Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. 17Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” 18And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. מ וּ ת

8. 5. How did Jacob respond to Rachel? (ʾǎp̄) = nostril א ַ ף Psalm 68:6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity…

9. 6. What did Rachel propose as a solution to her barrenness? (bil·hāh) = 10x sudden terror, horrible end; in some contexts a horrible end refers to death or simplicity or modesty or to be without concern בּ ִ ל ְ ה ָ ה

10. 7. What was the name of Bilhah’s first son? דּ ָ ן (dān) = judge

11. 8. What was the name of Bilhah’s second son? (nآ6∙phtā∙lî) = wrestling; my struggle נ ַ פ ְ תּ ָ ל ִ י 49:21 “Naphtali is a deer let loose; he uses beautiful words.

12. 9. What was Leah’s response to the births of Bilhah’s sons? ז ִ ל ְ פּ ָ ה (zil·pāh) = short nosed person

13. 10. What were the names of Zilpah’s sons? גּ ָ ד (gāḏ) = fortune (ʾā·šēr) = happy one א ָ שׁ ֵ ר

14. 11. What did Reuben discover in the field? • Reuben, Leah’s firstborn, may have been 5–12 yrs. old. • The wheat harvest is in May or September.

15. 12. Why was Rachel determined to acquire the mandrakes?

16. 13. What are mandrakes? Song of Solomon 7:13 The mandrakes (dudaʾim) give off a fragrance, and at our gates are pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old, which i have laid up for you, my beloved (dodi). Mandrake plant believed to be an aphrodisiac and/or fertility aid, a plant of the Atropa or Mandragora plant families. “love-plants“ “love-apple“ Arabs call it “Satan's apple”

17. Mandrakes & Harry Potter Mandrakes & Harry Potter You may know the plant from Harry Po=er and the Chamber of Secrets as the one with the anthropomorphic stalk that emits a lethal shriek when you uproot it. But the mandrake has a centuries-old history as one of the most important and powerful plants in witchcra_, sorcery, and herbal medicine.

18. Mandrakes & Cartoons Mandrakes & Cartoons "Some people say Mandrake the Magician, who started in 1934, was comics' first superhero."

19. Mandrakes & Hitler Mandrakes & Hitler Erik Jan Hanussen, a famous astrologer, hypnotist, and occultist told Hitler in the autumn of 1932 that his horoscope showed that he had been cursed. To remove this curse, Hanussen said that it was necessary for someone to travel to Hitler's hometown and take a mandrake root from a butcher's back yard.

20. 14. What irony do you find in Leah’s accusation that Rachel had “taken” her husband?

21. 15. What bargain did Leah and Rachel make? in exchange for

22. 16. What did Leah do with the mandrakes? Exodus 21:10 If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights. 1 Corinthians 7:3–4 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

23. 17. What part did the mandrakes have in Leah’s pregnancy? 1. God, not the mandrakes gave Leah another son. 2. Leah and Jacob’s rela:onship improved. Psalm 113:9 He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!

24. 18. What was Leah’s fifth son’s name and what is the meaning of his name? (yiś·śāś·ḵār) = כ ָ ר he will bring a reward י ִ שּׂ ָ שׂ

25. 19. What was Leah’s sixth son’s name and what is the meaning of his name? (zeḇû·lûn) = honor ז ְ ב וּ ל וּ ן

26. 20. What was Leah’s seventh child’s name and what is the meaning of her name? (dî·nāh) = judgment or stand, make stand דּ ִ י נ ָ ה Genesis 34

27. 21. What did God do when He turned His attention to Rachel? (zā·ḵǎr) = remember, i.e., to recall information or events שׁ ָ מ ַ ע (šā·mǎʿ) = listen, hear פּ ָ ת ַ ח (pā·ṯǎḥ) = open ז ָ כ ַ ר

28. 22. What happened to Rachel when God turned His attention to her? ח ֶ רְ פּ ָ ה (ḥěr·pāh) = reproach, disgrace, contempt, i.e., the state of dishonor and low status

29. 23. What was Rachel’s son’s name and the meaning of his name? (yô·sēp̄) = he will add י וֹ ס ֵ ף

30. 24. How does this son’s name and Rachel’s explanaPon for giving him this name evidence her faith?

31. The Gospel in the Names of Jacob’s Sons Name Meaning of the Name Reuben “behold a son” Simeon “hearing” Levi “joined” Judah “praise YHVH” Dan “judgment” Naphtali “wrestling” Gad “troop or company” Asher “happy” Issachar “hire” Zebulun “dwelling, exalt & honor” Joseph “adding” Benjamin “son of my right hand”

32. When the scriptural meanings attached to the names of Jacob’s 12 sons are combined, the following (Gospel) message is revealed: Behold or see the Son for YHVH has looked upon my affliction. YHVH has heard that I was unloved, and now will be joined to me. I will praise YHVH. Elohim has judged my case. With great wrestlings have I wrestled, a troop comes, I am happy, and I will be called blessed. Elohim has given me my wages. Elohim has endowed me with a good gift, and now will dwell with me. Elohim has taken away my reproach and He shall add to me another Son who will be Son of His right hand.

33. 25. What prompted Jacob to make a formal request of his uncle Laban? Births that changed Lives & the course of History: Jacob & birth of Joseph Enoch & birth of Methuselah Herod & birth of Jesus

34. 26. What was Jacob’s request? • A formal request of release from indentured service (Deut. 15:12-13) • “…to my country” – Literally “my place and my land” • “Let me go” (Gen. 32:26)

35. 27. What was Laban’s response?

36. 28. What was Laban’s educational “experience”? (nā·ḥǎš) = learned through divinaFon נ ָ ח ַ שׁ

37. 29. How did Jacob respond to Laban’s offer? 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

38. 30. What was the agreement that Jacob and Laban reached?

39. 31. What “thing” did Jacob require of Laban?

40. 32. What was the basis of Jacob’s contract with Laban? צ ְ ד ָ ק ָ ה righteousness, justice, (ṣeḏā·qāh) = rightness

41. 33. How did Jacob plan to profit with the contract he made with Laban? 1. Jacob proposes his wages will be the black animals among the sheep and the variegated animals among the goats (32–33). 2. Laban accepts the proposal, separates out the designated animals from his herd for himself, and transfers them to the supervision of his sons (34– 35). 3. Jacob employs visual aids to increase the variegated goats (36–39) and black sheep (40) for himself. 4. Jacob crossbreeds the strongest specimens of his stock (41–42).

42. 34. How did Laban violate the agreement?

43. 35. What precauPon did Laban take in separaPng Jacob’s flocks from his own?

44. 36. How did Jacob employ visual aids with the cattle and flocks?

45. 37. Did Jacob’s visual aids work?

46. 38. How did Jacob use breed selection?

47. 39. How did Jacob use cross-breeding to his advantage?

48. 40. Did Jacob’s breed selection and cross- breeding work for him? פּ ָ ר ַ ץ (pā·rǎṣ) = increase, i.e., have a larger number of a quanCty of a collecCon or mass as an extension of the linear spreading out of herds and flocks, implying prosperity Genesis 28:14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread (pā·rǎṣ) abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

49. 41. Is there a scientific explanation for why Jacob’s strategy worked? Gregor Mendel Law of Segregation Law of Independent Assortment

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