Genesis 19

Gen 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; Lot welcomed the two angels as they came to the city gate of Sodom. The city gate (seat of judgment), was where the leaders of the city hung out. Now it appears that Lot is a real citizen, or one of the leaders of Sodom.

Gen 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. Lot offers the two angels the same hospitality that Abraham did. Instead of lo, nay, some manuscripts have lo, to him. "And they said unto him, for we lodge in the street;" where, nevertheless, the negation is understood. Knowing the disposition of the inhabitants, and appearing in the character of mere travelers, they preferred the open street to any house; but not yet willing to make themselves known, as Lot pressed them vehemently, and as they knew him to be a righteous man, they consented to take shelter under his hospitable roof.

Gen 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. After Lot insisted, they took him up on his offer. Lot knew how wicked these people of Sodom were and he didn't want these two men (angels of the Lord), to spend the night out in the open square.  

Gen 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: Before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom came and surrounded the house. What was on their minds? 

Gen 19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. They shouted to lot to bring the men out to them so that they can get to know them! You get the picture. We get the word "sodomy" from the wickedness that went on in the city of Sodom. "They wanted to rape these angels and have sex with them!" (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Judges 1:7, 19:22). Homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord! Will they inherit the kingdom of God? No... (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), Do they have a chance through repentance and forgiveness from God? Yes... (1 Corinthians 6:11). God does not hate homosexuals, He hates the act of homosexuality just like any other sin. Those who turn to Jesus with a true heart and repentance will be forgiven and he will change them. Forget the world and those who copout and say; "I was born that way." 

Gen 19:6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, Lot goes outside and slams the door behind him. 

Gen 19:7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Don't do these wicked perverted things on your mind to theses men (angels of the Lord).

Gen 19:8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. I believe that Lot felt the presence of the Lord through these two men (angels of the Lord), and was going to do whatever he could to protect them. But now he offers his two virgin daughters to the crowd. He must of realized that these men outside were either going to rape his daughters, or maybe they would reject them because they were gay. It was quite a gamble.

Gen 19:9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. Now it appears that Lot's influence has just dwindled and they call him an outsider. They threatened Lot and told him he would be treated worse if he did not let them in, and they lunged toward the door.  

Gen 19:10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. The two angels pulled Lot in and bolted the door.

Gen 19:11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. The word "sanver," rendered "blindness," and which occurs only here, and in 2 Kings 6:18, is supposed to denote dazzling, deceptions, or confusions of sight from excessive light. The two angels of the Lord blinded the men in the crowd so that they were confused and disoriented by a flash of light. (It would be like an intense flash from a camera, or glare from the sun).

Gen 19:12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: Now the two angels question lot and tell him to get out any family he might have in Sodom. 

Gen 19:13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. Now the angels reveal to Lot their mission from God to destroy Sodom.

Gen 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. Lot warns his son-in-laws that the Lord is about to destroy Sodom, but they thought he was joking. They probably didn't take Lot to seriously because of the way he was living. Sometimes when we get caught up in the world and worldly things, people don't take us to serious when we try to preach to them. Sometimes actions speak louder then words. That is why it is so hard for a pastor or teacher of the Word to get any respect in their own town. People know you to well. They know your past and it is hard to get them to listen unless they see some dramatic change in your life. Even then it is hard to get them to listen.

Gen 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. Now the two angels insist. Lots last chance to get his wife and two daughters out of Sodom before they destroy the city. 

Gen 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. Lot still hesitates, but the angels take him and his family by the hand and lead them outside the city because the Lord had mercy on him. "It is God's mercy that saves us all." (2 Corinthians 1:3, Ephesians 2:4-5, Titus 3:5).

Gen 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. The angels brought them safely out of the city and one of the angels tells them to "run for your lives." Escape to the mountains and "don't look back."

Gen 19:18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Lot says to the angels, "not to the mountains!"

Gen 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Lot was thankful to the angels, but he did not want to go to the mountains because he feared disaster would come to him there and he would die. The Lord sent two angels to save Lot and his family from destruction and lot is worried about fleeing to the mountains. Is it because he lost his faith in the Lord, or is it that he just didn't want to give up the life he had in Sodom? (When God says we should turn from sin, we need to listen).

Gen 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. Lot begs the angel to let him settle in a little village nearby.

Gen 19:21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. The angel grants Lots request and says he will not destroy the little village.

Gen 19:22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Zoar = "little place."

Gen 19:23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Lot arrived in the village of Zoar just as the sun was rising.

Gen 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; Brimstone and fire rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah by the power of the Lord. Brimstone: Hebrew H1614 "gophriyth" cypress resin; by analogy "sulphur." The word rendered "brimstone," (q.d. brennestone, or brinnestone, id est burning-stone), is always rendered by the LXX "sulphur," and seems to denote a meteorous inflammable matter.

Gen 19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. The Lord utterly destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah along with other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation.

Gen 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. What did the angel of the Lord express back in verse 17? "Don't look back!" Of course Lots wife didn't listen, and she was turned to a pillar of salt. Lots wife got caught up in the ways of Sodom and she could not let go. She became curious of what was about to happen. What's the old saying; "curiosity killed the cat." Jesus warns us that the same will happen in the end times for those who get caught up in the ways of the world. (Luke 17:28-33).

Gen 19:27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 

Gen 19:28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. Abraham looked with awe and grief as he saw the smoke rising towards the sky.

Gen 19:29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. Lot's deliverance due to Abraham's prayer. Sometimes we need to keep praying for loved ones living in the ways of the world.

Gen 19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. Lot takes the advice of the angel and heads to the mountains.

Gen 19:31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Lot's daughters seem to think the whole world was destroyed and there would be no one to marry.

Gen 19:32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. Let's get the old man drunk and have sex with him.

Gen 19:34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. The older daughter had her way with Lot, now it was time for the younger daughter to get it on.

Gen 19:35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. In ancient readings this would read "he did know when she arose."

Gen 19:36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

Gen 19:37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. Moab = Hebrew meaning "from a father." 

Gen 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. Ben-ammi = Hebrew meaning "son of Ammi," "the god Am," "son of my people." Begotten in shame, both had a shameful history. The descendants from Lot's incestuous relationship with his daughters. The Moabites and Ammonites. (Deuteronomy 23:3, Numbers 21:29, 2 Chronicles 20:1). Lot was quite a character. He chose Sodom to settle in. He was once wealthy and ended up in a cave. He was ready to give his daughters to the angry mob in Sodom. He lost his wife. His daughters committed incest with him. What a mess this guy was. This would be the last we here from Lot. Don't get caught up in Sodom (the ways of the world), like Lot did. "You may not like the outcome."  

Genesis 20

Gen 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. Gerar was a city of Arabia Petrea, under a king of the Philistines, 25 miles from Eleutheropolis beyond Daroma, in the south of Judah. From (Genesis 10:19), it appears to have been situated in the angle where the south and west sides of Canaan met, and to have been not far from Gaza. Jerome, in his Hebrew Traditions on Genesis, says, from Gerar to Jerusalem was three days' journey.

Gen 20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. Here we go again with Abraham calling his wife his sister because he is afraid they would kill him and take his wife for the kings harem. Just as he did in Egypt back in (Genesis 12:13). The next assault on Abraham in the Great Conflict for the destruction of the promises seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15). Why do you think Abraham thought that the king would take his wife when she was 90 years old? Well, it is said that in Sarah's conception, God must have renewed her youth, for she nursed Isaac (Genesis 21:7). So, still looking good, Abimelech to Sarah.

Gen 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. However, God intervenes and came to Abimelech in a dream and tells him he is a dead man for taken Sarah because she is already married. 

Gen 20:4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Abimelech is thinking that God will destroy the whole nations, so he starts to haggle with God just as Abraham did back in (Genesis 18:23). 

Gen 20:5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. Abimelech pleads to God for his innocency.

Gen 20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. God responds in a dream that He knew Abimelech was innocent. (Because of divine intervention). God knew that Abimelech was a man of integrity, even as a pagan king. 

Gen 20:7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. God tells Abimelech to return Abraham's wife to him and he would pray for him, then you will live. Prophet: First occurrence, showing that prediction is only a small part of it's meaning = God's spokesman. Here it is prayer, and prayer is associated with prophesying, i.e. witnessing (1 Corinthians 11:3-5).

Gen 20:8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. The servants were terrified when Abimelec told them what had happened.

Gen 20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. Abimelech was really steamed at Abraham for getting him in this mess.

Gen 20:10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? What possessed you to do such a thing?

Gen 20:11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. Abraham answers; "I thought this was a Godless place and was afraid they would have killed me to get to my wife. 

Gen 20:12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. I didn't really lie, she is my half sister.

Gen 20:13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. I did this before when God called me to leave my father's home and travel from place to place. I asked Sarah to tell people I was her brother. 

Gen 20:14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. Abraham makes out pretty good on this deal, and he gets his wife back. 

Gen 20:15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. Now Abraham gets to choose some land for a place to live. (Does this seem that God had this all planned out)?

Gen 20:16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved. He tells Sarah that he will give her brother 1,000 pieces of silver (probably shekels). Quite a bit of money, to compensate for any wrong he has done, and to save Sarah's reputation. "He also tells Abraham to get her a veil." (It was common for married women to wear a veil to cover their eyes as a sign of being married).

Gen 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. It only makes sense, that this may have been over a period of time that they could not bare children, so Sarah could have been in Abimelech's harem for several months.

Gen 20:18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife. It appears that the Lord had caused the women of Abimelech to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham's wife Sarah. (Divine intervention). God uses whom ever He wills. (1 Corinthians 1:26-27), God chose things that are powerless to shame those who are so powerful. God loves to use ordinary people who will follow Christ.

Gen 21:1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. The Lord always keeps His word.

Gen 21:2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. God's timing is always perfect. Note the change in title here till verse 32. We have God, (Hebrew Elohim = Creator). In verse 33, Yahveh, where it is Covenant relation.    

Gen 21:3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. Isaac, Hebrew for (let him laugh). 

Gen 21:4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. Eight, the Dominical number (new beginnings). 

Gen 21:7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. Proof that "God" the creator had renewed Sarah's youth. (She was beautiful). "Showing why Abimelech should have taken her." (Genesis 20:2).

Gen 21:8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. Celebration for the occasion. 

Gen 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Sarah caught Ishmael (son of the Egyptian servant), making fun of Isaac. (Isaac was around 3 years old, and Ishmael was around 17 years old at this time). 

Gen 21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. Sarah wants them both to go. Cast out: The word rendered "cast out," signifies also to divorce. (She didn't want Ishmael to share the inheritance with Isaac).

Gen 21:11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. Abraham isn't to thrilled about the idea. After all, it was his son.

Gen 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. God tells Abraham to listen to Sarah and to do what she asked. Why? Was it because we are supposed to listen to our wives? (Sarah was the one that suggested to Abraham to have a child with Hagar). It was because Isaac would be the son through Abraham's descendants that would be counted. It is not about who is right or wrong between husband and wife, it is about submitting to one another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:21), To the reverence of God. (The love of God).

Gen 21:13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. God would take care of Ishmael also, because he was the son of Abraham. (God always takes care of His own). 

Gen 21:14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. Hagar was sent of her way with her son.

Gen 21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. The water was gone and they became real thirsty wondering around in the wilderness.

Gen 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. She did not want to see her child die of thirst and she burst into tears. (The boy lifted up his voice and wept also, or was he praying)? 

Gen 21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. God heard the voice of the boy (crying or praying), God hears him. The angel of God called to Hagar and tells her not to be afraid, God hears your cry and the cry and prayer of the boy. (God knows when we need help, He hears our cry's in the time of need). But, we also need to learn to pray to Him. He is your Father, and He wants to hear from you at times just to talk with Him. That is what prayer is all about. "Not just asking for things."

Gen 21:18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. Gods promise to Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael. (Genesis 21:13, Genesis 25:12-18, 1 Chronicles 1:29-31)

Gen 21:19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. God opened Hagar's eyes. (Numbers 22:31, 2 Kings 6:17-20, Isaiah 35:5-6, Luke 24:16-31). Has God opened your eyes to the "Living waters?" To the truth in the word. Christ is the living waters, He is the living Word. 

Gen 21:20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

Gen 21:21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt. Ishmael settled in the wilderness of Paran (a desert of Arabia), and Hagar goes back home and arranged for him to marry a woman from Egypt.

Gen 21:22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest: Abimelech knew that God was with Abraham.

Gen 21:23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. Abimelech also knew that Abraham isn't always truthful. So, Abimelech wants Abraham to swear (in God's name), that he would never deceive him, his children, or his descendants again.  

Gen 21:24 And Abraham said, I will swear. Abraham agrees.

Gen 21:25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. Abraham complained to Abimelech about the well his servants took by force form Abraham's servants. (Wells of water were of great consequence in those hot countries, especially where the flocks were numerous; because water was scarce, and digging to find it was attended with the expense of much time and labor).  

Gen 21:26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day. Apparently Abimelech knew nothing of this matter.

Gen 21:27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant. In the last chapter, Abimelech gave goods to Abraham, now it is reversed, and they made a treaty. 

Gen 21:28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Took seven female lambs and set them aside. (Seven = spiritual completeness).

Gen 21:29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? Why set these apart from the others Abimelech asked?

Gen 21:30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well. In Genesis 20, Abimelech gave Abraham gifts as a witness that he did not touch Sarah. Now Abraham gives gifts to Abimelech as a witness that this is his well.  

Gen 21:31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them. Beersheba = Well of oath, or the well of the seven. Alluding to the seven ewe lambs. The verb rendered "to swear" is derived from the word translated seven.

Gen 21:32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.  

Gen 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. This is the Divine definition of Yahveh (Lord), Hebrew "olam" duration, secret and hidden from man. (Psalm 90:2), everlasting to everlasting, "thou art God."

Gen 21:34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days. Abraham lived as a foreigner in Philistine country for a long time.

Gen 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. This is not a tempting of God to do wrong, this is a test from God for Abraham to see how willing he is to trust in God. A trial of faith if you will. We will all have them at times if your a Christian. (1 Peter 1:7), These trials show that your faith is genuine and is the testing of your faith. When your faith remains strong it will bring you praise, honor and glory when Christ returns at the second advent.

Gen 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Your only son Isaac! "Note that God doesn't even mention Ishmael." He is going to give Abraham the ultimate test of his faith. Lets see how he measures up. Don't forget, there are going to be times when God will test you for your faith also. 

Gen 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Abraham appears to be pretty calm about what is going to happen and sets out to where God instructed him to go. Will he really sacrifice Isaac as God asks? Will he love and obey God more than he loves his own son? There are scriptures in the new testament that say we need to love God more than our own family members or we are not worthy of Him. (Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:26).

Gen 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 

Gen 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. Notice that Abraham says to his servants that they will return. "This was proof of Abraham's faith."

Gen 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. Notice that Isaac carries the wood for the sacrifice on his shoulders. Kind of like Christ when bearing His cross. (John 19:17). We are not sure how old Isaac was at this time. Some say he was a teenager, others say he was around 33 years of age like Jesus was when He was sacrificed.

Gen 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? Now we know, that Abraham never told Isaac what was going on because Isaac notices that they had no lamb to sacrifice.

Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Abraham assures Isaac that a lamb would be provided by God for the sacrifice.  

Gen 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Now Isaac must get the feeling that he is going to be the sacrifice, but he still trusts in what his father said; "God will provide a lamb." Here is a good example of faith on Isaac's part. How would you have acted? Would you have let your father bind you for a sacrifice, or would you hall-ass out of there?

Gen 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. Abraham was ready to proceed with the sacrifice of his son. How many fathers could even get this far to show their faith? Not that many. "I know one who went all the way." Our Heavenly Father, who sacrificed His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ), for you and the sins of the world. (John 3:16).

Gen 22:11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. Always listen when the angel of the Lord calls to you. (i.e. listen to Jesus when He calls).    

Gen 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Not just talk of faith here by Abraham, he proved to God he had faith by action. (James 2:20-24), Abraham's faith was made complete by what he did. If you just have faith and no works, you are spiritually dead. A man is saved by what he does as well as what he believes. Faith alone is not enough, you need to "do good" in God's eyes. 

Gen 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. Trust in God and He will always show you a way out. (1 Corinthians 10:13), You are never tempted with more than you can handle in life. "Here, the ram would die in place of his son."

Gen 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Abraham named the place. "Yahveh Yireh" which means "The Lord will see, or provide." It shall be seen: "In the mount of the Lord it shall be provided." The meaning is, that God, in the greatest difficulties, when all human assistance is vain, will make a suitable provision for the deliverance of those who trust in Him.

Gen 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, The first time the angel called was for substitution; the second was for revelation.

Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:  

Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; This oath is the foundation of Israel's blessings.  

Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. All nations of the world would be blessed because of Abraham's obedience to God.

Gen 22:20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; Nahor was left behind when Abraham had left with his father fro Ur. Now Abraham is going to hear some news from his family.

Gen 22:23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. Nahor had 12 in all, as Ishmael had (Genesis 25:13-16), and as Jacob had (Genesis 35:23-27). We also here of Nahor's granddaughter Rebekah who would one day be the bride of Abraham's son Isaac.

Gen 22:24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah. Maachah, see (Deuteronomy 3:14, Joshua 12:5, 2 Samuel 10:6). He may have been the father of the Macetes, in Arabia Felix: there is a city called Maca towards the straits of Ormus.

Gen 23:1 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. Abraham would be 137 years old at this time. Isaac would be 37 years old, and Sarah was 127 years old. It is worthy of remark, that Sarah is the only woman whose age, death, and burial are distinctly noted in the Sacred writings. (Genesis 17:17).

Gen 23:2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. For the convenience of feeding his numerous flocks, Abraham had several places of temporary residence; and it is likely, that while he sojourned at Beer-sheba, as we find he did from ( Genesis 23:19), of the preceding chapter, Sarah died at Hebron, which was 24 miles distant.  

Gen 23:3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, before his dead: Heb. "leaning over the face of his dead." Sons of Heath: Heb. "cheth" meaning "terror," an aboriginal Canaanite. (Genesis 10:15), also know as the Hittites, who would become a great empire in around 600 years.

Gen 23:4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. Abraham owned a lot of land, but was a stranger in Canaan and did not own any land there. He wanted to purchase a small piece of land to give his wife a proper burial.

Gen 23:5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, The sons of heth.

Gen 23:6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. Abraham was a honored mighty prince among the people here and no one would refuse his request.  

Gen 23:7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. 

Gen 23:8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, Ask Ephron son of Zohar for a favor for me. 

Gen 23:9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you. Abraham just wanted to buy a cave for a burial place for his family instead of a entire piece of land.

Gen 23:10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, Dwelt: Or, sitting (as the word frequently denotes) among the children of Heth, at the gate of the city, where all public business was transacted. Ephron, though a chief man, might have been personally unknown to Abraham; but now he answers for himself, making a free tender of the field and cave to Abraham, in the presence of all the people, which amounted to a legal conveyance to the Patriarch.

Gen 23:11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead. Have you ever had someone say they would give you something, but in the end, you end up buying it? This was a way of haggling in the middle east, or another polite way of saying, "I will sell it to you."

Gen 23:12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. Bowed down: A form of respect or way of humbling yourself.

Gen 23:13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. Abraham was willing to pay the full price for the land, he wasn't concerned about getting a deal.

Gen 23:14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, 

Gen 23:15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead. The land is worth about 400 pieces of silver, but what's that between friends. (Sometimes when you buy something from friends or family, you will pay more than if you bought it from a stranger). Ephron starts his haggling at a high price (common practice), but Abraham wasn't interested in getting a deal for the land.

Gen 23:16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. Abraham agrees to Ephron's price and paid the suggested amount of weighed silver according to the market standard.   

Gen 23:18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. The deal was made and the land was transferred to Abraham as a permanent possession.

Gen 23:19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. Abraham buried Sarah in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah.

Gen 23:20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth. Kind of like making this his home and is families permanent burial place. There was a custom to be buried in your native land. Abraham will be buried in this same cave. (Genesis 25:9). We will also see that when Jacob dies in Egypt, his son Joseph has his father's body taken back to Canaan, and buried in this very cave.  

Gen 24:1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. He was about 140 years old now and the Lord blessed Abraham in all things. The Lord will bless you in all things also, if you let Him. (Matthew 6:33, Galatians 3:9, Ephesians 1:3, 1 Timothy 4:8).

Gen 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: The eldest servant. Probably Eleazar of Damascus. (Genesis 15:2). Under my thigh: Customary way of swearing an oath. (Like we would swear on the bible, or raise our hand to swear to something).  

Gen 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: The oath was not to let Abraham's son marry a Canaanite women. The Canaanites were the ones that mixed with the "Nephilim," and Abraham did not want to be responsible for his holy seed to mix with that of the Nephilim. (Genesis 6:2, 6:4). Read appendix 23, 25, and our study topic: "The fallen angels" for a better understanding.  

Gen 24:4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. To Abraham's homeland and relatives. (Gentiles thus expressly excluded from this chapter, if regarded as a type). 

Gen 24:5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? If the woman I find won't come here, should I take Isaac there to live among your relatives?

Gen 24:6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. "No!" Never take my son there Abraham replies. 

Gen 24:7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. God will send His angels ahead of you and see to it you find a wife for Isaac.

Gen 24:8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again. Abraham is saying that if the woman refuses to come, that you are free from the oath. However, do not take my son there. 

Gen 24:9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter. Took the oath and followed Abraham's instructions. 

Gen 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. This is about a 500 mile trip and would be about a month's travel.

Gen 24:11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. 

Gen 24:12 And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Praying to God for success to show his love for his master, Abraham.

Gen 24:14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. He was looking for some special qualities in the woman he wanted to select for Isaac. Qualities like kindness, purity, willingness to work, and of course beauty.

Gen 24:15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham's brother Nahor. (Genesis 24:24). "Rebekah was the granddaughter of Isaac's uncle Nahor."

Gen 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. Rebekah was a beautiful virgin girl.

Gen 24:17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. 

Gen 24:18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. Rebekah was very kind.

Gen 24:19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. Rebekah was considerate to the camels.

Gen 24:20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. Rebekah was a hard worker. 

Gen 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. The servant was eagerly watching her to see if the Lord had led him to the right girl for Isaac. 

Gen 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; The servant wanted to reward Rebekah for watering the camels. A gold nose ring (popular throughout Arabia and Persia, particularly among young women), two gold bracelets of ten shekels weight (about 5 ounces in weight together). This is quite an expensive gift for a girl who just watered your camels. Do you think he was trying to impress Rebekah?

Gen 24:26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. Thanking God because he knew that this girl was the one for Isaac. She had all the good qualifications for a wife.

Gen 24:29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.  

Gen 24:33 And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on. Now the servant wants to get right to the point of why he came. 

Gen 24:35 And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. The eyes are starting to light up now when they hear of Abraham's wealth.

Gen 24:36 And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath. Now they know that everything belongs to Isaac.

Gen 24:37 And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: Keeping his oath. 

Gen 24:38 But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. Go right to his relatives for help.

Gen 24:44 And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son. Remember the qualifications?

Gen 24:46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 

Gen 24:49 And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left. You heard the story, now are you going to show unfailing love and faith toward my master and do what he requests or not?

Gen 24:50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Laban and Bethuel were brothers and Laban was the eldest and chief.

Gen 24:51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken. Permission was given to take Rebekah for a wife to Isaac.

Gen 24:52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. Mission complete and the servant thanked the Lord.

Gen 24:53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. Financially securing Rebekah and her family. 

Gen 24:54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.  

Gen 24:55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. They wanted to hold up the process for a little while. Hmmm. Why the delay? When the Holy Sprit calls, we should act. It seems they acting in a worldly manner.

Gen 24:56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. The servant didn't want to delay his return. He was listening to the Lord.

Gen 24:57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. Let's see what Rebekah says.

Gen 24:58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. Rebekah answers the call and agrees to go. When God knocks at your door, you better let him in.

Gen 24:59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. Rebekah was on her way, but not alone. She took with her the woman who raised her and apparently other maidservants as well. "The name of this woman was Deborah." (Genesis 35:8). 

Gen 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. Be thou the mother: Or, "be thou for thousands of myriads;" a large family being always considered, in ancient times, as a proof of the peculiar blessing and favor of God.  

Gen 24:62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. Lahairoi: The well of life and vision. 

Gen 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. To meditate: Usually to pray, They who acknowledge God in all their ways, will find him present to direct their paths, and make their way prosperous; and when the prayer of faith meets with an immediate answer, the glory ought as speedily to be rendered to God in solemn praise and thanksgiving. However, here I believe Isaac didn't go out to pray, but to mourn the death of his mother Sarah.

Gen 24:64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. When Rebekah looked up and seen Isaac, she dismounted from her camel.

Gen 24:65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. Preparing herself to meet Isaac.

Gen 24:67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. Isaac and Rebekah became man and wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother Sarah.

Gen 25:1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. Abraham takes another wife named Keturah. This genealogy, and Abraham's death recorded here, because no more is to be said about Abraham. However, Abraham lived till Jacob was 15 years old.  

Gen 25:2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. Medan and Midian were half-brothers with Ishmael, and they were mixed up together in their dealings. (These names are associated with the Arab tribes).

Gen 25:4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. These = the tares. The "good seed" was sown after Isaac.   

Gen 25:5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. The land of Canaan belongs to Isaac. 

Gen 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country. Land of the Arab's. 

Gen 25:7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. Abraham lived for 175 years.  

Gen 25:8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. Abraham joined his ancestors in death.

Gen 25:9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; 

Gen 25:10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. Buried in the same cave as Sarah his wife.

Gen 25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi. "Well of the living." 

Gen 25:12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: The account of the family of Ishmael. (Tribes of the Ishmaelites).

Gen 25:17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. Ishmael lived for 137 years.

Gen 25:18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren. The angel of the Lord told Hagar about Ishmael before he was born. (Genesis 16:12), he would dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Gen 25:19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: Now we move on to Isaac and his family.

Gen 25:20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 

Gen 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The Lord = Yahveh. Isaac prayed to the Lord. There was a little span of time here before Rebekah became pregnant. About 20 years past before she became pregnant with twins.

Gen 25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. A little war within going on here.

Gen 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. God explains to Rebekah about the future of her two sons. They will become two nations that will be at odds with one another. (The older will serve the younger).

Gen 25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. Esau: The word Esau has been generally considered to imply made, formed, or perfected; or perfect, robust, etc. But it appears to be a dialectical variation of the Arabic atha, to be covered with hair; whence athai, hairy, as no doubt the word Esau imports, in allusion to the circumstance of his being covered with red hair or down at his birth.

Gen 25:26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. Jacob: Heel catcher. The younger of the twins.

Gen 25:27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. As they grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter and was an outdoorsman, but Jacob was more of a shepherd who dwelt in tents.

Gen 25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. Isaac favored Esau because he brought home the wild game grub, but Rebekah favored Jacob.

Gen 25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: He was really hungry. 

Gen 25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. Edom meaning red.

Gen 25:31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. Birthright: The first born would become the head of the family and received a double portion of the inheritance, twice as much as the other heirs. (Deuteronomy 21:17).

Gen 25:32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? Esau was only thinking of his flesh and didn't care about his birthright. "A famine accounts for the sale." (Genesis 26:1).

Gen 25:33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Swore an oath and sold his birthright for a bowl of lentils.

Gen 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Part of the birthright was his inheritance, but it also included the blessings from the Lord which were promised to Abraham and his descendants. Esau treated his birthright as merchandise and despised grace. Hence, He is called a profane person. (Hebrews 12:16).   

Gen 26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. Famine: Accounts for Esau's despair of living and the selling of his birthright. One of the first of thirteen famines. (Note: 13 is the number of rebellion). Abimelech = official name or title. Not the same as Abimelech in (Genesis 20:2).  

Gen 26:2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Don't go down to Egypt as your father Abraham did in (Genesis 12:10), but do as I tell you.

Gen 26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; Live here in this land as a foreigner and I the Lord will bless you. So to each Patriarch (father), Abraham (Genesis 13:15), Jacob (Genesis 28:13).

Gen 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Your descendants will become as numerous as the stars of the sky. Through these descendants, the promise of the Messiah that will bless the world. (Acts 3:25, Galatians 3:8, 3:16).  

Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. God offers Isaac the same as his father Abraham. Abraham listened and obeyed all the Lords requirements and commands. Well, most of the time. Will Isaac listen and obey?

Gen 26:7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon. Sound familiar? Isaac decides to do exactly what Abraham did. (Genesis 12:13, 20:2, 20:12). 

Gen 26:8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. Isaac got busted by the king caressing Rebekah. Now what?

Gen 26:9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. Isaac fesses up to the king and tells him Rebekah was his wife. (Lying about his wife for his own safety).

Gen 26:10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. What are you doing the king said? If one of us would have slept with Rebekah, we would have been guilty of a great sin. Here we have Isaac (a believer), being rebuked by and unbeliever (Abimelech). 

Gen 26:11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. Abimelech solves the problem. (One of the laws given and observed before Moses). 

Gen 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. One hundred fold blessing from the Lord. (Mark 4:8).

Gen 26:13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: Isaac became very rich and his wealth continued to grow. (Psalm 112:3).

Gen 26:14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. You need to watch out for jealously when your wealth increases. 

Gen 26:15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. Isaac seems to be a threat to the Philistines. In those countries, a well of water was a great acquisition; and hence, this mode of injuring new settlers, or revenging themselves on their enemies, is still resorted to among the inhabitants.

Gen 26:16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. You have become to powerful for us, move on somewhere else.

Gen 26:17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. Isaac takes the advice and moves from the city to the valley of Gerar.

Gen 26:18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. Isaac reopens (re-digs), the wells that Abraham dug, but were filled in by the Philistines. He not only re-digs the wells, but also restored the names of the wells.

Gen 26:19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. Also known as "living waters." 

Gen 26:20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. This well was know as the well Esek, (well of strife or contention).  

Gen 26:21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. This well was know as the well Sitnah, (well of opposition or hostility).     

Gen 26:22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. Abandoning that one also, Isaac moved on and dug another well with no disputes. This well was know as the well Rehoboth, (well of roominess or open space). The wells in Arabia are generally dug in the rock. Their mouths are about six feet in diameter, and they are from nineteen to twenty feet in depth. However, many wells are from 160 to 170 feet deep.

Gen 26:25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well. Built an altar and called on the name of the Lord. 

Gen 26:26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. Phichol, as well as Abimelech, "father king," seems to have been a name of office or dignity among the Philistines; for it is not probable that they were the same as are mentioned in the days of Abraham. (Genesis 21:22, 21:32).

Gen 26:27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? Why have you come here? You kicked me off your land.

Gen 26:28 And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; After thinking it over, Abimelech and the boys finally see that the Lord was with Isaac. "Let's make a deal."

Gen 26:29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD. Emphasizing the fact that so far from injuring him in any way they had shown him favor. (It appears they wanted to share in Isaac's blessings). Did you ever find people wanting to hang with you because they know your blessed by God?

Gen 26:30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. Isaac prepared a covenant feast to celebrate the treaty between them with a big party.

Gen 26:31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. They all took the oath not to interfere with each other and they left Isaac in peace.

Gen 26:32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. Found more water! 

Gen 26:33 And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day. Beersheba: i.e. the well of the oath, (Genesis 26:28); This may have been the same city which was called Beer-sheba a hundred years before this, in the time of Abraham; but as the well, from which it had its name originally, was closed up by the Philistines, the name of the place might have been abolished with the well; when, therefore, Isaac re-opened it, he restored the ancient name of the place.

Gen 26:34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: Meanwhile, Esau at the age of forty married two Hittite wives. Two pagan wives named Judith (also named Aholibamah), and Bashemath (also named Adah).

Gen 26:35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. Esau's wives were grief of mind (caused bitterness of spirit) or, i.e. made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah. 

Gen 27:1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. Isaac was about 137 years old now and turning blind. Jacob and Esau were about 77 years old. (Remember they were twins). However, Esau would be considered the oldest son of Isaac.

Gen 27:2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Isaac was the same age as his half-brother Ishmael when he died, but Isaac would recover and live another 43 years. 

Gen 27:3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; The result of hunting: In (Genesis 25:29), Esau missed his venison and lost his birthright. Was he now to miss it again and lose his blessing?    

Gen 27:4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. The blessing, which Isaac was to confer on his son, was a species of divine right, and must be communicated with appropriate ceremonies. As eating and drinking were used among the Asiatics on almost all religious occasions, and especially in making and confirming covenants, it is reasonable to suppose, that something of this kind was essentially necessary on this occasion; and that Isaac could not convey the right, till he had eaten of the meat provided for the purpose by him who was to receive the blessing. Isaac has the intention to give this blessing to Esau, the oldest of the two brothers. However, before the boys were born, God spoke to Rebekah and told her that the blessing should go to Jacob, and that the older would serve the younger brother. (Genesis 25:23).

Gen 27:5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. Rebekah did a little covert listening and found out what was on the mind of Isaac.

Gen 27:6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Rebekah lets Jacob in on the secret.

Gen 27:7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. Isaac tells Esau what he needs to do for the blessing.  

Gen 27:8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Now Rebekah has another plan of her own and tells Jacob what to do.

Gen 27:9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: Go to the flocks and bring me two fine young goats. I'll prepare them for your fathers favorite dish. (Rebekah knew what Isaac liked). 

Gen 27:10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. Were going to pull a little switch on your father.

Gen 27:11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: Isaac may have been going blind, but he still had the sense of feel.

Gen 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. Jacob gets a little worried here that he might get discovered trying to deceive his father. (This would not be good).

Gen 27:13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. Rebekah wasn't worried and said "let the curse fall on me" if we get discovered.

Gen 27:14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. Jacob listens to Rebekah and gets the young goats and she prepares Isaac's favorite meal. 

Gen 27:15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: Rebekah takes Esau's clothes and gave them to Jacob to put on. This was a robe worn by the first-born usually kept by the mother of the family in sweet chests to keep the moths out. Remember that Isaac is blind, so Jacob wears his brother's robe because of the smell, not the look.

Gen 27:16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: Remember Esau was hairy. So, Rebekah covers Jacobs smooth parts with the skin of the young goats, so he would appear hairy like Esau. Travelers inform us, that the Eastern goats have long, fine, and beautiful hair, of the most delicate silky softness; indeed the animals generally in those hot countries are not covered with so thick a coat of hair as they are in more northerly regions; so that Isaac might easily be deceived, when his eyes were dim, and his feeling no less impaired than his sight.

Gen 27:17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. Jacob brings the meal to his father in disguise.

Gen 27:18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? Who are you Isaac asked? 

Gen 27:19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. Jacob replied, "It's Esau, your firstborn son. I did what you wanted so you can eat your favorite meal and then give me your blessing." (Are these what we call little white lies)?

Gen 27:20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. Isaac may have been old and blind, but he wasn't stupid.

Gen 27:21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. Come closer so that I can touch you to see if you are really Esau.

Gen 27:22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. Hmmm, Your hand feels like Esau, but you sound like Jacob. 

Gen 27:23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. His hand felt hairy to Isaac, so he did not think it was Jacob. (Or did he)? 

Gen 27:24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. Still a little skeptical, he say's, "are you really Esau?" "Yes, I am," Jacob replied.

Gen 27:25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. Isaac enjoyed his favorite meal with some wine that Jacob served him.

Gen 27:26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. It must have been at this point that Isaac's faith finally overcame "the will of the flesh," and made him resolve to bless Jacob, in spite of it. 

Gen 27:27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Jacob goes over and kissed his father. Isaac could smell the sent of Esau's garment on him and was pleased. The smell of a field: A field where aromatic plants, flowers, fruits, and spices grew in abundance, with which these garments (Genesis 27:15), of Esau might probably have been perfumed by being laid up with them.  

Gen 27:28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: The blessing was given by Isaac and Jacob would receive the rewards.

Gen 27:29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. The blessing was to include wealth and good farming, to rule over the nations, to rule over his own brother, and all that curse would be cursed. But, "All that bless you will be blessed."

Gen 27:30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. Oh No... Esau finally returns from the hunt.

Gen 27:31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. Another meal for dad presented by Esau.

Gen 27:32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. Who the heck are you now? It's Esau, your firstborn son. 

Gen 27:33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably (because of Esau's temperament), and said who just served me, and who did I bless? Before you came I blessed the one who served me thinking it was you.  

Gen 27:34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. Esau was quite upset and let out a load cry. Something like "What did you do?" Then he begged Isaac to bless him too.

Gen 27:35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. Isaac said to Esau, "Your brother was here and tricked me." "You blessing has been taken away." 

Gen 27:36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? No wonder his name is Jacob (heal-catcher or trickster), he cheated me out of my birthright, and now my blessing. Don't you have one blessing for me father Esau asked? 

Gen 27:37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? Nope! It's to late. Jacob will be your master and all his brothers will serve him.

Gen 27:38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. Esau asked Isaac again; just one blessing for me father, and then Esau broke down and wept.

Gen 27:39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; Sorry, you are going to live away from the fat of the land and the dew from heaven above. (In the desert he would live). 

Gen 27:40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. You will live by the sword and serve your brother. Esau and his descendants the Edomites were violent people and would serve Jacob and his descendants untill; Thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck: They would stop serving Israel, fulfilled in (2 Kings 8:20-22).  

Gen 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. From then on Esau hated Jacob because their father gave him the blessing. Esau began to scheme and planed on killing Jacob after his father died. However, He didn't know that dad would last another 43 years before he died.

Gen 27:42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Mom comes to the rescue and wars Jacob that his brother wants to kill him. 

Gen 27:43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; Flee to my brother Laban, in Haran. 

Gen 27:44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; Rebekah tells Jacob to stay and pray there a few days till your brother cools off.

Gen 27:45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? When he cools down I will send for you. Rebekah's timing was a little off, because Jacob would be their for 20 years.

Gen 27:46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me? Rebekah says to Isaac, "I'm sick of these local Hittite women!" (Referring to Esau's wife). I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them. Rebekah will never see Jacob again. Hence the phrase: "Let us do evil that good may come." (Romans 3:8). "God works in mysterious ways."

Gen 28:1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. The blessing God endorses (Genesis 13:15), by sending Jacob to Haran, as he had blessed Abraham to bring him from Haran. (Genesis 12:1-3). Do not marry any Canaanite women. (Genesis 24:3).  

Gen 28:2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. Go to Padanaram (the plain of Syria), and marry one of your uncle Laban's daughters. 

Gen 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; God Almighty: El Shaddai.  

Gen 28:4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. Isaac wanted the blessing to go to Esau, but even though the blessing was stolen by Jacob, Isaac finally realizes that God's blessing is going to be with the younger son Jacob. (When God has a plan, you got to go with it).

Gen 28:5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. About a 500 mile journey to Padanaram. Jacob sent away: Whoever observes Jacob's life, after he had surreptitiously obtained his father's blessing, will perceive that he enjoyed very little worldly felicity. His brother purposed to murder him, to avoid which he was forced to flee from his father's house; his uncle Laban deceived him, as he had deceived his father, and treated him with great rigor; after a servitude of 21 years, he was obliged to leave him in a clandestine manner, not without danger of being brought back, or murdered by his enraged brother; no sooner were these fears over, than he experienced the baseness of his son Reuben, in defiling his bed; he had next to bewail the treachery and cruelty of Simeon and Levi toward the Shechemites; then he had to feel the loss of his beloved wife; he was next imposed upon by his own sons, and had to lament the supposed untimely end of Joseph; and to complete all, he was forced by famine to go into Egypt, and there died, in a strange land. So just, wonderful, and instructive are all the ways of Providence.

Gen 28:6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; 

Gen 28:9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. Esau married one of Ishmael's daughters (in addition to the wives he already had), named Mahalath, also called Bashemath. (Genesis 36:3). He figured it would please Isaac if he married someone different than a Canaanite women. However, Esau is thinking in the flesh again and married someone within the family.

Gen 28:10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. Meanwhile Jacob beats feet and heads toward Haran. (He needs to get away from Esau). 

Gen 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Also know as Jacob's ladder, or the "Stairway to Heaven." (So... that's where the song came from). One interesting scripture Jesus quoted was in the book of John, referring to Jacob's dream. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51). Jesus is saying, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the "One" who is the stairway between heaven and earth." Jesus is the only way to the Father and to Heaven. (John 14:6).

Gen 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; God's promise to Abraham and Isaac. "Now He becomes the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Gen 28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. This can be fulfilled only in Christ. All the families of the earth will be blessed through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because Jesus would come through these descendants. "The promise of the Messiah."

Gen 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. I will not leave thee: The promise first made here, to Jacob for covenant grace; to the people, for journey (Deuteronomy 31:6); to Joshua, for conflict (Joshua 1:5-8); to Solomon, for work (1 Chronicles 28:20); to us, for daily provision (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Gen 28:16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. Jacob realizes now that God was with him. Are you aware of God's presence and that He is with you wherever you go? (Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20). 

Gen 28:17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. House of God: The place where God meets the unworthy in grace. i.e. where you worship Him, He is present. You don't need a big fancy building to have the presence of God.

Gen 28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. Consecrating the altar and making it a holy place. (Leviticus 8:10-12). 

Gen 28:19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. Bethel: The house of El, or the house of God.

Gen 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, Jacob makes a solemn vow. (The first recorded vow). 

Gen 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. God's house: Hebrew, "Beth-elohim." Not Beth-el. Jacob sets up a memorial pillar for worshipping God. Then promises to give a tenth of everything God gives him back to God.

Gen 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. Getting close to the end of his 500 mile journey to Haran.

Gen 29:2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. Great stone: In Arabia, and other places in the East, they cover up their wells of water, lest the sand, which is put in motion by the winds, should fill and quite stop them up. So great was their care not to leave the well open any length of time, that they waited till the flocks were all gathered together before they began to draw water; and when they had finished, the well was immediately closed again. Note: The flock of sheep were waiting to be watered. A Christians, we wait upon the Lamb (Christ), "the fountains of living waters," as stated in (Revelation 7:17), when God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Christ will constantly feed them and be their shepherd.

Gen 29:3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. This verse describes what was usually done by some mutual compact among the shepherds, and shows the purpose for which the flocks lay by the well; for the stone was not removed till all the flocks had been collected. (Genesis 29:3). Just as God's elect will be gathered together in the end times and come out of the tribulation of antichrist. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14). These are the ones who hung in there through the tribulation and were not deceived by Satan. They did the work they were supposed to do, and they washed their robes with the blood of the Lamb which is Christ. (Those with righteous acts).

Gen 29:4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 

Gen 29:5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.  

Gen 29:6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. Rachel will later become a wife a Jacob.

Gen 29:7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. Could it be that Jacob wants to get rid of the other flocks and shepherds before Rachel arrives?

Gen 29:8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. Their customs were to wait until all the shepherds arrive to remove the large stone, water their flocks and put the stone back. The shepherds were usually slaves, younger sons, or daughters. 

Gen 29:9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. Rachel was a shepherd and came with her father's sheep. In those primitive times, a pastoral life was not only considered useful but honorable. Nor was it beneath the dignity of the daughters of the most opulent chiefs to carry water from the well, or tend the sheep. Jacob, Moses, and David were shepherds.

Gen 29:10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. Once Jacob got a good look at Rachel, he is going to impress her by moving the stone himself and water his uncle's flock.

Gen 29:11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. Jacob kissed Rachel for the first time. This was not a love Kiss, but a customary eastern greeting kiss. Jacob was weeping for joy because he finally reached his destination and met his beautiful cousin Rachel.

Gen 29:12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. Rachel appears to be happy that she met her cousin Jacob and runs to tell her father Laban.

Gen 29:13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 

Gen 29:14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. Stayed there "a month of days."

Gen 29:15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? Jacob must have been helping out around the house. Laban wanted to reward him for his labor.

Gen 29:16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah (weary), the older daughter, and Rachel (a ewe), the younger daughter. 

Gen 29:17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. Leah was weak eyed (no sparkle in her eyes), but Rachel was beautiful and had the full package.

Gen 29:18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. Jacob was taken in by Rachel's looks right off the bat. "He was in love." He was willing to work seven years for free for Rachel. 

Gen 29:19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. Laban agrees!

Gen 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. He really loved Rachel and time flew by as he served for his wife. (Hosea 12:12). 

Gen 29:21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. Jacob fulfills his agreement as agreed to with Laban, and now he wants Rachel to be his wife and get to the love making. 

Gen 29:23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. We say "only in America." They say, "only in the middle east." Jacob gets to sleep with the older daughter first and doesn't even know it. Hmmm... The wine must have been real good that night. (Was this a custom, or little covert action on Laban's part)?

Gen 29:24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

Gen 29:25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? Jacob wakes up after what was probably a hard night of partying and realizes that he slept with the wrong girl. (Jacob was deceived just as he deceived Isaac).  

Gen 29:26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Here comes the custom again. The first born was to be married off first before the younger. (Not in America). "Here you can marry anyone or anything." 

Gen 29:27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. Now the deal changes a little with Labon. Stay with Leah for a week and then you can have Rachel, "if" you serve me for another seven years. 

Gen 29:28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. Jacob agrees and now he has both sisters for wives. However, it is a popular mistake to suppose that Jacob did not marry Rachel till the end of the second seven years, for in the first seven were born seven sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, and Joseph. In the second seven: Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulon, and Dinah. 

Gen 29:29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. Strictly in accordance with the Code of Khammarabi. (See appendix 15).

Gen 29:30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. Jacob loved Rachel much more than Leah. 

Gen 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.  

Gen 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. Reuben "r-uwben" meaning (see, a son). Leah conceived as a result of praying to the Lord. (For the various orders of the twelve tribes see appendix 45).

Gen 29:33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. Simeon "Shimon" meaning (hearing). 

Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. Levi meaning (joiner). He will be the father of the Levites. (Tribe the priests would come from).

Gen 29:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. Judah "y-hudah" meaning (he shall be praised). "Father of the tribe of David, in that Christ would come." (Genesis 49:8-12). Left bearing: That is, for a time; Leah had several children afterwards. (Genesis 30:17). 

Gen 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. Complaining to Jacob that she had no sons for him.

Gen 30:2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? What do you want from me Jacob replies? God is the one who kept you from having children. 

Gen 30:3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. This was strictly in accordance with the Code of Khammurabi. The earliest known written legal code, was composed about 1780 B.C.E. by Hammurabi, the ruler of Bablyon. This text was excavated in 1901; it was carved on an eight foot high stone monolith. The harsh system of punishment expressed in this text prefigures the concept of 'an eye for an eye'. The Code lays out the basis of both criminal and civil law, and defines procedures for commerce and trade. This text was redacted for 1,500 years, and is considered the predecessor of Jewish and Islamic legal systems alike.  

Gen 30:4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. Another wife for Jacob so Rachael can have a son. (Here we see a surrogate pregnancy is nothing new). 

Gen 30:6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. Named the boy Dan, meaning "Judge."

Gen 30:7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

Gen 30:8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. Because Rachael was struggling with her sister for supremacy in the marriage, she named the boy Naphtali. Meaning "my wrestling."  

Gen 30:9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. Now Leah could not have any more children and the competition continues. She does not want to lose her advantage over Rachael in the marriage, so she gives Jacob on of her servants just like Rachael did. Her name was Zilpah. (Talk about wearing a man down). Again, this was strictly in accordance with the Code of Khammurabi.

Gen 30:11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. Gad meaning "Jupiter" of the Babylonians. Baal-Gad (Joshua 11:17, 12:7), is the god-jupiter. A troop cometh = Over-run, or have victory.

Gen 30:13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher. Asher, meaning "happy." Will call = "ishsruni" (sure to call me).

Gen 30:14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. Mandrakes "mandragora" (a species of melon), the roots easily formed, by pinching it, into the shape of a man. Hence it's name; also supposed to be and used as a "love potion," or "aphrodisiac" (ancient Viagra). Arabic = "apples of Satan." Rachel want to kick-it-up a notch.    

Gen 30:15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes. Little tension over the "love drug." But, lets make a deal for the mandrakes.   

Gen 30:16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night. Customary or, just a cover-up for a form of prostitution. Oh, I forgot, this was strictly in accordance with the Code of Khammurabi. How many of us guys today would complain about these rules? (I sure don't hear Jacob complaining).

Gen 30:17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. Rachael is thinking in the flesh trying to get pregnant by the use of mandrakes, but it backfires and Leah ends up with child. 

Gen 30:18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. Issachar = "he is wages," "he will bring rewards."

Gen 30:20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. Zebulum = "dwelling," or "habitation." Assyrian word, "to honor."

Gen 30:21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah. Dinah = "vindication," or "judgment." (Jacob may have had other daughters not named).

Gen 30:22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. God remembers Rachael and she finally gets pregnant. Not because of the mandrakes, but because of God answering her prayers.

Gen 30:23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: 

Gen 30:24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son. Joseph = "may He add," or "Yahveh has added."

Gen 30:25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. Jacob served his time and completed his deal that he made with Laban. Now he wants to go home to his country with his new family.

Gen 30:26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. 

Gen 30:27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. Laban tells Jacob he has become very wealthy because God has had favor on him because of Jacob.

Gen 30:28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. What do I owe you for your service?

Gen 30:30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also? Jacob wants to start to provide for his own family. He wants his own little business.

Gen 30:31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock: Jacob makes a deal to continue to tend and watch over Laban's flocks.

Gen 30:32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. Here's the deal... Jacob wants all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep for his wages.

Gen 30:33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. Jacob tells Labab that he would be totally honest with him, and that if he found any of his flock of goats or sheep that are not speckled or black, he would know that he stole from him. 

Gen 30:34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word. Laban agrees to the terms.

Gen 30:35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. From this it appears, that, as Jacob had agreed to take all the parti-coloured for his wages, and was now only beginning to act upon this agreement, and consequently had as yet no right to any of the cattle, therefore Laban separated from the flock all such cattle as Jacob might afterwards claim in consequence of his bargain, leaving only the black and white with Jacob.

Gen 30:36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. Laban took all the good breeding stock and removed them while Jacob tended to the rest of the flock. i.e. Jacob gets conned again.

Gen 30:37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. Trying to manipulate the flock. 

Gen 30:38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. He thought this would encourage the animals would mate.

Gen 30:39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. Some of the young were streaked, speckled, and spotted. (This was not because of what Jacob did with the rods). We will find out later that it was because of the hand of God, for all of Jacobs hard work.   

Gen 30:42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. It's called selective breeding. 

Gen 30:43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses. As a result of Jacob's hard work and God's help, he became very wealthy. The Lord will, in one way or other, honor those who simply trust his providence. Remember, material wealth is not that important, but spiritual wealth is, and that is what having a blessed life is all about. God will always give you what you need, not necessarily what you want. The key to having a blessed life is in Christ; do your best, trust in Him, and He takes care of the rest.

Gen 31:1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory. Jacob heard that Labon's sons were complaining about him, and that he has become wealthy at their fathers expense. (A little jealous of Jacob getting ahead).

Gen 31:2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. Now even Labon's attitude has changed toward him. (Some people that are better off than others like it to stay that way). 

Gen 31:3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. God knows what is going on and tells Jacob to return to his home land.  

Gen 31:4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, Come out in private to discuss the situation.

Gen 31:5 And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. Your father's attitude has changed toward me, but God has still been with me.  

Gen 31:6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. I have worked very hard for your father.

Gen 31:7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. He cheated me plenty of times, but God has not allowed him to harm me.

Gen 31:8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Even though Laban changed the deal several times, it was by the hand of God that produced the flock for Jacob. 

Gen 31:9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. It happens it everyday life. Some people just can't handle wealth; God will make them lose it and give it to someone who he trusts with it.

Gen 31:10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. Grisled = marked with white spots like hail. 

Gen 31:12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. God seen how Laban treated Jacob.

Gen 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. God reminds Jacob that He spoke to him at Bethel. (The place where Jacob anointed the pillar of stone and made a vow to God). Now God tells him to get ready to leave this land and return home. 

Gen 31:14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? The girls are on board. 

Gen 31:15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. Our father reduced our rights to those foreign women and wasted all his money on himself. 

Gen 31:16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. The girls are going where the money is and encourage Jacob to do what God has told him. 

Gen 31:18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. Sets out for the land of Canaan where his father, Isaac lived.

Gen 31:19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's. Idols, a kind of household gods. Showing that the idolatry of Babylonia still clung to Laban's family.

Gen 31:20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, and set out secretly never telling him they were leaving. Stole away: (Rachel stole Laban's idols and Jacob stole Laban's heart). 

Gen 31:21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead. The river Euphrates.

Gen 31:22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. While Laban was out shearing his sheep, Laban is out sheering the sheep and finds out Jacob left three days later.

Gen 31:23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. Laban and a group of relatives set out in hot pursuit of Jacob and they caught up with them seven days later in the hill country of Gilead. Note: Jacob was moving slow because of the goat flocks with him. Laban and the boys were probably riding camels or horses when they caught him. 

Gen 31:24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. However, earlier, God appeared to Laban in a dream and warned him to leave Jacob alone. 

Gen 31:25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. Set up camp not far from Jacob. 

Gen 31:26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? Laban thinks Jacob took his daughters by force. Remember, the girls were on board and wanted to leave.

Gen 31:27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? Why did you slip away in secret? Why did you deceive me? Why didn't you say you wanted to leave? Why? Why? Why? Laban adds hypocrisy, covetousness, and avarice, to idolatry.   

Gen 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing. 

Gen 31:29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. God in control here and wants Jacob to head home no matter what Laban thinks or says. Note: Laban had spoken of the Lord (Yahveh); now he has sunk so low as to say' "you God," and calls the "teraphim" (idols, or household gods), "my gods."

Gen 31:30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? It appears that Laban was only interested in his "household gods."  

Gen 31:32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. This was rash, and might have produced fatal effects; but Jacob was partial to Rachel, and did not suspect her; and he was indignant at being accused of a crime which he deeply abhorred. 

Gen 31:33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. After a long search, Laban goes into Rachael's tent.

Gen 31:34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not. Rachael has her own plan to hide the idols, "she is sitting on them."

Gen 31:35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images. Rachael says to her father, forgive me if I don't get up, "it's that time of the month."

Gen 31:36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me? Now Jacob becomes angry and challenges Laban. "What's my crime?"

Gen 31:37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both. Even though Jacob has the right to be mad about all the deception from Laban, he thinks that Laban is lying about the idols and he wasn't. (Sometimes we get mad at people for the wrong reasons).

Gen 31:39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Jacob took any loses on his own. (i.e. Jacob did everything he could to do a good job for Laban).

Gen 31:40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Worked hard through scorching heat and cold sleepless nights. (The eastern shepherd was often away from home for weeks at a time). 

Gen 31:41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.  

Gen 31:42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight. Fear put for the God whom Jacob worshipped.

Gen 31:43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? What can I do? Nothing! They belong to Jacob now by the hand of God. 

Gen 31:44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. Now Laban wants make a covenant with Jacob. God can put a bridle into the mouth of wicked man to restrain their malice; and then, though they have no love for his people, they will pretend to it, and try to make a merit of necessity.

Gen 31:45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.  

Gen 31:46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. i.e. a covenant sacrifice.  

Gen 31:47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. Jegarsahadutha is Chaldiac for "witness-heap. Galeed is Hebrew for "heap of testimony."

Gen 31:49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. Mizpah = watch-tower. i.e. Laban knew Hebrew as well as Chaldee. The Lord will keep watch between the two of us so that we keep the covenant. Sounds like a pact between two friends. Hmmm, I think the real reason was because they did not trust each other. (i.e. God will keep an eye on you when I cannot).  

Gen 31:53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. The God that Isaac feared.

Gen 31:55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place. Laban kissed his daughters and grandchildren, blessed them and left for home, never to hear from Laban again. (Genesis 30:25), Jacob gets his wish.

Gen 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. The second vision, corresponding with that of Bethel. (Genesis 28:10-22). Angel of God: To assure him of God's presence with him, and his protection. (Psalm 34:7).

Gen 32:2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. Host is a Hebrew word "machaneh" which is camp. Mahanaim = two camps. Jacob has a camp (with God), and God has a camp with the angels. (Psalm 34:7, 148:2). 

Gen 32:3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. God has the angels for His messengers; Jacob has his own messengers which he sent ahead hoping for reconciliation with Esau. 

Gen 32:4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: Note Jacobs humble approach and message to be sent to Esau calling him lord and himself a servant.

Gen 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. Jacob trying to gain favor with Esau. 

Gen 32:6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. This isn't what Jacob wanted to hear. A small army doesn't sound like a reception comitee.

Gen 32:7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; Jacob was about to take some precautions here. He divides his household into two groups. Do you think he got the idea from verse two? (Two camps, two groups).   

Gen 32:8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. Jacob's plan here is that if one group is attacked, the other group may escape.

Gen 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: Jacob turns to prayer and remembers what God told him. (His prayer acknowledges both Elohim and Yahveh). 

Gen 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Jacob not only acknowledges God, but he shows humility "I am not worthy," for all that God has blessed him with. (Always be thankful for the things you have, but remember, when God blesses you, don't get on an ego trip thinking you did it yourself). Know that you were "not worthy," but because of God's grace, He has blessed you. (1 Peter 5:10).

Gen 32:11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. With = Hebrew "upon," as though sons slain and mothers falling on them.

Gen 32:12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. Reminding God of his promise made to him. (Genesis 28:13-15). God wants you to remind Him of His promise. (Isaiah 43:26). It not only keeps Him in remembrance of you, but it keep you in remembrance of Him.

Gen 32:13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; Getting ready to make his brother an offer he can't refuse. (A little strategy will be used here).

Gen 32:16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. Part of the strategy here is to deliver the animals in small groups and to keep distance between the herds.

Gen 32:20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. Continuing with his strategy here trying to appease Esau by sending him gifts in secret. (Proverbs 21:14).

Gen 32:21 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company. The gifts were sent ahead, now lets see what happens. 

Gen 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. Jabbok in Hebrew is "yabboq" meaning "pouring forth," a river east of the Jordan.

Gen 32:23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. Jacob took his family and all his possessions to the other side of the river. He remained there. 

Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. a Man, Hebrew "iysh" called "God" an "Angel," and Yahveh Elohim. (Hosea 12:4-5). Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us. (Hosea 12:4). Jacob wrestled with the Angel and won where he met God face to face. (Genesis 32:9-12) Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. (Hosea 12:5). His memorial name Jehovah (Yahveh).

Gen 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. Jacob must have been a tough cookie because he was winning the match. Even though the angel could have crippled Jacob earlier, he wanted to see what Jacob was made of and gave him a chance to make a choice. If God ever cripples (weakens) one of his children, it is for a reason. Sometimes we need to be reminded who is in control. "God is always in control."

Gen 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Jacob was tired and weak, but persistent. He wanted the blessing!   

Gen 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. The Angel knew his name. 

Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Jacob struggled with Laban and now was struggling with God. But, did he prevail? Jacob = contender; used of the natural Jacob and his natural seed. Israel = God commands, orders or rules; used for spiritual Jacob and his spiritual seed. Prince = commander, ordered. Hast thou power = hast thou contended. Jacob had contended with Esau in the womb, and thus got the name Jacob. Prevailed = succeeded. He had contended for the birthright and succeeded. (Genesis 25:29-34). He had contended for the blessing and succeeded. (Genesis 27). He had contended with Laban and succeeded. (Genesis 31). He had contended with "men" and succeeded. Now he contends with God, and fails. Hence his name was changed to Israel, (God commands), to teach him the greatly needed lesson of dependence upon God. (i.e. even though we think are act is together at times, God may need to remind us who is in control). Our dependence needs to be upon God, not man.      

Gen 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. Jacob gets his blessing. 

Gen 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Peniel, Hebrew for "God's face." Life = soul, Hebrew (nephesh). See appendix 13. 

Gen 32:31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. The sun was rising and Jacob was limping away because of his hip injury. (The sign that it is God who commands, and has real power to overcome).

Gen 32:32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. Sinew "giyd" the ligament of the hip. (Even today the people of Israel don't eat the tendon near the hip socket because of what happened that night when the Man strained the tendon of Jacob's hip).   

Gen 33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. Esau is coming so Jacob divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and his two servant wives.

Gen 33:2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. Lines up the family of importance to him in case of escape. 

Gen 33:3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. Jacob went ahead to meet his brother.

Gen 33:4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. Esau sees him coming and runs to him, greeting him with a hug and a kiss. 

Gen 33:5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. 

Gen 33:8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. Esau curious about all the flocks and herds Jacob brought for gifts. 

Gen 33:9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.  

Gen 33:10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. To accept a present from an inferior was a customary pledge of friendship; but returning it implied disaffection. It was on this ground that Jacob was so urgent with Esau to receive his present. 

Gen 33:11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. Jacob asking Esau to take his blessing. Hmmm. Remember about twenty years ago, Jacob had taken Esau's blessing. Now he wants Esau to take his blessing. (Returning the favor possibly). 

Gen 33:13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. We don't want to push the animals to hard Jacob tells Esau.

Gen 33:14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. Go ahead of us and we will take our time and meet you in Seir. 

Gen 33:15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. Esau wants to give them an escort, but Jacob refuses. Does Jacob have other plans?

Gen 33:16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. Esau returned to Seir.  

Gen 33:17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. Jacob, on the other hand, heads towards Succoth. Located on the east of Jordan, between the brook Jabbok and that river, about 40 miles from Jerusalem, and consequently near Penuel; where a city was afterwards built, which Joshua assigned to the tribe of Gad. 

Gen 33:18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. Later, (approx. 8-10 years), Jacob traveled to Shechem in the land of Canaan. "The city Shechem," which was situated in a narrow valley, abounding with springs, between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim, having the former on the north, and the latter on the south; 10 miles from Shiloh, and 34 from Jerusalem. It became the capital of Samaria, after the ruin of the city of that name. 

Gen 33:19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. Bought a plot of land from Hamor (Shechem's father).  

Gen 33:20 And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel. There Jacob built an altar and named it Elelohe-Israel. Hebrew "el elohey yisrael," meaning "The Mighty God of Israel."

Gen 34:1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. Dinah (meaning justice), was the teenage daughter of Jacob and Leah. (The only girl in the family). Having only brothers, she wanted to meet some female friends in the area.  

Gen 34:2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. The local prince Shechem (son of Hamor), saw Dinah, took her, and raped her.

Gen 34:3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. Shechem (after raping Dinah), decides he is in love with her and tries to win her affection.

Gen 34:4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. Now Shechem demands to his father that he wants Dinah for his wife. (Sounds like a spoiled little brat).  

Gen 34:5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. Jacob finds out Shechem raped his daughter. With his sons out in the fields, Jacob was alone and held his peace till they returned. 

Gen 34:6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. Now Hamor (Shechem's father), goes to talk with Jacob about the matter.

Gen 34:7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. The brothers of Dinah found out what happened and were furious that their little sister was raped by a Canaanite. (Remember, the Canaanites were immoral people and very bad news). "Many like them in our society today."

Gen 34:8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. Hamor speaks to Jacob and his sons about Shechem being in love with Dinah. Now he wants them to give permission for his son to marry her. 

Gen 34:9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. Now Hamor wants to do a little horse trading, only with the girls.

Gen 34:10 And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein. Kind of a condition for peace if he gives in to Hamor's proposal.

Gen 34:11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. Now Shechem offer anything just to marry Dinah.

Gen 34:12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. I will give you anything you ask for the young girl. (This guy was really hooked on this girl). As for the brothers of Dinah, I wonder what they were really thinking?

Gen 34:13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: The brothers weren't to happy with Shechem and responded deceitfully. (Kind of like Jacob's own character).  

Gen 34:14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: Now the brothers have a plan of their own.   

Gen 34:15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised; If every man among you will be circumcised like us;

Gen 34:16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. then we will swap daughters and live among you and become one people.

Gen 34:17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. However, if you do not agree, we will take Dinah and be on our way. 

Gen 34:18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. Hamor and Shechem agree to the proposal.

Gen 34:19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father. Shechem wasted no time in acting on this request because he wanted Jacob's daughter desperately. (He was ready to drop his drawers right there and be circumcised).  

Gen 34:20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, Shechem goes to the leaders at the town gate with his father Hamor to present the proposal.

Gen 34:21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. Bringing their proposal to the town leaders and making it sound so good. 

Gen 34:22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. Here's the catch... They will only stay among us if all of our men are circumcised as they are. 

Gen 34:23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. But, if we do, it will be very profitable. They have lots of livestock and possessions that will eventually be ours. The ways of the world... (Women, wealth, power).

Gen 34:24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. The proposal sounded so good that every male in the town was circumcised. (What a bunch of dummies). Again, thinking with the wrong head. 

Gen 34:25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. Payback time! While theses guys were healing up from the circumcision, Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, (Dinah's full brothers), took their swords and slaughtered every male there. 

Gen 34:26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. Then they finally got revenge by killing Hamor and Shechem with the sword, rescuing Dinah from Shechem's house.

Gen 34:27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. Then all the boys arrived and plundered the town because their sister had been defiled.

Gen 34:29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. They took it all, including their women and children as captives. 

Gen 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. Jacob tells Simeon and Levi, "You have ruined me!" Your revenge has caused the whole family problems now. The Canaanites (descendants of the Nephilim), and Perizzites will join forces and crush us, and wipe us out for what you have done. 

Gen 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot? But the two brothers tell Jacob; "should we let them treat our sister like a prostitute?" Well they both have a good point, but Jacob is right here. Perhaps the boys went a little overboard here. They could have asked Hamor and the the city to punish Shechem for raping their sister, but they took matters in their own hands and made things worse. Paul would tell us in the book of Romans to let God handle vengeance. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19). Never take revenge on others, especially if you are a true Christian. Leave the revenge to God. If someone messes with one of God's children, He will take care of them. (Hebrews 10:30), Vengeance belongs to the Lord and He will judge His people (Deuteronomy 32:35-36). Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. (Romans 12:20). Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21). Never let evil conquer you. That is what Satan wants, then he has you. Always conquer evil by doing good. However, Never be a doormat or victim to anyone. If someone attacks you or your family, "take care of business." (We all have the right to defend ourselves).