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"Laban said to him, 'Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.'" (NIV)
is our quote for this outing, see link below.
1 - 8
Overview: Jacob travels 'to the land of the sons of the east', and runs into some sheep herders that move a big rock to get to a well. And they spend some time discussing that.
Observation: It is hard for us to think of the large rock over the well without thinking about the large rocks that were over the tomb of Lazarus, and then the one over Christ's. While there is some meaning in the similarity, that's all there it is. The herdsmen moved the rock at least once a day, and it took all of them. For Lazarus, Jesus told the locals to move it, and they did, and, eventually, Lazarus was put back in there. The rock on Christ's tomb, that was sealed and guarded by the Romans, was opened without human intervention, so the Apostles would know that The Living Water wasn't there any more, and HE was never put back in it.
9 - 12
Rachel arrives (the name is the same in Hebrew and English), and apparently Jacob falls hard for her.
13 - 30
Summary: Jacob works seven years for a bride, but doesn't notice when she is brought to him that it's the wrong girl, who has a maidservant in tow, so he has to work another seven years for the one he wants. And then he sticks around for yet another seven years.
Comment: Many have pointed out that Jacob gets all upset about the deception, verse 25, and yet, he's there precisely because of a similar deception.
31 - 35
Summary: Leah has kids, and their names mean stuff. Rachel's 'womb is closed' by YHWH because he favors Rachel over her sister, but is 'getting busy' with Leah anyway.
Reuben ( 'see- a son', name is the same in Hebrew) is the first of the Sons of Jacob (later named Israel).
Next was Shimon (Simeon, means 'heard').
Third was Levi ('to join' / attached).
Fourth is Yehudah (Judah: means 'celebrated')
- end 29 -
Chapter 30
1 - 8
Summary: Rachel is upset because her sister has produced a basketball team. She nags Jacob, who gets angry with her, then she sends her maidservant in to take her place and bear children for her. And they have names, and their names mean stuff
First is Dan (same in English, means 'judge').
Then is Naphtali (same, 'my wrestling' (explained in verse 8)).
9 - 13
Summary: Leah wants more kids by her own servant, and... some of their names mean stuff....
First by Zilpah is Gad (Gad, has no meaning other than as a name)
Then Asher (same, means 'happy')
14 - 21
Summary: There is a discussion about "duday" (mandrakes), a group of medicinal plants of the nightshade family, thought to have aphrodisiac properties because the roots often resemble the human body, or hands. In reality, like other nightshades, some types of mandrake are highly toxic, and even a small amount of any part of the plant can kill. Others can act as a sedative, and some have addictive narcotic and hallucinogenic properties.
And, contrary to the old wives tale (and a popular series of books about a child wizard), no nightshade, including the mandrake (there are several plants with the name) 'screams' when it is pulled out of the ground. See links below for more.
In any case, mandrake, roots and / or plants, are involved, Jacob spends the night with Leah, and ...
"Yissaskar" (Issachar, means 'he will bring reward').
Zebulun (same, 'habitiation')
And A DAUGHTER! Named Dinah (same, 'justice')
22 - 24
Summary: YHWH remembers Rachel's plea, she has a son
Yoseph (Joseph, means 'add / to add / let him add / etc)
The text says that the name was because God had taken away her "cherpah" (shame / disgrace / insult / reproach / etc). Then she says that YHWH shall give her another son.
25 - 26
Summary: After the birth of Joseph, Jacob asks his wife's father to 'send me away', with my wives and kids.
Again, Laban, is still in charge. And it is he who Jacob is working for.
27 - 28
Analysis: Laban's answer is interesting. He uses the word "nachash" (divination / the reading of signs / etc) that YHWH has blessed him because of Jacob. Then he tells Jacob to 'name your price.'
We don't know what sort of divination he used. It is known that in the area at the time, everything from astrology based on long term observation of the stars, to the reading of smoke from altars and incense, to the general observation of nature, animals and clouds. And then came the somewhat more gruesome practice of reading the entrails of a slaughtered animal, something that survived into our own recent history.
It is known that seers, such as the one with the tree near where Abram stopped at the campground in Genesis 12 : 6, which may be the same place that is named in Judges 9: 37, the gentleman that owned the tree is said to be a 'soothsayer', which is one that interprets the signs to discern the will of whatever gods were in play at the time.
29 - 36
Summary: Jacob's answer is, essentially; you know how long I've worked, and what all I've done, and how wealthy I've made you because YHWH has been looking out for me.
Laban replies that he knows all this, but still, what does Jacob want Laban to give him?
Jacob's reply is that he doesn't want a gift. Instead, he's going to go shopping for all the 'off color' sheep and goats from the flocks. Which is what he does, then he tells the boys to pack up and move a three days journey away while Jacob still takes care of the rest of Laban's animals.
Now, between there and the next few verses, Time Passes. We don't know how much.
37 - 26
Discussion: Depending on the sources you look at, you may come across a statement that almond tree leaves and seeds of almond trees can induce cyanide poisoning in livestock. Or that putting green twigs in water makes an herbal tea that can influence an animal's fertility. And on and on.
That's missing the point. The ewes were already in heat, in a herd of mammals, the fertility cycle of the females will begin to come in sync. When they came to drink, they found something besides water in the trough and stood there long enough eating that the rams could do their thing. The rest of it was up to GOD, as we find out when Jacob retells the story later.
We also see a bit of deceit from Jacob in his selective breeding program so that he would get the stronger lambs.
- end 30 -
Chapter 31
1 - 9
Summary: Jacob hears some local gossip that Laban's sons aren't happy with the way he ran the herd, and he sees that Laban himself is angry with him... and they have good reason.
So YHWH gives some advice to Jacob. Essentially, 'get out of town while the getting is good'.
Jacob tells his wives that he can tell their father is ... 'upset' ...
Then he goes on about how Laban has 'changed his wages ten times', even though Jacob has worked for him 'with all my might', but God didn't allow Laban to hurt him.
Then we have a sheep story that is somewhat different in details from the one in the previous chapter, including that GOD has "taken away" Laban's animals. But, with all that has happened, there's no way to verify either. So we are left with the reasonable assumption that there has been plenty of shady practices from both parties. Something that comes out a bit later in the drama.
10 - 16
Summary: Then Jacob relays the details of the dream he had that inspired the stunt with the sheep and the branches in the troughs and the 'sheep of a different color'.
He recounts that once again YHWH had spoken to him and reminded him about the stone at Bethel and the promise that he would return, and Jacob's own vow. And then, again, God told him to "exit stage left".
Both wives tell Jacob that their father has, essentially, sold them off for cash and disowned them and their children. Then they tell Jacob to go ahead and do whatever God told him to do.
17 - 18
Summary: They pack up and go.
19
when "Laban" "halak" (went / had gone / proceeded / etc) "gazaz" (cut off / shear / shave) "tson" (flock sheep / goats), "ganab" (steal / stole) "Rachel" "teraphim" (idols / gods (especially of a personal or family nature)) 'that were' her "ab" (father's).
This is the first indication that maybe the house of Laban weren't believers in YHWH after all. Or, just as likely, they, or at least Laban, were polytheists and had a whole slew of gods for one thing or another. Remember earlier Laban said he used divination to learn that YHWH was with Jacob, so he was at least somewhat familiar with Jacob's, and Isaac's, and Abram's, God.
So why did he have idols in the house? Well, according to Jewish tradition (and every Sunday School class ever taught about Abram/Abraham), Terah (sometimes spelled "Terach") was an idol maker. But, hold on.....
That is not stated in Genesis, or anywhere else in the OT or NT, including the discussion about Abraham in Hebrews 11. Joshua 24 only says that Terah "served other gods", which is not mentioned in Genesis. See links below for the sources: a "midrash" (study / commentary) from around 400 AD, or later. It is also mentioned in the Book of Jubilee, written about 130 - 100 BC, see chapters 11 and 12. We also have a link to a Jewish document posted in October of 2024, "13 Facts You Should Know About Terah" which repeats them again. And you may do the search for the innumerable other pages that spend a lot of time quoting each other without any authoritative ancient source listed at your leisure.
20 - 21
Let's look at this part like this: ....
In 1984, the owner of the Baltimore NFL team hired a moving company to come in and relocate the team offices, all the player's gear, and everything else, from their quarters in Maryland to Indianapolis, and to do so during non-business hours!:
"had the movers 'pack up the team’s offices in Owings Mills, Maryland, in the middle of the night, while the city of Baltimore slept.' "
See link below.
Jacob did basically the same thing... without the semi-trucks.
22 - 24
Summary: Laban finds out three days later. He calls up his brothers and they take off in pursuit.
When Laban overtakes Jacob, YHWH appears to Laban in a dream and tells him to take heed of what he says to Jacob.
25
Summary: Jacob makes it to Gilead while Laban is hot on his heels.
Gilead is traditionally identified as the fertile hill country east of the Jordan River and south of the Sea of Galilee around the Yarmouk River, and the valleys just south of it.
26 - 29
Summary: Laban accuses Jacob of kidnapping his daughters. Then he says that if Jacob had told him he would have thrown a bon voyage party with music and dancing. Instead, he never even got to say goodbye.
Then Laban says he has it in his power to 'do you' "ra" (evil / harm / bad / etc), but the God of his father told him to "be careful", and not to speak either "towb" (good / pleasant / kindly / etc) or "ra" (bad / etc) to him.
30
Summary: Now Laban comes to the point. He says he knows Jacob is homesick, but...
"mah" (why) "ganab" (steal / thieving) my "elohim / elowahh" (god / gods)?
31 and 32
Summary: Jacob tells Laban that he was afraid that Laban would take the women back by force. Then he basically says that he has no idea what Laban is talking about.
The text specifically points out that Jacob didn't know that his favorite wife had stolen them.
33 - 35
Summary: Laban searches high and low, but Rachel has moved them into a saddle bag on her camel, and sat on them.
Rachel then tells her father that she can't get up to greet him because she's menstruating.
33 - 42
Summary: Jacob is ticked off and makes a speech.
Much of what has already been brought up, is brought up again. Including Jacobs working for his wives and his sheep, and the change of wages, and all the rest of it. Jacob asks for a trial by jury, then appeals to God.
43
Summary: Laban says that everything there, people, animals, stuff, is all his, and he can do what he wants to with his daughters and their kids.
Discussion: Laban's answer is interesting given what he had said before about how he had been blessed by God because of Jacob back in chapter 30 at verse 27.
44
Summary: but then all of the sudden, Laban has something of a change of heart, and wants a "berith" (treaty / covenant) between them.
It could be that he remembered what God said before the pleasant exchange between the two of them.
45 - 49
Summary: so Jacob sets up another standing stone, and Laban's brothers make a pile of rocks, and they have a meal, and there's several names for the place, which we'll come back to, so that YHWH will watch between them when they go their separate ways.
The name of the place from Laban is "Jegar Sahadutha" while Jacob calls it "Galed" (Galeed / galed) both mean the same thing: 'heap of testimony'. Jacob also called it "Mitspah" (Mizpah) which means 'may God watch between us'.
50 - 52
In an odd twist, Laban then threatens Jacob that if he...
"anah" (oppresses / afflict / deal harshly with / etc) my daughters, that even if there is no man between them, 'Elohim (God) is witness.
Then he points to the pile of rocks and pillar that are witness of the border between them that he won't cross to cause Jacob harm.
53
Word for word:
The 'Elohim (GOD) of Abraham, and the 'elohim (gods) of Nahor, 'may they' "shaphat" (judge / vindicate / punish / etc) "bayin" (between / among) us, 'elohim of their "ab" (father).
Discussion: We don't know who made this statement. Remember, in the Hebrew, the story is one long block of text with precious few punctuation or breaks. It could have been at the end of Laban's speech. Or it could begin Jacob's oath. And it makes sense either way. And when you come right down to it, it doesn't matter which man said it.
(the verse continues) And "shaba" ('take an oath' / swore) Jacob by the "pachad" (terror / dread / fear ("an overwhelming sense of alarm provoked either by imminent danger", see link below) of his "ab" (father) Isaac.
54 - 55
Paraphrase: Jacob offers a sacrifice on the mountain, they have a feast with everybody, and a camp out. Then in the morning Laban kisses and blesses everybody, but Jacob, and leaves.
- end 31 -
References and links: Outside links will open in new tab/window.
The Interlinear: Hebrew - English https://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/29.htm
the New International Version https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2029&version=NIV
Mandrakes from the NIH:
"...Mandrake's use as a surgical anaesthetic was first described by the Greek physician Dioscorides around AD 60 ..." https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC539425/
"Magical, Mystical and Medicinal: Mandrake – The Scream of Death" https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/magical-mystical-and-medicinal/mandrake
"The Practice of Divination in the Ancient Near East - Ancient Near Eastern cultic rituals located the presence of gods and divine messages in nature." https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-practice-of-divination-in-the-ancient-near-east
The academic paper linked here will open as a readable and printable ---- 360 page PDF!: "Divination and Interpretation of Signs in the Ancient World" https://isac.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/shared/docs/ois6.pdf
The Midrash (Biblical commentary) that mentions the occupation of Abraham's father:
"The Bereshith or Genesis Rabba"
... "Terah, the father of Abraham and Haran, was a dealer in images as well as a worshiper of them..."
https://sacred-texts.com/jud/mhl/mhl05.htm
"And the child began to understand the errors of the earth that all went astray after graven images and after uncleanness, and his father taught him writing, and he was two weeks of years old, and he separated himself from his father, that he might not worship idols with him."
The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament https://www.pseudepigrapha.com/jubilees/11.htm The Book Of Jubilees, chapter 11
"13 Facts You Should Know About Terah" https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/6628852/jewish/13-Facts-You-Should-Know-About-Terah.htm
On a more modern note:
"Moving from one place to another is never easy, but depending on the move, you might get a good story to tell later. Such was the case on March 28, 1984, when the Baltimore Colts made a surprise move overnight to Indianapolis. Former team owner Robert Irsay, father of current owner Jim Irsay, and former Indianapolis Mayor William “Bill” Hudnut were behind the 600-mile move, which came with no public announcement.The extended meaning of 'pachad' (dread....) https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6343.htm
In fact, it was a big, fat secret...."
www.wishtv.com/sports/ https://www.wishtv.com/sports/indianapolis-colts/march-28-1984-when-the-colts-ditched-baltimore-and-moved-to-indy-overnight/
The Genesis Study Index Page
NOTE: The Bible Study Lesson presented above is posted as a reference document to begin a conversation of the topic. And that's it. Please accept it at such.
http://centralparkchurchofchrist.org
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