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GENESIS – LESSON FOURTEEN
I. Jacob and Laban (Genesis 29-
A. Jacob arrives in Haran (29: 1-
1. Jacob meets Rachel as she has come to the covered well to water her father’s sheep.
2. Jacob kisses Rachel and weeps.
3. Rachel runs to tell Laban of Jacob, Rebekah’s son.
4. Laban gladly receives Jacob and Jacob abides for a month.
B. Jacob’s double marriage to Laban’s daughters (29:15-
1. Jacob works seven years for Laban to marry his youngest daughter, Rachel.
a. Rachel is beautiful and well-
b. Because of the love Jacob had for Rachel, his seven years of work seemed to him to be just a few days.
2. Laban deceives Jacob by giving his eldest daughter Leah to him as his wife.
a. Leah’s eyes are tender in contrast to Rachel’s beauty.
b. Laban appeals to custom to justify giving eldest daughter Leah to wife first.
3. Jacob works seven more years when given Rachel to be his wife.
C. Birth of Jacob’s children (29:31-
1. Jacob’s first four sons with Leah – Rachel is barren .
a. Reuben
b. Simeon
c. Levi
d. Judah
2. Jacob’s sons with Rachel’s handmaid, Bilhah:
a. Dan
b. Naphtali
3. Jacob’s sons with Leah’s handmaid, Zilpah:
a. Gad
b. Asher
4. Jacob’s sons and daughter with Leah – after she bargained with Rachel to be Jacob when Rachel wanted the mandrakes, or “love apples” Reuben had gathered.
a. Issachar
b. Zebulun
c. Dinah
5. Jacob’s son with Rachel:
a. Joseph
D. Laban’s new bargain with Jacob (20:25-
1. Laban did not want to grant Jacob’s request to leave because he knew through divination that God had blessed him through Jacob.
2. Laban agrees with Jacob over spotted sheep and separates them from the rest of his flock.
E. Jacob’s artifice: use rods pealed showing white streaks (30:37-
1. Flocks conceived before the rods producing the ring streaked, speckled and spotted lambs
2. Jacob lays the rods before the stronger of the stock when they conceive.
F. Jacob’s flight from Padan-
1. Jacob informs Rachel and Leah of why they must leave: Laban’s attitude towards Jacob has changed.
2. Rachel steals teraphim from Laban’s tent.
3. Jacob leads his family and carries possessions towards the mountain of Gilead.
G. Laban’s pursuit and covenant with Jacob (31:22-
1. Laban accuses Jacob of stealing and searches the tents of Jacob.
2. Jacob angrily responds to Laban’s accusations.
3. Laban desires to make a covenant with Jacob
a. Jacob sets up stones
b. Called: “heap of witness,” “watch tower”
c. Each not to pass over to hurt the other.
.
QUESTIONS:
1. Who were “the people of the east” and where did Jacob meet them?
2. Describe the emotions running through Jacob when he saw Rachel?
3. What did “love” cause Jacob to do in order to have Rachel as his wife? What does “love” cause him to think in regards to time?
4. Did Laban do right or wrong in giving Leah to Jacob instead of Rachel?
5. Jacob worked another seven years before being united in marriage to Rachel. (T) (F).
6. Show how the names given to Jacob’s children reflect what is taken place in the home of Jacob and his two wives: Leah and Rachel.
7. Why did Rachel want the “mandrakes” Reuben had gathered, and what reaction did Leah manifest?
8. What was Jacob’s daughter’s name? Who was her mother?
9. How had Laban come to the conclusion that he had been blessed through Jacob?
10. What does this say about the religious concepts being manifested in Laban and his family in this area of the east?
11. What bargain did Laban make with Jacob regarding his flocks?
a. What did Laban see that made him agree ?
b. What did Jacob see?
c. How did Laban react to this bargain as the flocks grew?
12. Give the reasons for Jacob telling his wives that they must leave their homeland?
13. How do Leah and Rachel react to Jacob’s plans of leaving their father?
14. Why did Rachel steal the “teraphim” from her father’s tent?
15. How far away did Jacob and his family travel before their confrontation with Laban ?
16. How did God protect Jacob from Laban’s wrath?
17. How did Rachel hide the teraphim from the searching eyes of her father?
18. Do you think Jacob’s wrath filled chiding of Laban was justified?
19. Do you think any of the worries of Laban concerning Jacob that were reflected in the covenant were justified?
20. What nice thing could you say if someone asked you about Laban? What truth would you say regarding Laban if someone asked you concerning his character who was about to enter a business arrangement with him?