What I Noticed Today (Genesis 32-34)
Genesis 32
Chapter 32 recounts Jacob’s journey back to his native land, and his preparations for reuniting with his brother Esau.
In verses 1-23, Jacob prepares to be reunited with his brother Esau:
- Angels appear to Jacob a second time (Genesis 28:12). He called the place God’s camp and named it Mahanaim (meaning “Two Camps”).
- Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to the land of Seir, where his brother Esau lived with a message that he was returning with many flocks, herds, and servants hoping to secure the favor of Esau.
- Messengers returned to Jacob, saying Esau was on his way to meet them with 400 men.
- Jacob was afraid and distressed, so he divided his group into two, thinking if Esau attacks one group (or camp), the other group (or camp) can escape.
- Then Jacob prayed to the God of Abraham and God of my father Isaac, who told him to return to his land and promised to prosper him. He referred to himself as God’s servant, not worthy of God’s kindness and faithfulness, and asked God to rescue him from the hand of Esau.
- The next morning Jacob separated a large herd of animals for his brother Esau and instructed his servants to take them ahead of him and present them to Esau as a gift. He divided them into three groups, one in front of the other each to present their animals as a gift with the message from Jacob.
Note: Jacob tells the servants to refer to Esau as lord, and himself as Esau’s servant.
- Jacob felt after receiving these gifts, Esau might be willing to forgive him.
- That night as the gift was sent ahead, Jacob gathered his wives and family and sent them across the ford at Jabbok.
Note: The Jabbok was a small tributary that led to the Jordan River north of the Dead Sea. Jacob may have thought this offered his family another layer of protection from Esau.
In verses 24-32, Jacob wrestles with a Man at Peniel:
- Jacob was alone, and a man came and wrestled (fought) with him until morning. When the man saw, he could not defeat Jacob; he touched Jacob’s hip and dislocated it. Then he told Jacob to let him go.
- Jacob refused to let the Man go until He blessed him.
- The Man told Jacob his name was no longer Jacob, but “Israel” because he had struggled with God and men and prevailed.
- Jacob asked the Man His name. The man refused but blessed Israel.
- Jacob named the place “Peniel” (Peniel means “Face of God”), saying he had seen God face to face and been delivered.
Note: Some translations say, Penuel. Penuel and Peniel are variations of the same word.
Genesis 33
Chapter 33 recounts the initial reunion of Jacob with his brother Esau.
In verses 1-17, Jacob reconciles with Esau:
- Jacob looked up, and Esau was coming toward him with 400 men.
- He divided the children among Leah, Rachel, Billah, and Zilpah. He put Billah and Zilpah and their children out first, then Leah and her children, then Rachel and her children.
- But Jacob went out first to meet Esau and bowed down to him seven times as he met him.
- But Esau ran to meet Jacob, hugged and kissed him, and they wept.
- Jacob introduced the entire family to Esau.
- Esau inquired as to the meaning of the procession he had met (the servants with gifts). Jacob explained he hoped to obtain the favor of his brother. At first, Esau refused to say he had enough, but Jacob was insistent, and eventually, Esau accepted the gift.
Note: Jacob’s comment that seeing Esau’s face was like seeing God’s face suggests Jacob realized that God had once again delivered him from harm.
- Esau suggested they move on and said he would go before Jacob.
- Jacob declined to go with Esau saying the women and animals cannot move that fast.
- Referring to Esau again as lord, Jacob suggested Esau go on ahead, and they would follow at a slower pace and meet up in Seir.
- That day Esau headed back to Seir.
- But Jacob headed to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and stalls for his animals.
Note: Seir was south, but Jacob headed a few miles north to Succoth east of the Jordan River. The word used for “stalls” indicates these were temporary stalls for livestock.
In verses 18-20, Jacob journeys on and settles near Shechem:
- Jacob completed his journey arriving safely in Canaan near the city of Shechem.
- He purchased a portion of a field from the sons of Hamor.
- He set up an altar and called it “El Elohe Israel” or “God, the God of Israel.”
Note: Shechem is between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, where Abraham first camped when he entered Canaan.
Note: Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, but he is still being referred to as Jacob because his character has not yet changed to reflect his new name.
Note: Jacob was told by God to go to Bethel (Genesis 31:12), which was another 20 miles. Instead, he buys land that God had promised to give him.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- Jacob is willing to deceive others to advance what he believes is what God has promised.
- One minute he is praying to God asking for His help and protection, and the next minute he is making his own plans. He does not seem to have the faith to trust that God will protect and provide as He has promised.
- As a believer, you cannot manipulate, lie, and deceive people and think that it is acceptable.
Genesis 34
In verses 1-34, Dinah, Jacob’s daughter through Leah, is raped by a Canaanite prince:
- Dinah went to visit some of the women who lived nearby.
Note: Dinah was the only girl among all of Jacob’s children. She may have visited the nearby women simply because she wanted companionship.
- Shechem, the son of Hamor (the same Hamor that sold Jacob the field), saw Dinah and raped her. He became infatuated with her, loved her, spoke tenderly to her, and asked his father Hamor to get her as his wife.
- Jacob heard what Shechem had done but didn’t do anything immediately because his sons were in the field.
- When Jacob’s sons returned from the field and found out what happened, they were outraged because such a thing should not be done.
- Hamor told Jacob’s sons that his son Shechem wanted to marry Dinah. Hamor proposed they allow intermarriage between the clans. In that way, Jacob could settle in the land and acquire more property.
- Shechem offered to pay whatever bride price Jacob demanded.
- Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and Hamor deceitfully, saying they could not intermarry unless their men were circumcised. If they agreed to be circumcised, then they would agree to give each other’s daughters in marriage, and become one people.
- Hamor and Shechem thought it sounded reasonable to be circumcised because they thought eventually they would acquire all of Jacob’s possessions.
- All the men, including Hamor and Shechem, were circumcised.
- On the third day, when they were still in pain from the circumcision, Simeon and Levi (Dinah’s brothers) got their swords and killed every male in the city.
- They killed Hamor and Shechem and took Dinah from Shechem’s house.
- The rest of Jacob’s brothers plundered the entire city, taking all their possessions, cattle, wives, and children.
- Jacob was angry with Simeon and Levi. Because of their actions, he knew he might face retribution from the Canaanites and Perizzites, who lived in the land. If they banded together, Jacob and his household would be destroyed.
- Simeon and Levi’s only response was to defend their sister’s honor in not allowing her to be treated like a prostitute.
Note: Rape was certainly a criminal act, but not one that warranted the murder of all the men, the plunder of the city, and the taking of all the wives and children. Simeon and Levi will be cursed by Jacob for their actions (Genesis 49:5-7).
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
