Book: [[Genesis]] Next chapter: [[Genesis 29]] # Overview ## v. 1-5: Second blessing of [[Jacob]] - [[Isaac]] summons [[Jacob]] before he departs, and commands him: - not to marry a Canaanite - to take a wife from daughters of [[Laban]] - [[Isaac]] blesses [[Jacob]] for a second time: - "make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples" - "**May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to [[Abraham]]**" ### v. 6-9: [[Esau]]'s new wife - [[Esau]] realizes his Canaanite wives (the [[Hittite]]) are displeasing to his father, and married a daughter of [[Ishmael]] ## v. 10-end: [[Jacob]]'s dream at [[Bethel]] - On his way from [[Beer Sheba]] to [[Aram]] (Haran), [[Jacob]] sets up camp at a town for the night - He puts a stone near his head before falling asleep - While asleep he dreams of [[God]]: > 13 There above [the stone] stood the Lord, and he said: > “I am the Lord, the [[God]] of your father [[Abraham]] and the [[God]] of [[Isaac]]. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. > 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. > 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” - This explains the name of the town [[Bethel]], meaning "house of God" - [[Jacob]] makes a vow: > 20 Then [[Jacob]] made a vow, saying, > “If [[God]] will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear > 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my [[God]]  > 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be [[God]]’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” - Compare [[John 1]]:51, where [[Jesus]] assumes the role of the ladder and removes the geographic necessity # Details ## Outlining [[The Blessing]] We get more and more explicit with the blessing: - In [[Genesis 25]], [[Jacob]] claims the "birthright", which presumably includes [[The Blessing]] of [[Abraham]] - In [[Genesis 27]], [[Jacob]] gets [[Isaac]]'s main blessing, which is very aligned with [[The Blessing]] - [[Isaac]] explicitly blesses [[Jacob]] with [[The Blessing]] - [[Isaac]] gets a direct message from [[God]] with a personal blessing, the most direct reiteration of [[The Blessing]] ## Jacob's conditional vow We've repeatedly seen [[Jacob]] acquire e.g. the birthright and more and more of [[The Blessing]]. Yet the way [[Jacob]] states his vow is oddly conditional -- he doesn't have full faith? Seems like he has a polytheistic mindset here ## The rock - Sleeping with a rock beside head may have been an ancient tradition to keep warm -- the rock would be one that lied in the sun most of the day, so it would emanate heat ## The [[House of God]] - Why [[Bethel]]? The vision illustrates that [[Bethel]] is THE land where [[God]] will meet with people of the Earth - [[God]] is promising to bring [[Jacob]] back to this spot! ## Importance of Land - So far, [[God]] has promised a great blessing, many descendants, and the land of [[Canaan]] - The first two are still quite relevant for us today, but what about the third? - Regardless of modern-day relevance, it is definitely relevant at this point in the story - Compare the [[Garden of Eden]] -- a specific initial location, despite [[God]] commanding man to "fill the whole earth". - Hence, it is consistent with [[God]]'s plans that a location can be a cradle for grander development - As such, modern-day reclamation of [[Canaan]] is no longer necessary as of the [[New Testament]] ## [[Tithe]] # Questions - What exactly is [[Isaac]]'s mindset here? He was upset before and now he's blessing [[Jacob]] again? - How exactly does [[Bethel]] become the "[[House of God]]" later on? - Pouring oil on top of the stone seems like an echo of [[Exodus]]-era [[Aaron]]-priesthood rituals -- is this the first time anointing by oil happens? - No wait, [[Melchizedek]] does it too, right?