GENESIS: Snoopy's Short & Snappy Review
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paradox3
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Hello again as we take a look at Genesis 30.
Snoopy's Snappy Review:
Eight new puppies (actually babies) arrive. How fun is that? One sire and four dams are involved.
www.biblegateway.com
Rachel is despairing because she is still childless. She demands Jacob give her a baby or she will die. He responds with anger. It's all up to God, right?
Rachel gives him her maid, Bilbah, as a wife. Bilbah bears two sons and Rachel names them.
Leah, who already has four sons, has stopped conceiving. So she gives Jacob her servant, Zilpah, as a wife. Zilpah also bears two sons and Leah names them.
Reuben, Leah's son, goes out and finds some mandrake plants at the time of the wheat harvest. Rachel asks for the mandrakes and tells Leah she should sleep with Jacob that night.
Leah bears two more sons followed by a daughter. Finally God allows Rebecca to become pregnant and she gives birth to Joseph.
Jacob proposes taking his wives and children back to Canaan but Laban persuades him to stay longer. Jacob negotiates payment in the form of all the speckled and spotted goats and sheep in the flocks. The dark colored lambs will be his as well.
Laban tricks Jacob once again by removing these animals and giving them to his sons. Jacob turns the tables by successfully breeding mottled animals of his own. He uses animal husbandry techniques involving peeled branches of trees.
Jacob prospers and owns large flocks, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.
Snoopy's Snappy Review:
Eight new puppies (actually babies) arrive. How fun is that? One sire and four dams are involved.
Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 30 - New English Translation
When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children, she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children or I’ll die!” Jacob became furious with Rachel and exclaimed, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” She replied, “Here is my servant Bilhah...
Rachel is despairing because she is still childless. She demands Jacob give her a baby or she will die. He responds with anger. It's all up to God, right?
Rachel gives him her maid, Bilbah, as a wife. Bilbah bears two sons and Rachel names them.
Leah, who already has four sons, has stopped conceiving. So she gives Jacob her servant, Zilpah, as a wife. Zilpah also bears two sons and Leah names them.
Reuben, Leah's son, goes out and finds some mandrake plants at the time of the wheat harvest. Rachel asks for the mandrakes and tells Leah she should sleep with Jacob that night.
Leah bears two more sons followed by a daughter. Finally God allows Rebecca to become pregnant and she gives birth to Joseph.
Jacob proposes taking his wives and children back to Canaan but Laban persuades him to stay longer. Jacob negotiates payment in the form of all the speckled and spotted goats and sheep in the flocks. The dark colored lambs will be his as well.
Laban tricks Jacob once again by removing these animals and giving them to his sons. Jacob turns the tables by successfully breeding mottled animals of his own. He uses animal husbandry techniques involving peeled branches of trees.
Jacob prospers and owns large flocks, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.
paradox3
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Were the mandrakes and peeled tree branches effective as fertility aids, do you think? Some commentators suggest the people were engaged in superstitious thinking. And God bestowed the pregnancies on both the women and the animals.
So far Jacob has eleven sons and one daughter. Rebecca is not quite finished childbearing and will later have Benjamin.
Somehow, I don't think Sunday School ever emphasized that Jacob's twelve sons had four different mothers.
So far Jacob has eleven sons and one daughter. Rebecca is not quite finished childbearing and will later have Benjamin.
Somehow, I don't think Sunday School ever emphasized that Jacob's twelve sons had four different mothers.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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Shades of Hagar? Seems like another recurring motif, eh.
paradox3
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It sure does. I just looked back to Genesis 16 to check the Hagar story. The angel of the Lord directed that Hagar's son be called Ishmael.
BetteTheRed
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I'm struck by the casualness with which the wives dictate the children of their husband's slaves?
I guess it's an early instinct against the negative aspects of incest, especially within small groups?
It's a bit jarring, the actual thought of polygamy, in this context, really, of "ownership". We in the modern western world think we're so sophisticated, yet marital rape was not a crime in Canada until 1983.
I guess it's an early instinct against the negative aspects of incest, especially within small groups?
It's a bit jarring, the actual thought of polygamy, in this context, really, of "ownership". We in the modern western world think we're so sophisticated, yet marital rape was not a crime in Canada until 1983.
BetteTheRed
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It's a strange to me way to frame this. I have been aware of, and quite honestly angry about, the difference in modern western life between the male and the female. It's honestly my earliest resentment.
BetteTheRed
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I grew up in a family of three girls, next to a family of 3 boys, similar ages, The freedom and responsibility differences were stark.
paradox3
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Men were definitely dominant in the Genesis era as we are seeing in these stories.
But I was thinking of the power dynamics within the group of wives and slave wives
paradox3
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Good morning. Here is Genesis 31.
Snoopy's Snappy Review:
An interesting story of the people moving on. What's with stealing the idols?
www.biblegateway.com
Jacob hears that Laban's sons are complaining and God tells him it is time to return to Canaan. Family members gather up all their property which can be moved including the livestock. Rachel takes her father's idols and hides them on her camel.
The family takes off without informing Laban. Three days later Laban and his relatives set out in pursuit. God warns Laban in a dream to neither bless nor curse Jacob.
Laban overtakes Jacob and searches for the missing idols. He is unable to find them. There is animosity between Laban and Jacob but they come to a truce.
They set up a memorial pillar and surround it with stones. "May the Lord watch between us when we are out of sight of one another" says Laban. Jacob offers a sacrifice and invites his relatives to a meal. They eat the meal and spend the night on the mountain.
Early in the morning, Laban kisses his grandchildren and daughters goodbye and blesses them. Then he departs.
Snoopy's Snappy Review:
An interesting story of the people moving on. What's with stealing the idols?
Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 31 - New English Translation
Jacob’s Flight from Laban - Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich at our father’s expense!” When Jacob saw the look on Laban’s face, he could tell his attitude toward him had changed. The LORD said to Jacob...
Jacob hears that Laban's sons are complaining and God tells him it is time to return to Canaan. Family members gather up all their property which can be moved including the livestock. Rachel takes her father's idols and hides them on her camel.
The family takes off without informing Laban. Three days later Laban and his relatives set out in pursuit. God warns Laban in a dream to neither bless nor curse Jacob.
Laban overtakes Jacob and searches for the missing idols. He is unable to find them. There is animosity between Laban and Jacob but they come to a truce.
They set up a memorial pillar and surround it with stones. "May the Lord watch between us when we are out of sight of one another" says Laban. Jacob offers a sacrifice and invites his relatives to a meal. They eat the meal and spend the night on the mountain.
Early in the morning, Laban kisses his grandchildren and daughters goodbye and blesses them. Then he departs.
paradox3
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When I belonged to CGIT as a teenager, part of our closing ritual was to say:
"May the Lord watch between me and thee, while we are absent one from the other "
Who knew we were quoting Genesis 31: 49?
It's a good example of taking a biblical verse out of context. We certainly weren't taking leave of each other permanently after reaching a truce.
"May the Lord watch between me and thee, while we are absent one from the other "
Who knew we were quoting Genesis 31: 49?
It's a good example of taking a biblical verse out of context. We certainly weren't taking leave of each other permanently after reaching a truce.
paradox3
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Genesis 32 coming right up.
Snoopy"s Snappy Review:
Supernatural encounters today. Very strange!
www.biblegateway.com
As Jacob goes on his way, he is met by angels. These creatures take a message to Esau for him and bring word back.
Jacob uses respectful language and seeks reconciliation with his brother. He offers him a gift of 550 animals (goats, sheep, cattle, camels and donkeys). The 30 female camels also have young ones.
Esau plans to meet Jacob with 400 of his men. Jacob is afraid and upset. He prays to God and hopes Esau will accept him.
Jacob spends the night alone wrestling with a "man". At daybreak this "man" dislocates Jacob's hip socket because the man has been unable to defeat him. No longer will you be called Jacob, the "man" tells him, but Israel. Jacob has fought with God and men and prevailed, he says.
Jacob is blessed but the "man" will not tell Jacob his name.
Snoopy"s Snappy Review:
Supernatural encounters today. Very strange!
Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 32 - New English Translation
Jacob Wrestles at Peniel - So Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim. Jacob sent messengers on ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the region of Edom. He commanded them, “This...
As Jacob goes on his way, he is met by angels. These creatures take a message to Esau for him and bring word back.
Jacob uses respectful language and seeks reconciliation with his brother. He offers him a gift of 550 animals (goats, sheep, cattle, camels and donkeys). The 30 female camels also have young ones.
Esau plans to meet Jacob with 400 of his men. Jacob is afraid and upset. He prays to God and hopes Esau will accept him.
Jacob spends the night alone wrestling with a "man". At daybreak this "man" dislocates Jacob's hip socket because the man has been unable to defeat him. No longer will you be called Jacob, the "man" tells him, but Israel. Jacob has fought with God and men and prevailed, he says.
Jacob is blessed but the "man" will not tell Jacob his name.
paradox3
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This must be the famous story of Jacob wrestling with God, no? The text reads as though the man who doesn't give his name is an angel.
As Jacob prepares to encounter Esau, they have both prospered. I think they are going to meet as equals. It's been a long time. Jacob has been gone for 20 years.
As Jacob prepares to encounter Esau, they have both prospered. I think they are going to meet as equals. It's been a long time. Jacob has been gone for 20 years.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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There's that "Just So Story" element again, eh. Kind of weird reason, though.
Yes, I remember that as an angel, but the text seems to suggest Jacob believed it was The Lord himself. Which is kind of weird though fighting against gods and winning did happen in other ancient mythologies. E.g. in The Iliad, I think Ajax? fought off a deity or two.
paradox3
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If this were a novel, the author would be leaving us in suspense after this chapter. What's going to happen when the brothers come face to face?
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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If it were a premium TV series, the episode would end when they first see each other with a flourish of dramatic music (which is 33:1 so tomorrow's).