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MODULE SEVEN

ISAACJACOB AND ESAU

Study Questions
Answer the following questions (based on the reading), save it and then submit it to the
professor.

1. Who is Eliezer? He is was Abrahams trusted servant who was with Abraham for a
long time, he sent him to find a wife for Isaac (Davis pg. 227)
2. Remember the discussion about the location of Ur (Module 5). Does the location
of the city of Nahor, as given by Davis, influence the location of Ur? Explain your
answer. In module 5 Davis provided a specific location, It is not referenced here.
3. Why was Eliezers journey successful? His journey was successful because he
sought the Lord for guidance with a specific prayer (Davis pg 230)
4. Whose decision was it for Rebekkah to go with Eliezer? It was Rebekkahs
decision to with Eliezer to Palestine and to Marry Isaac(Davis pg 230)
How old was Isaac at Abrahams death? Ishmael?Isaac was 75 years old. Ishmael
was 89 years old.(Davis pg 231) Genesis 16 /21.
5. What does the mentioning of Ishmael and his sons tell us about God? That Gods
kept his promises for both Issac and Ishmael -there was potentially some
reconciliation between Isaac and Ishmael (Davis pg 231).
6. The elder shall serve the younger tells us what about God? God has the
authority to overridded traditional customs for his glory (Davis pg 232)
7. Explain in detail the patriarchal custom of the birthright. The birthright (25:27
34). The eldest son enjoyed particular privileges in the ancient patriarchal
household. During his fathers lifetime he took precedence over his brothers (Gen.
43:33); after his father died, he received a double share of the inheritance (Deut.
21:17) and became head and priest (cf. Exod. 22:29; Num. 8:1417; Deut. 21:17)
of the family. He could lose the rights of primogeniture, however, if he committed
a grave offense: 16 The status of the first-born was thus bound up with
responsibilities and obligations on the one hand, and rights, privileges and
prerogatives on the other, including a double portion of the patrimony. (Davis pg
232)
8. How did Esau feel about his birthright (Heb 12:15-17)? He did not value it (Davis
pg 233)
9. What practical lesson can parents learn from the story of Jacob and Esau? We
should not show favoritism towards our children, it can cause them to become
competitive.
10. When a famine hit the land, what did Isaac do? He received instructions from the
Lord, disobeyed God and did not remain in Canaan, He went to Gerar and
became subject to the same lie that his father did, he lied to Abimelech declaring
Rebekah as his sister, while in tehe valley of Gerar God still blessed him (Davis
pg 233)
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11. What do the weaknesses of Biblical characters tell us about the Bible? That they
are very similar to us not perfect, and we can see ourselves in them and can relate
in various circumstances when it comes to challenges we may be faced with and
despite there imperfection God still uses them.
12. Give another practical lesson to be learned from the story of Jacobs deception of
Isaac. Although the deception was seemingly wrong it was spoken to Rebekah
while the children were in her stomach struggling.
13. Which of the interpretations of Isaacs promise to Esau makes the most sense to
you? The second, however, makes this more of a curse: the Edomites would
inhabit a region less fertile than Canaan. (Davis pg 239)
14. Did Rebekkah ever see Jacob again? Explain your answer Rebekahs explanation
to Isaac of why Jacob should depart was quite different from the truth. She said
she was sending Jacob to Haran because she had wearied of Esaus Hittite wives
and wanted Jacob to marry a woman from her family. Her explanation pleased
Isaac for obvious reasons. Rebekahs deceit had worked, but it meant that she
would never see Jacob again. (Davis pg 239)
15. Discuss the uniqueness of the patriarchs monotheism. The uniqueness of the faith
of the patriarchs sets them apart from their polytheistic background and again
reminds us of the amazing mercy and grace of a loving God. (Davis 240)
16. Describe Jacobs vision and its meaning. Jacob dreamed about a ladder going up
from earth into heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. At the top of
the ladder God was there and he told Jacob about the covenant promise of the
land. Because it soothed Jacobs loneliness in his state of weariness, I believe it
The stairway symbolized the genuine and uninterrupted fellowship between God
in heaven and His people on earth. The angelic messengers reflect Gods constant
care of His own. (Davis pg 244)
17. Bethel means House of God (Davis pg 244)
18. Did Laban adopt Jacob? Explain your answer. Yes. Since the discovery of the
Nuzi documents it has been assumed that Laban adopted Jacob, and that this
defined the working agreement between them and seems to support this
assumption (Davis pg 246)

19. List the children of Jacob and the meaning of their names.
Leah had four sons in rather rapid succession , and the name of each reflected her
state of mind. Reuben (v. 32) means See, a son!; Leah regarded him as a pledge
of Jehovahs favor. Simeon (v. 33) means hearing; the Lord had heard how
much Leah was hated. Levi (v. 34) means attachment; Judah (v. 35), which
comes from a Hebrew root meaning to praise, meant not merely the praised
one, Issachar hired for love Zebulun- to honour" or "to dwell
Dinah vindications - Bilhahs Rachels servant girl - Dan, meaning judgment,
Naphtali, meaning, wrestle Zilpah, Leahs servant girl-Gad, meaning good
fortune Asher, meaning happy- With Rachel Joseph, meaning to take away
or to add Benjamin, meaning son of my pain Jacob, however, called him
Benjamin (son of the right hand). (John J. Davis. Paradise to Prison. 1998)

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20. Are these the only children Jacob had? Explain. Genesis 37:35 and Genesis 46:7
reference the word daughter as daughters
21. What are the possible causes for Labans attitude change toward Jacob? I think
Laban attitude was greed he saw the Gods favor on Jacobs life and because of
Jaconb his wealth increased
22. Define teraphim? symbols which represented a false idol that Laban believed in
23. Who did Jacob wrestle with? Hosea 12: He struggled with the angel and
overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and
talked with him there--
24. What is the meaning of Israel? (Gods fighter 31 or may God strive [for
him] (Davis pg 256)
25. Peniel means to have seen God face to face (Davis pg.255)
26. Describe the events at Bethel when Jacob returned there. Jacob returned to Bethel
and worshiped God. (Davis pg 258)
27. Why does Moses include the descendants of Esau in chapter 36? He includes him
because the relationship between Esau and Jacob, and then between the nations of
Edom and Israel, is a theme of the entire Old Testament. (John J. Davis. Paradise
to Prison. 1998)