The Jabbok River
The Jabbok River. The Hebrew word for “wrestle” is abbaq. This has led many scholars to believe that the Jabbok River (32:22) was named after… Read More »The Jabbok River
The Jabbok River. The Hebrew word for “wrestle” is abbaq. This has led many scholars to believe that the Jabbok River (32:22) was named after… Read More »The Jabbok River
Why was Laban so upset when his household gods were stolen? Household gods (31:30) had a more practical use than just idol worship. They served… Read More »Why was Laban so upset when his household gods were stolen?
Giving servants as gifts to the bride (29:24) was very common in OT times. Doing so provided the newly married woman the help she would… Read More »Giving servants
A father’s blessing (ch. 27) was not just a symbolic gesture. It established the identity of the heir, granting him all the privileges of that… Read More »A father’s blessing
Tents were temporary shelters made of cloth and were often woven from black goat’s hair. The tent was held up by ropes and poles. Most… Read More »Tents
Family ties. Laban took responsibility for his sister Rebekah (24:29-51). Apparently their father, who was still alive, was unable to do so.
Two biblical firsts. The burial of Sarah (23:19) is the first biblical record of a burial. Abraham’s purchase of the burial plot is also the… Read More »Two biblical firsts
Why fight over a well? Wells are of great importance in the hot, dry climates around the world. Because lack of water was a constant… Read More »Why fight over a well?
What is the Negeb? The Negeb (20:1) is a dry area of rolling hills in southern Israel. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived there. Hagar sought… Read More »What is the Negeb?
The city gate was a place where leaders made key decisions (Prov. 31:23; Lam. 5:14). Lot’s presence at the city gate (Gen. 19:1) shows that… Read More »The city gate
Isaac means “he laughs.” When Abraham and Sarah heard that they were going to have a son in their old age, they both laughed (17:17;… Read More »Isaac
Taking servants as wives. It was common in ancient cultures for a married man to take a servant as a wife (16:2). But this was… Read More »Taking servants as wives