Bookmark Daily Bible Reading Calendar By: Ehimwenma E. Aimiuwu – Please LIKE us on Facebook
Genesis 33:
Jacob looked up and Esau was approaching with 400 men. He put the maidservants and their children in front, followed by Leah and her children, and Rachel and Joseph were last. Jacob then went ahead and bowed before Esau 7 times before his brother as the servant bowing to his master. Esau ran to Jacob with the spirit of forgiveness and kissed him. Then all the wives and children of Jacob bowed before Esau, but Esau told Jacob that he had plenty and that Jacob should keep all he had for himself. Esau who was robbed of his blessing and birthright was the master and the one that stole and cheated (Israel) was the servant. The means that those that do evil will always come to bow to the offended in a matter of time. Jacob begged Esau to accept his gifts (550 animals) because Esau’s face was like seeing the face of God, so Esau accepted the gift. Then, they went their separate ways.
Genesis 34:
Dinah, the daughter of Jacob bore by Leah, was defiled by Shechem and he wanted to marry her. Hamor, Shechem’s father, lead a delegation to meet Dinah’s brothers and they agreed on the condition that all the males of Hamor (Shechemites) be circumcised like them or Shechem cannot have Dinah as wife. So the Shechemites went and convinced all their males to be circumcised. Three days later, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, attacked and killed every male among the Shechemites by the sword while they were still in extreme pain from the circumcision. The two brothers also took everything in their city as plunder, including animals, women, and children. Jacob was displeased because the Canaanites may unite and attack them, but the two brothers justified their action because the Shechem treated their sister like a prostitute.
Genesis 35:
God told Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar to him. Jacob told his household to cleanse themselves of all gods so that they could go to Bethel to dedicate themselves to God who has also protected him. God officially changed his name from Jacob to Israel. God promised to give Jacob and his descendants the land he promised Abraham and Isaac, and God was going to multiply him as a nation and with kings. Rachel gave birth to Benjamin, the 12th son of Jacob, and she died. Reuben slept with Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant (mother of Dan & Naphtali), and Jacob heard of it. Isaac died at 180 years old; Esau and Jacob buried him.
Genesis 36:
Esau is the father of Edom or the Edomites. Esau married Canaanite (African) women (Nittite & Hivite) and a woman from Ishmael. Esau prospered so much that the land could not hold his descendants and his possessions. Esau’s descendants were kings even before Israel was even a nation. So the blessing of Esau from Isaac had no effect on Esau, Jacob only took the promise of land and seed.
