Bible Study Group

 1.  As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him.   2  When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim. [ b ] Jacob Sends Gifts to Esau 3  Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of Edom.   4  He told them, “Give this message to my master Esau: ‘Humble greetings from your servant Jacob. Until now I have been living with Uncle Laban,   5  and now I own cattle, donkeys, flocks of sheep and goats, and many servants, both men and women. I have sent these messengers to inform my lord of my coming, hoping that you will be friendly to me.’” 6  After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, “We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!”   7  Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and ...

Jacob flees from Laban 1.  But Jacob soon learned that Laban’s sons were grumbling about him. “Jacob has robbed our father of everything!” they said. “He has gained all his wealth at our father’s expense.”   2  And Jacob began to notice a change in Laban’s attitude toward him. 3  Then the  Lord  said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.” 4  So Jacob called Rachel and Leah out to the field where he was watching his flock.   5  He said to them, “I have noticed that your father’s attitude toward me has changed. But the God of my father has been with me.   6  You know how hard I have worked for your father,   7  but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm.   8  For if he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wages,’ the whole flock began to produce speckled young. And when he changed h...

 1.  When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children,   she became jealous of her sister.   So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” 2  Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” 3  Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.” 4  So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her,   5  and she became pregnant and bore him a son.   6  Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan. [ a ] 7  Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.   8  Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali. [ b ] 9  When Leah saw that she ...