Jacob’s Temple Encounter

And [Jacob] dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.       (Genesis 28:12) Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to … Read more

Jacob the “Jerk”

When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb … Genesis 29:15 Leah’s sons were not as magnanimous with their father as Leah was. They resented the way their mother was treated. Moreover, when Rachel died, Jacob merely transferred his devotion to her sons, especially Joseph her first born. In Jacob’s heart … Read more

Jacob’s Wives

Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and lovely.  Jacob loved Rachel.  Genesis 29:16f.  Fleeing his brother Esau, Jacob ran into the arms of his uncle Laban. In this man Jacob met his match. … Read more

Jacob or Esau? Take Your Pick!

The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is thus, why do I live?”  So she went and enquired of the Lord, and the Lord said, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples, born of you, shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall … Read more

Isaac the Fortunate

And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming.  And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel, and said to the servant, “who is the man yonder walking in the field … Read more

Key Abrahamic Motifs: Trees

Posted in Uncategorized on February 17, 2014 by ancienthopes So Abraham moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the Oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.  Genesis 13:18 In his many years of living in and traveling throughout the Promised Land (some 100 years!), it … Read more

Key Abrahamic Motifs: Theophany Encounters

And I will fetch a morsel bread, and comfort your hearts … (Gen. 18:5, KJV) Throughout the patriarchal narratives we find mysterious encounters with the mal’ak YHWH (“Messenger of YHWH”). Judging from the reaction of those who meet Him, and the person in which the Being speaks (sometimes in the first person speaking as God), … Read more

Abrahamic Motifs Cont. – Greatness

 These [the Nephilim] were the mighty men that were of old, the  men of renown (Heb. shēm)    Genesis 6: 4 Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name (Heb. shēm) for ourselves … … and I will make your name … Read more

Key Abrahamic Motifs Cont. – The Nations

And I will make you a great nation … (Genesis 12:2a) And [Abraham] divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and routed them, and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. (Genesis 14:15) The Lord said, “shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall … Read more

Key Abrahamic Motifs: Blessing

I will bless you …. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the world will [be blessed].  Genesis 12:1-3 And Melchizedek, king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High.  And he blessed him … Read more