1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.
3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.
6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;
7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;
8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;
9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put [them for] his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15 And, behold, I [am] with thee, and will keep thee in all [places] whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done [that] which I have spoken to thee of.
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew [it] not.
17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful [is] this place! this [is] none other but the house of God, and this [is] the gate of heaven.
18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put [for] his pillows, and set it up [for] a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first.
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
22 And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Summary of Genesis Chapter 28
Genesis 28 narrates the story of Jacob, focusing on his departure from Beersheba, his dream at Bethel, and God’s covenant with him. This chapter is pivotal as it marks a significant transition in Jacob’s life and the continuation of God’s promise to Abraham and Isaac.
Key Characters
- Jacob – The son of Isaac and Rebekah, who is on a journey to find a wife.
- Isaac – Jacob’s father, who blesses him before his departure.
- Rebekah – Jacob’s mother, who advises him to leave.
- Esau – Jacob’s brother, who is angry about the birthright and blessing Jacob received.
- God – The divine figure who reaffirms His covenant with Jacob.
Plot Overview
- Jacob’s Departure (Verses 1-5)
- Isaac calls Jacob and blesses him.
- Isaac instructs Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman but to go to Paddan-aram to find a wife from his mother’s family.
- Jacob obeys his father and mother, setting out on his journey.
- Jacob’s Dream at Bethel (Verses 10-15)
- Jacob stops for the night at a certain place and uses a stone for a pillow.
- He dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending.
- God speaks to Jacob, reaffirming the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac, promising land and descendants.
- Jacob’s Response (Verses 16-22)
- Upon waking, Jacob acknowledges the presence of God in that place.
- He sets up the stone as a pillar and pours oil on it, dedicating it to God.
- Jacob vows to the Lord, promising to serve Him and to give a tenth of all he receives.
Theological Themes
- Covenant and Promise
The chapter emphasizes God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises, as seen in His reaffirmation of the covenant with Jacob.
- Divine Encounter
Jacob’s dream signifies a direct encounter with God, illustrating the theme of divine revelation and guidance.
- Faith and Commitment
Jacob’s vow represents a response of faith, indicating his commitment to God and the importance of tithing.
Symbolism
- The Ladder
The ladder symbolizes the connection between heaven and earth, representing God’s accessibility and the movement of divine beings.
- The Stone Pillar
The stone Jacob uses signifies a physical reminder of his encounter with God and the establishment of a sacred space.
Significance of the Chapter
Genesis 28 is significant as it marks a turning point in Jacob’s life, transitioning from a life of deception to one of divine purpose and destiny. It sets the stage for Jacob’s journey and the unfolding of God’s plan for the nation of Israel. The chapter also highlights the importance of familial blessings and the continuity of God’s promises through generations.
