he (Jacob) sent...

The reading two weeks ago was Genesis 32:4-36:43.

Here, a summary:


Chapter 32:
On the way back, Jacob is met by some angels of God, and calls the place Mahanaim.
Jacob sends out messengers to Esau, they return with intimidating news.
Jacob splits his company in 2 from fear; then Jacob prays to God.
Presents are sent to Esau.
Jacob wrestles with a man, the man renames Jacob Israel, as he wrestled with God.


Chapter 33:
As Esau and his company arrives, Jacob divide the group in the order of the 2 maids, Leah, then Rachel and their respective child(ren).
Jacob bows to Esau 7 times, Esau runs to embrace and kiss Jacob, and they cry together. Esau accepts Jacob and his gift. Esau suggests in returning together to Seir, but Jacob insists on going at a slower pace for his livestock and children.
Jacob goes to Succoth and builds booths.
Jacob arrives in Shalem, Shechem in Canaan, and he buys a field to build an altar, and calls it Elelohe-Isarael.


Chapter 34:
Dinah is defiled by Shechem, a Hivite.
Shechem asks his father Hamor for Dinah as a wife.
Jacob hears about what happened; Hamor goes to Jacob to ask about Dinah.
Jacob's sons hear about Dinah and they are grived and wroth.
Hamor asks for the people to mingle. Shechem offers a lot of money for Dinah.
The sons deceive Shechem and Hamor.
Simeon and Levi goes and kill the men and spoils the city.
Jacob rebukes his sons, but they retort by asking why Shechem should treat Dinah as a harlot.


Chapter 35:
God tells Jacob to live in Bethel, and build an altar there.
Jacob and his household arrive in Luz, renamed as Bethel.
Deborah, Rebekah's nurse dies, and is buried under an oak, Allonbachuth.
God appears unto Jacob and blesses him, and calls him Israel. Jacob sets up a pillar, and calls the place Bethel.
Rachel labors with Benoni (Benjamin), and dies by Ephrath; Jacob sets up a pillar there.
Reuben lays with Bilhah in Edar.
Sons of Jacob listed.
Isaac dies at 180 in Arbah/Hebron, Esau and Jacob bury him.


Chapter 36:
Esau has 3 wives: Adah, daughter of Elon, a Hittite; Aholibama, the daughter of Anah whose father is Zibeon, a Hivite; Bashemath, daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebajoth.
Adah has Eliphaz, whose concubine bears Amalek.
Bashemath has Reuel.
Aholibamah has Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.
List of other names who are descendants of Esau.



Jacob/Israel is renamed twice in these passages.
It's kind of odd that God does this.

I'm sure God doesn't do this for His own good, which must mean that it's for our/Jacob's benefit.

(to recap [again])
Jacob is renamed at the end of chapter 32. At the end of chapter 33, Jacob builds an altar with the name given to him by God, which is great. In chapter 34, there is this big drama in the family. Then in chapter 35, God reminds Jacob he is Israel.

A picture/lesson from the above is another reiteration from the last entry, where we need reminders from God/His people to return to God, and that God is faithful when even when we need to be reminded; yay,

God is good.


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