Plots “Receiving the Birthright”, “Wonderful Dream” or “Jacob’s Ladder. Bible online Jacob "wrestles" with God
Jacob's Wonderful Dream
Form:lesson - message.
The purpose of the lesson:application of knowledge in practice,
Course objectives:teach you to apply the acquired knowledge in practice; operateavailablepotential in a specific situation; develop skills in working with literature, consolidate skills in working with various sources. Continue developing the ability to analyze, compare, compare, highlight the main thing, establish cause-and-effect relationships; give examples.
Recommendedvideo sequence: D. Fetty.. “The Dream of Jacob”, Rembrandt Van Rijn. “The Blessing of Jacob”, “Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph”, A. Ivanov. “The Dream of Jacob”, “Joseph interpreting dreams in prison for the butler and baker imprisoned with him”, “Joseph’s brothers find the cup in Benjamin’s sack”,
During the classes
Teacher:reads the lines of I. Brodsky “Isaac and Abraham”
Message1 : "Jacob's Dream" (Domento Fetti, “Jacob’s Dream”. A. Ivanov. “Jacob’s Dream”)
UIsaac and his wife had two sons: Esau and Jacob, later called Israel. (Israel, literally - “he fights with God”), and his sons began to be called “sons of Israel.” The new name had two sounds: “Wrestling with God” and “Beloved of God.” From Jacob came the Israelite or Jewish people.
Esau was stern, unsociable, and most of all he loved hunting. He spent almost all his time in the field. Jacob was meek, friendly, took care of the housework and tended his father's flock. PromiseGod'sJacob inherited that the Savior of the world would come from the line of Abraham. Jacob, at the request of his parents, went to his mother’s homeland, Mesopotamia, to hide there from the wrath of Esau and choose a bride for himself. On the way, he had to spend the night in a camp. He lay down, put a stone under his head and fell asleep.
In this he saw that there was a ladder on the ground, and its top touched the sky. The angels of God rise and descend along it,” and the Lord Himself stands at the top and says: “I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants, who will be as numerous as the sand on the seashore. In your descendants the Savior of the world will be born, and through Him all nations will be blessed.” Jacob woke up and said: “The Lord is present here; this is the house of God, this is the gate of heaven.
He got up, took the stone on which he had slept, set it up as a monument in that place and made a sacrifice to God, pouring oil (oil) on the stone. Jacob called this place Bethkl, which means the house of God. Jacob married in Mesopotamia, lived there for twenty years, became rich and returned to his homeland, where he was reconciled with his brother,
Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the grandson of Abraham, the ancestor of the twelve tribes of Israel. This was his first meeting with God in his life, about whom he only heard from his parents, but knew nothing about himself.
Control questions: What vision did Jacob have? What do you think it meant (pay attention to the words of Jacob - “this is the gate of heaven”).
Message 2: "Joseph and his brothers."
Jacob had 12 sons. The younger ones were Joseph and Benjamin. Jacob loved Joseph more than all other sons and bought him a coat of many colors. His older brothers were jealous of him and could not speak to him in a friendly manner. One day Joseph had a dream and told it to his brothers: “Listen to me. I had a dream. We were all in the field knitting sheaves. My sheaf stood straight and did not fall, but your sheaves stood aroundAndbowed to him." Joseph's brothers said to him: “Are you reallyyou willour king? And they hated him.
Heuristic question: Did Joseph's brothers interpret his dream correctly? Do you think this dream will be prophetic? ?
One day Jacob's flocks had gone very far, and he said to Joseph, “Go and see if your brothers are well.” Joseph went. The brothers saw him from afar and said to each other: “Here comes the dreamer. Let’s kill him, and then say that a predatory beast tore him to pieces.” But Reuben, one of the brothers, said: “Do not kill him; better throw it into the ditch.” When Joseph approached, his brothers stripped him of his multi-colored robe and threw him into the ditch. And they sat down to eat.
Soon they saw a caravan of merchants heading to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers: “What do we gain by killing our brother? We'd better sell it."
The brothers pulled Joseph out of the ditch and sold him for 20 pieces of silver. Then they killed the goat, stained Joseph's clothes with blood and sent this message to his father: “We have found these clothes; look if it’s from your son?” Jacob recognized it and exclaimed, “These are my son’s clothes. A wild animal tore him to pieces.” And he mourned Joseph for a long time.
Control questions: Why does Judah, when Joseph is in the ditch, say: “What do we gain by killing our brother?” What do these words mean?
We, unlike Jacob, know that Joseph is alive. But why is it so important to this story that a person who finds himself enslaved in a foreign country is presumed dead?
Message 3: “Joseph solvesdreams" A. Ivanov “Joseph interpreting dreams in prison to the butler and baker imprisoned with him”
The merchants took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to the Egyptian Potiphar, a courtier of Pharaoh. God was with Joseph and he succeeded in everything he did. Potiphar appreciated him and appointed him steward of his house and all his property. Butone dayPotiphar became angry and imprisoned Joseph. But even in prison the Lord was with Joseph. The governor of the prison favored him and appointed him as his deputy. After some time, the pharaoh sent the courtiers, the butler and the baker, who had offended him, to prison. One day Joseph saw that they were mourning and asked: “Why do you have sad faces today?” They answered him: “We both saw dreams, but there was no one to interpret them.” Joseph said to them, “Tell me your dreams.” The cupbearer said: “Iatein a dream there is a grapevine with three branches. The berries are ripe on the branches. I squeezed the berries into Pharaoh’s cup and gave the cup to him.” Joseph said: “Here is the interpretation of the dream: three branches are three days. In three days Pharaoh will return you to your place. Remember me when you feel good and tell Pharaoh about me, and bring me out of the prison where I was imprisoned, although I am not guilty.” The baker also told his dream: “I dreamed that I had three baskets on my head; in the upper basket there is food for the pharaoh. The birds came and pecked food from the basket on my head.” Joseph said: “Three baskets are three days. In three days Pharaoh will behead you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will peck at your body. On the third day was Pharaoh's birthday. He threw a feast and remembered the butler and the baker and returned the butler to his original place, and beheaded the baker, as Joseph had predicted. The cupbearer, returning to his original place, completely forgot about Joseph.
Control questions: Compare the dreams of the butler and the baker and Joseph's interpretation of them. Remember how his brothers understood Joseph’s dream. Are the ways of interpreting dreams different in these two cases?
Message 4: "The Rise of Joseph"
After two years, Pharaoh also had a dream: seven fat cows came out of the Nile. Seven thin cows followed them, and the thin cows ate the fat cows. And Pharaoh woke up and fell asleep again, and he dreamed that seven full ears of grain rose on one stalk. After them, seven other ears grew, dried up by the east wind, and the skinny ears devoured the seven full ears. There was no one who could interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. Then the cupbearer remembered Joseph and said: “He is in prison.the young man who explained to the baker and me the meaning of our dreams. And as he interpreted them, so it came to pass.” Pharaoh ordered Joseph to be called and told him his dreams. Joseph explained them: “Seven fat cows andseven fullears of grain mean seven yearsabundance.Seven thin cows and seven dried ears of corn mean seven years of famine. First there will be years of plenty in the land of Egypt, and then seven years of famine. Therefore, a prudent and wise man should be found to gather the surplus in the years of plenty and save it for the seven years of famine. Pharaoh liked this advice very much and he said to Joseph: Since God has revealed all this to you, there is no man more intelligent and prudent than you. So I will make you ruler of all Egypt2. Having said this, he took the ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, clothed him in rich clothing and placed a gold chain around his neck. And he ordered him to be carried on the second of his chariots. Everyone had to bow before Joseph. As Joseph predicted, seven fertile years came first, and during this time Joseph made large reserves. Then came seven years of famine, and the people began to ask Pharaoh to give them bread. And Pharaoh said to the Egyptians: “Go to Joseph.” Then Joseph opened his grain stores. And people began to come to Egypt from different countries to buy grain.
Control questions: In this part you once again encounter the dream and its interpretation. How is this case similar to previous ones? Why did Pharaoh promote Joseph and task him with creating supplies for the famine years?
Message 5. Joseph's brothers went to Egypt
A famine occurred in the land of Canaan. Jacob sent his sons to Egypt for bread, but kept Benjamin with him, fearing that some misfortune would happen to him. The brothers arrived safely in Egypt. They were brought to Joseph, and they bowed to the ground before him. Joseph recognized them immediately, but they did not recognize him. He asked them: “Where did you come from?” They answered: “From Canaan.Wecame to buy grain.” Joseph told them: “No, you are spies and have come to look at this land.” They replied: “No, sir, we are civilians. There are 12 of us brothers, the youngest one stayed with his father, but one of them is gone.” And Joseph said to them: “I stand by my opinion, you are spies.” And sent them to prison.Three days later he ordered them to be brought to him again and told them: “Let one of you remain a hostage, and you take bread to your country to starving families. Bring your younger brother to me. This way I will know whether you told the truth or not. And the brothers said to each other: “We are punished for sin against our brother Joseph.” Taking Semeon from them, Joseph ordered him to be tied up in front of them. And he ordered their bags to be filled with bread, and their money to be put in everyone’s bag, and to be given provisions for the journey. Then he said again: “Go back home and bring your little brother.” The brothers returned home and told their father everything that had happened. When they opened their bags, they found their silver in them.
Control questions: explain why the brothers decided that they were being punished for sin against Joseph when the ruler of Egypt (whom they did not recognize) left one of them as a hostage and demanded that their younger brother be brought to him? Why did Joseph return the money to his brothers?
Message 6. Joseph's brothers return to Egypt
When there was no grain left, Jacob said to his sons, “Go back to Egypt and buy some food.” His son Judah replied: “We must take our younger brother with us. I promise you that he will return with us." The father replied: “If this is necessary, then take Benjamin with you.” The brothers went to Egypt with Benjamin. When Joseph saw Benjamin among them, he said to the ruler of his house, “Bring these men into the house and prepare enough food, for they will eat with me at noon.” And the ruler of the house did as Joseph commanded. And he brought Simeon to them to eat with them. When Joseph came home, they bowed to the ground and presented him with gifts. Joseph greeted them and asked: “Is your old father well?” The brothers replied: “Our father is still alive and well.” And Joseph looked at Benjamin and asked: “Is this your younger brother? God bless you, my son!” At the table Joseph seated them according to age. This surprised them very much. They ate and drank contentedly and were merry.
Control questions: Do you see a moment in history when Joseph's dream begins to come true? Why did Joseph arrange his brothers according to age? Compare this action with the fact that he returned the money to his brothers.
And Joseph ordered the ruler of his house: “Fill the sacks of these people with grain, and put everyone’s money in his sack, and put the cup put my silver one in the younger one’s bag.” The ruler of the house did everything Joseph said. The next day the brothers set off on their journey. They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to the ruler of his house: “Catch up with these people and tell them: “Why did you pay evil for good and steal my master’s silver cup?” He caught up with them and told them these words. The brothers answered him: “Are you accusing us of stealing a cup from your master’s house? Whoever of us finds this thicket will die; and we will be your master’s servants.” A. Ivanov "Joseph's Brothers Find the Cup in Benjamin's Sack"
The ruler of the house looked through all the bags and found the cup in Benjamin's bag. Then the brothers returnedVcity, and they came to Joseph’s house and fell to the ground before him. Joseph said to them, “What have you done?” Judas replied: “God has found iniquity in us. We willyoursslaves." But Joseph said: “No,onlyhe who stole my cup must be my slave, andYouYou will go in peace to your father.” Judas approached him and said: “If we return without our younger brother, our father will die of grief. So, let me remain your slave, and let the boy return with his brothers.”
Control questions: m possible whether count history With an unexpected cup? What events her preparing?
Message7 : "Joseph reveals to his brothers who he is".
Joseph said to his brothers: “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold. Goquickerto my father and brought himcome here soon.” Jacob went to Egypt and all his family with him. Joseph brought his fatherAndtheir brothers to Pharaoh, who said to them:« Onsettle your father in the best places of this landAndyour brothers."
Jacob headed northeast, to the city where his mother Rebekah was from. He was bitter and ashamed: he had deceived Esau of his rightful birthright and was now forced to flee, fleeing the wrath of his deceived brother.
Night has fallen. Jacob, wrapped in a cloak and placing a flat stone under his head, settled down for the night in the open air.
Jacob fell asleep and had an amazing dream. He saw a wide shining staircase descending from the sky to the ground. Bright angels, God's messengers, moved up and down the stairs.
Jacob looked at the ladder in amazement, and behold, he saw God Himself standing on it. And God said to him:
I am the Lord, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac your father. I will be your God too. All this land that you see I will give to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will become a great nation, and through them I will bless all the families of the earth. Never fear anything, for I am with you. I will keep you wherever you go.
When Jacob woke up from sleep, he could not come to his senses for a long time: God Himself appeared to him and spoke to him. In memory of this event, Jacob named the place Bethel, which means “house of God,” and marked it with a stone, which served as his pillow while he slept.
Filled with sacred awe, Jacob made the following vow to God:
If You will be with me and keep me on my journey, I will faithfully serve You all my life.
Feeling a surge of strength, Jacob set off on the road again. He walked and walked until he came to a well near Haran, his mother’s hometown.
Seeing shepherds coming to the well to water their flocks, Jacob asked if they knew his mother’s brother Laban.
“We know,” the shepherds answered. - And here comes Rachel, his daughter.
A beautiful girl approached the well, leading a flock of sheep and goats. So that Rachel could draw water, Jacob rolled away the heavy stone that covered the well.
. And he was afraid and said: How terrible is this place! this is nothing less than the house of God, this is the gate of heaven.
This idea, however, is needlessly exaggerated when they assert (Gunkel) that the holiness of a place is understood here exclusively objectively, i.e. confined exclusively to the place itself. It is known that God sometimes pointed out the special holiness of this or that place (;), but in all cases the holiness confessed by people who were worthy to accept revelation from above, it was precisely reflected in the hearts of people with a feeling of mortal fear and deep reverence (for example, in Hagar; Moses, etc.). “House of God” (beth Elohim - beth El, v. 19) and “gates of heaven” (schaar hasehamaim) - terms that later became common names for the temple - are borrowed by the patriarch from the content of the vision and adopted by him to the place of the vision, as if according to a prophetic foresight of the future sanctuary of God (since the division of the Jewish kingdom, Bethel was one of the two temples of the ten-tribe kingdom).
Jacob's vow
. And Jacob arose early in the morning, and took the stone which he had put for his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.
Impressed by the vision, Jacob, first, places the stone that served as his head, monument(mazzebah) and pours oil on him. The custom of erecting pillars and similar structures as monuments to famous events is very common in the ancient and modern East. In the Bible, in addition to the story of Jacob (), the placing of stones with the indicated purpose is mentioned in the history of I. Joshua (), the prophet Samuel (), and others. Later abuses of this custom for the purposes of idolatry caused the prohibition in the Law of Moses () to erect pillars. Likewise, the custom of dedicating stones to a deity was known in the East, for example, among the Phoenicians, and in the classical world. Oil, as a necessary accessory for traveling in hot countries, as a means of reinforcement and nutrition, naturally was at hand for the traveler Jacob: “probably, he carried only one oil with him while on the road” (John Chrysostom, p. 585). Thus, “whatever he had, he gave back to the greatly gifted Lord” (Blessed Theod., answer to question 85).
. And [Jacob] called the name of that place Bethel, but the former name of that city was Luz.
Jacob's second act: in accordance with his impression mentioned, he calls the place of the vision the name: Beth-El or Bethel (“house of God”), while the previous name of the neighboring town was: Luz. Secondly and finally, Jacob confirms the name Bethel upon his return from Mesopotamia ().
Reading LXX and glory. Οὐλαμλούς (options Οὐλαμμάους, Συλλαμμάους, etc. - from Golmes). Ulam-luz is clearly an erroneous combination of the Hebrew words ulam (same, before) and Luz. From the subsequent history it is clear that the Canaanite name Luz existed together with the Hebrew Bethel: the first is used by Jacob himself (), and in the book. I. Navina Luz and Bethel, apparently, appear to be the names of different localities (). The name Bethel, however, was known before Jacob - during the time of Abraham ().
An echo of this name was preserved in the name Βαιτυλία, known among the Phoenicians and Greeks, Baitilia, which was the name given by those and others to sacred stones, mainly from meteorites and aerolites, dedicated to deities by anointing. Thus, we can assume that this “custom originated from Jacob” (Filaret, Zap. on).
. And Jacob made a vow, saying: If [the Lord] God will be with me and keep me on this journey that I am going on, and give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,
and I will return in peace to my father’s house, and the Lord will be my God,
Jacob's 3rd act: his vow to God is the first vow recorded in the Bible. In this vow (considered by the rabbis to be the model or norm of all vows and for all times) there are 3 elements: internal and sincere recognition of the Almighty as your God, with dedication of yourself to serving Him; special dedication and veneration of the place of vision; and promising God a tithe of everything.
Apparently, Jacob bases his faith in God on external and personal interests. But, firstly, this condition of the vow in James is a simple paraphrase of the immediately preceding promise of God (vv. 13-15); secondly, Jacob asks the Lord only for bread and clothing and thus fulfills the gospel covenant about non-covetousness (John Chrysostom, Philaret); thirdly, with what humility and gratitude Jacob understood the blessings of God, can be seen from his prayer ().
Tithing, as can be seen from the example of Abraham (), was an ancient custom in society, in relation to kings. Here for the first time we read about tithing to God.
then this stone, which I have set up as a monument, will be [for me] the house of God; and of all that You, God, if you give it to me, I will give you a tenth.
“House of God” (beth Elohim) - perhaps in connection with this idea stands the Old Testament magnification of God - Zur Israel, rock, stronghold of Israel (; ).
Jacob's Dream
And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and commanded him, and said: Do not take yourself a wife from the daughters of Canaan.
2 Arise, go to Mesopotamia, to the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father, and take yourself a wife from there, from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.
3 May Almighty God bless you, make you fruitful and multiply you, and may there be from you a multitude of nations;
4 And may the blessing of Abraham be given to you, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may inherit the land of your sojourning, which God gave to Abraham!
5 And Isaac released Jacob, and he went to Mesopotamia to Laban the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.
6 Esau saw that Isaac blessed Jacob, and blessing him, he sent him to Mesopotamia to take a wife from there, and commanded him, saying: “Do not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan”;
Domenico Fetti. Jacob's Dream. XVII century
Gen 28, 10–12
7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and went to Mesopotamia.
8 And Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan were not pleasing to Isaac his father;
9 And Esau went to Ishmael, and took for himself a wife, Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, the sister of Nebaioth, besides his [other] wives.
10 And Jacob left Beersheba and went to Haran,
11 And he came to [a] place and [stayed] there overnight, because the sun had set. And he took [one] of the stones of that place, and put it as his head, and lay down in that place.
12 And I saw in a dream: behold, a ladder stands on the earth, and its top touches the sky; and behold, the angels of God ascend and descend on it.
13 And behold, the Lord stood on it and said: I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants.
14 And your descendants will be like the sand of the earth; and you will spread to the sea, and to the east, and to the north, and to the noonday; and in you and in your seed all families of the earth will be blessed.
15 And behold, I am with you; and I will keep you wherever you go; and I will return you to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.
16 Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Truly the Lord is present in this place; but I didn’t know!
17 And he was afraid and said: How terrible is this place! this is nothing other than the house of God, this is the gate of heaven.
18 And Jacob arose early in the morning, and took the stone which he had put for his head, and set it up for a pillar; and he poured oil on the top of it.
19 And he called the name of that place Bethel; and the former name of that city was: Luz.
20 And Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and keep me on this journey that I am going on, and give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,
21 And I will return in peace to my father’s house, and the Lord will be my God:
22 Then this stone, which I have set up as a monument, will be the house of God; and of all that You [God] give me, I will give You a tenth.
Gen 28, 1–22
From the book Lives of the Saints - the month of June author Rostovsky Dimitri From the book The Explanatory Bible. Volume 1 author Lopukhin Alexander41. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said in his heart: the days of mourning for my father are approaching, and I will kill Jacob, my brother. Esau hated Jacob with a secret, insidious hatred (over time, however, he forgot the insult,
From the book The Explanatory Bible. Volume 5 author Lopukhin Alexander5. And Isaac released Jacob, and he went to Mesopotamia to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, to the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. According to Jewish interpreters, the definition of Rebekah as “the mother of Esau and Jacob” is apparently unnecessary, the meaning that Rebekah to both sons
From the book of Lives of the Saints (all months) author Rostovsky Dimitri7. The sons of Jacob came from the field, and when they heard, the men were upset and inflamed with anger, because he had done dishonor to Israel by sleeping with Jacob’s daughter, and this should not have been done. Even now among the Arabs, the rape of a sister is considered a great disgrace for a brother. , how
From the book of the Bible. Synodal Translation (RST) author's Bible21. And Israel departed (from there) and pitched their tent beyond the tower of Gader. 22 While Israel was in that country, Reuben went and slept with Bilhah, his father’s (Jacob) concubine. And Israel heard (and accepted it with grief). And Jacob had twelve sons.
From the book of the Bible. Modern Russian translation (SRP, RBO) author's Bible23. The sons of Leah: Jacob's firstborn Reuben, after him Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. 24. Sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant: Dan and Naphtali. 26. The sons of Zilpah, Lihina's maidservant: Gad and Asher. These sons of Jacob, born to him in Mesopotamia
From the book of the Bible. Modern translation (BTI, trans. Kulakova) author's Bible20. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel and those who escape from the house of Jacob will no longer trust in him who smote them, but will put their trust in the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, wholeheartedly. 21. The remnant will turn, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God, 20-27. Israel, or actually
From the book of the Bible. New Russian translation (NRT, RSJ, Biblica) author's Bible1. His time is near, and his days will not tarry, for the Lord will have mercy on Jacob and will love Israel again; and he will make them settle in their own land, and foreigners will join them and cleave to the house of Jacob. 1-2. Along with the fall of Babylon, in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, the return of Israel is connected
From the book Bible Tales author author unknownCouncil of the Holy Glorious and All-Praised Twelve Apostles: Peter (life of June 29), Andrew (November 4), James Zebedee (April 30), John (September 26), Philip (November 14), Bartholomew (June 11), Thomas ( October 6), Matthew (November 16), Jacob Alpheus (October 9), Jude (Thaddeus) (June 19), Simon
From the book Fundamentals of Orthodoxy author Nikulina Elena NikolaevnaJames Chapter 1 1 Jacob's greetings to the brothers in the dispersion. 2 The testing of faith produces patience. 5 How to gain wisdom. 9 The joy of the poor is in poverty. 13 There is joy in enduring temptations. 19 Hearers and doers of the word; pure piety. 1 James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus
From the book The Illustrated Bible. Old Testament author's BibleJames Chapter 1 Jacob, the servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the twelve tribes scattered throughout the world! 2 My brothers, when you are faced with various trials, consider it great joy. 3 For you know that the trials to which your faith is
From the author's bookJames Introduction The question of who is the author of this letter still remains open. He is probably one of the three best-known first-century Christians in the New Testament who bore the name James. When the early Christian churches agreed to include this
From the author's bookJames Chapter 1 1 To the twelve families of the Jews, scattered among the nations. James, the servant of God and the Lord Jesus, greets you.
From the author's bookChildren of Isaac. Jacob's Dream. Reconciliation of Jacob with Esau Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob, later called Israel. From Jacob came the Israelite, or Jewish, people. Esau was stern, unsociable, and most of all he loved hunting. He spent almost all his time in the field. Jacob was meek,
From the author's bookJacob's marriage. Homecoming. Jacob's struggle with God Having settled with his uncle Laban, Jacob worked for him for seven years in order to marry Laban's daughter, Rachel. However, Laban, taking advantage of the Eastern custom, according to which the bride is closely
From the author's bookJacob's Dream And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and commanded him, and said: Do not take yourself a wife from the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Mesopotamia, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father, and take yourself a wife from there, from the daughters of Laban , your mother's brother.3 God Almighty yes
Jacob's Ladder, Jacob's DreamThe plot goes back to the book of Genesis (28:10-22)
Stopping for the night on his way to Haran, Jacob took some stones, made a headboard out of them, and went to bed. He dreamed of a staircase that reached to the very sky, along which angels scurried up and down.
“And I saw in a dream: behold, a ladder stands on the earth, and its top touches the sky; and behold, the angels of God ascend and descend upon it.” Life 28:12 et seq.
Then the Lord spoke to Jacob:
“I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants.”
Waking up, Jacob built a monument (a column of stones) from his head and, pouring oil on it, named this place Bethel (Bethel) - “the house of God.” Jacob also made a vow that if God did not forsake him, then
“This stone which I have set up as a monument will be the house of God; and of all that You, O God, give me, I will give You a tenth.” :::: Gen. 28:22
Researchers believe that the site of Bethel was sacred from ancient times, long before the arrival of the Jews in Canaan. Sleeping in such places is a common practice undertaken in order to receive direct divine revelation and/or will in a dream. Subsequently, this term refers to sacred places (repositories of earthly power, places of communication with heaven, etc.).
The staircase is usually seen as a reminiscence of the staircase of the Babylonian ziggurat (ziggurat), leading to the seat of the god at its top.
Basic values:
- the idea of the invisible presence of angels connecting the earthly and heavenly worlds;
- an image of living communication between God and man;
- a thinking person, a mediator between heaven and earth;
- a being capable of perceiving divine magical power through the acquisition of wisdom.
Isaac, the son of Abraham, and Rebekah, after many years of barren marriage, had two twin sons, Esau and Jacob.
The brothers grew up and the youngest of them, Jacob, increasingly thought that all the wealth and power after the death of his father would go to his older brother. Since Jacob was not satisfied with this arrangement, he decided to “outplay” the seniority. Jacob traded his not-so-intelligent older brother for his birthright for a plate of lentil stew, and his father’s blessing was obtained by disguising himself as Esau.
Realizing that he could be killed for such jokes, Jacob decided to flee to his relatives in Mesopotamia. On the way, he lay down to rest on a mountain, put a stone under his head and fell asleep.
And I saw in a dream: a ladder stands on the ground, and its top touches the sky; and behold, the angels of God ascend and descend on it. And behold, the Lord stands on it and says: “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac.” The land on which you lie will I give to you and to your descendants; and your descendants will be like the sand of the earth; and you will spread to the sea, and to the east, and to the north, and to the noonday; and in you and in your seed all families of the earth will be blessed; and behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go; and I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you. Jacob awoke from his sleep and said: Truly the Lord is present in this place; but I didn’t know!
- Michael Lukas Leopold Willmann "Jacob's dream of a ladder of angels", 1691