This chapter acts an as etiology for Israel's relationship to the people of Shechem (which becomes a really important area in the 2nd Temple Period) and the personality of the various tribes (specifically Simeon and Levi).

This chapter also includes a notable scene with one of Jacob's daughters: Dinah. Interpretation varies as to whether this is a rape or a controlling intervention by her brothers, but sexual uncertainty pervades the essence of the chapter.

The two brothers meet for the first time since Jacob deceived Isaac and Esau does the opposite of getting revenge. He restores Jacob as a brother and allows Jacob to continue his journey. Does Jacob simply take advantage of Esau's radical hospitality and generosity?

This chapter begins the next part of Jacob's narrative and ends the part of the Jacob cycle with his brother Esau.

This episode covers folkloric history, theological depictions of the covenant and God, and some psychological analyses of conflict, conversion, and change. Genesis 32 is one of the most relatable chapters of the Bible and one of the most important for the Biblical narrative.

Genesis 31 wraps up the deception of Jacob and Laban and acts as an etiology for some pieces of land and as a theological portrait of Israel and God. Genesis 31 ends one part of the Jacob cycle and sets up another conflict that is waiting for Jacob back at home.

Really, it is a messy story about the origins of the tribe of Israel. The way Jacob's ancestry continues is rife with issues, magical thinking, and self-preservation.

This is a conversation on theodicy and Rachel's barrenness leads to Jacob claiming that God caused it. Why is barrenness treated like it is in the Bible and why does Jacob respond in such a perplexing way?

A meditation on Christmas Eve with narratives inspired by the prophet Isaiah to experience the transition from Advent to Christmas.

For a video version of this content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNVuwjjddsk

Written by Tyler Kleeberger and Amie Brodie.

Produced by Tyler Kleeberger and Roger Tipping.

Voice by Tyler Kleeberger (Meditation & Commentary), Roger Tipping (The Story of the King), & Amie Brodie (The Story of the Shepherd).

Created for use by The Farmhouse.

Find the content valuable? Support our work here: https://ko-fi.com/becominghuman

Genesis 29 catalyzes the Jacob cycle and also introduces us to the history of Israel's tribes in the birth of Jacob's children.

The story of Israel's future is put on full display in the microcosmic episode that also kicks off the narrative of Jacob, the final patriarch.

As the Genesis narrative transitions to Isaac (and quickly moves straight to Jacob), his genealogy includes the story of the birth of his twins; which sets up how the covenant continues through Jacob.

Isaac's story revolves around being in Garar with Abimelech (now of the Philistines) where he says Rebekah is his sister. This partly portrays Isaac as a continuation of Abraham and partly leads us to wonder how the covenant will continue through his two sons.

Abraham, after much suspense to have an heir, is now forced to envision the how this tribe will continue after he is gone.

Another woman is added to the family in chapter 24 when Isaac gets married through a very detailed, elongated proposal that must be with Abraham's family back in Haran. Through all of this, the covenant continues and we get a very specific ideology as to who Israel will be and how they ought to function as Isaac is formally shown to be the primary heir in chapter 25 and the lineage begins to unfold toward Jacob and Esau.

So, why does Abraham go through with potentially killing Isaac and why does Abraham insist on paying for Sarah's tomb?

Genesis chapter 21 portrays division amongst Abraham's children and a very clear depiction of who the covenantal lineage will carry through.

Abraham, as the first act of the covenant, practices extravagant generosity to three strange travelers. Abraham and God argue out what should be done if there are 10 righteous men, a village tribunal, in Sodom.

Lot, who chose the prized land, does not have extravagant hospitality and, in fact, his village practices humiliation, dominance, and powerful violence toward the travelers.

We also explore how this text has been read throughout history to help us understand how it ought to be read today.

Genesis 17, in response to an heir being born by Sarai, leads to another major covenantal, symbolic ritual called circumcision. What is circumcision, why is it done the way it is done, and why is it so important for the covenant?

An impromptu response to what was a crazy Saturday, we got together at a kitchen table and did the only thing we felt like we could do — connect with the small place where we are to help change the world…beginning with where we are. In the spirit of Pentecost Sunday, our conclusions seem appropriate.