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Overview
In this study, pastor John Mac Arthur will guide you through an in-depth look at the historical period beginning with Jacob's first encounter with Rachel, continuing through their son Joseph's captivity as an Egyptian slave, and concluding with the dramatic rescue of Jacob's family.
This study includes close-up examinations of Dinah (Jacob's daughter), Judah, Tamar, and Pharaoh's chief butler, as well as careful considerations of doctrinal themes such as "The Sovereignty of God" and "Finishing in Faith."
—ABOUT THE SERIES—
The Mac Arthur Bible Study series is designed to help you study the Word of God with guidance from widely respected pastor and author John Mac Arthur. Each guide provides intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture by examining its parts and incorporates:
- Extensive, but straight-forward commentary on the text.
- Detailed observations on overriding themes, timelines, history, and context.
- Word and phrase studies to help you unlock the broader meaning and apply it to your life.
- Probing, interactive questions with plenty of space to write down your response and thoughts.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780718034573 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperChristian Resources |
| Publication date: | 12/01/2015 |
| Series: | MacArthur Bible Studies |
| Pages: | 128 |
| Sales rank: | 950,393 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Genesis 34â"50
Jacob and Egypt
By John MacArthur
Thomas Nelson
Copyright © 2008 John MacArthurAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7180-3457-3
CHAPTER 1
The Daughter of Jacob
Genesis 33:18–34:31
Drawing Near
Jacob had a large family, with twelve sons and one daughter. What are some of the challenges that come with being in a family that has many brothers and sisters?
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The Context
Our study opens with Jacob and his family living in Canaan at Shechem (see the map in the Introduction), where Jacob had journeyed after reconciling with his twin brother, Esau. By this time Jacob, also called Israel, had lived there for several years, and he had even purchased a parcel of land to live on. This was the first time that a descendant of Abraham had purchased land in Canaan, as far as we are told in Genesis, and it suggests that Jacob was settling down in Canaan.
Jacob, as you will recall, had two wives and two concubines. He had spent many years working for his uncle Laban, and during that time had fallen in love with Laban's younger daughter, Rachel. He had asked Laban for permission to marry Rachel, and Laban had agreed on one condition: Jacob would work for seven years to earn her hand. Jacob readily agreed to this condition, but at the end of the seven years, Laban tricked him by giving him his older daughter, Leah, instead of Rachel. Jacob then worked for another seven years to earn the hand of Rachel.
As time went on, Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah and made no effort to disguise the fact. This must have caused Leah deep grief, but the Lord comforted her by giving her six sons, while Rachel remained barren. Rachel, in turn, became jealous of her sister's fertility, and she persuaded Jacob to produce children through her maidservant. (The maidservant's children would have been viewed as being Rachel's.) Leah responded as though it were a competition, and she gave Jacob her maidservant. This competition continued between the two sisters, and Leah had another two sons and a daughter in the process — while Rachel had none.
Rachel eventually cried out to the Lord in her grief, and He showed His mercy and opened her womb. She gave birth to Joseph and later to Benjamin. Jacob eventually had a total of twelve sons, as well as at least one daughter. We will meet Jacob's twelve sons in the next study, but for now we will look at his daughter, Dinah. Dinah was the youngest of Leah's children, and she was probably between the ages of fourteen to sixteen at the time our passage opens.
In Jacob's day, it would have been unusual for a teenage girl to go wandering alone about the streets of a strange city. Yet this evidently is precisely what Dinah was about to do. We are not told the reasons for her excursion, but, as we shall see, the results would be quite dramatic.
Keys to the Text
Read Genesis 33:18–34:31, noting the key words and phrases indicated below.
Jacob in Canaan: After reconciling with his brother, Jacob takes his family to Succoth and then hsettles near the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan.
33:18. CAME SAFELY: This statement refers to the fulfillment of Jacob's vow made at Bethel when, after departing from Canaan, he looked to God for the 3 a safe return. Previously, Jacob had pledged to give a tithe (one-tenth of his possessions) back to God on arriving in Canaan (see Genesis 28:20–22). Presumably, he fulfilled this pledge at Shechem or, later, at Bethel (see 35:1).
19. BOUGHT THE PARCEL OF LAND WHERE HE HAD PITCHED HIS tent: This purchase became only the second piece of real estate legally belonging to Abraham's line in the Promised Land (see Genesis 23:17–18; 25:9–10). However, the land was not Abraham's and his descendants simply because they bought it but, rather, because God owned it all (see Leviticus 25:23) and gave it to them for their exclusive domain.
20. ERECTED AN ALTAR: Jacob built an altar in the place where Abraham had previously erected one (see Genesis 12:6–7) and marked the spot with a new name: El Elohe Israel, which means "God, the God of Israel." In this way, Jacob declared that he worshiped the "Mighty One." The word Israel perhaps foreshadowed its use for the nation with which it rapidly became associated, even when it consisted of not much more than Jacob's extended household.
Dinah Goes Out: So it is that Jacob purchases land in Shechem and settles his family there. One day, his daughter, Dinah, decides to go exploring on her own.
34:1. Dinah: Dinah was the eleventh child in Jacob's family, born to Leah after her sixth son, Zebulun (see Genesis 30:20–21).
WENT OUT TO SEE THE DAUGHTERS OF THE LAND: The meaning of this phrase is uncertain. Josephus, the Jewish historian, claimed this event occurred during a Canaanite festival and that Dinah went to see the women's finery. Apparently she went by herself, which would have been unusual in that culture. Ordinarily, a young woman would have been accompanied at least by her mother and female servants, and most likely also by her brothers. It is quite possible, then, that Dinah sneaked away without her father's consent.
2. Shechem: The city in which Jacob and his family were living was evidently also a family name within the tribe of Canaanites who lived there. Places frequently took their names from the tribe or leader who settled there. In this case, Shechem was the son of the region's ruler. The fact that Jacob had purchased a piece of land from Shechem suggests that he was planning on settling there. This was not God's plan, however, and Jacob's decision to settle with the Canaanites led to evil consequences.
Tragedy Strikes: Young Dinah was not protected by her brothers, who were tending their flocks in the fields. A wealthy young ruler took advantage of her vulnerability.
SAW HER ... TOOK HER ... LAY WITH HER ... VIOLATED HER: This is a profound picture of the cycle of sin. Shechem indulged the desire of his eyes, then reached out and took what he lusted after (as Eve did in Genesis 3), and then committed sin. This sin brought forth death, as it always does: "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death" (James 1:14–15).
3. STRONGLY ATTRACTED: This phrase is a single Hebrew word meaning "to cling to" or "to be joined with." It is the same word translated joined in Genesis 2:24: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Despite the violence of Shechem's crime, he joined his soul with Dinah's.
HE LOVED THE YOUNG WOMAN: Shechem's sin was not undone or made right by his subsequent love toward Dinah. The same is true today. Neither is sin atoned for by our regrets, or even by our attempts to "make it up" to someone we have injured.
4. Get me this young woman as a wife: This is actually quite close to God's law given through Moses: "If a man finds a young woman who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are found out, then the man who lay with her shall give to the young woman's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife because he has humbled her; he shall not be permitted to divorce her all his days" (Deuteronomy 22:28–29).
5. he had defiled Dinah: The word defile means "to soil or pollute, to corrupt morally, or to make unfit for holy purposes." This is a serious concept, and it underscores the importance of sexual purity in God's people. Shechem had stolen something precious from Dinah and had corrupted her in the process.
Jacob held his peace until they came: Some have suggested that Jacob was looking to his sons for guidance in this matter. However, his reticence may simply have been the course of wisdom, whereby he sought counsel and took his time before reacting. Still, Jacob himself should have exerted the godly leadership in this situation. His sons' subsequent actions suggest he was not a strong leader in his own household.
7. the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it: The brothers' initial response to this crime was proper: they dropped what they were doing and rushed to help. God's people today should be equally quick to draw together when a brother or sister is in difficulties.
HE HAD DONE A DISGRACEFUL THING: Sexual immorality has become so common in our culture that Christians are prone to turn a blind eye to it. But this is not the way God sees promiscuity: in His eyes, sexual intercourse outside the bounds of marriage is a grave wickedness. It is a disgraceful thing when God's people fail to keep themselves sexually pure — it is "a thing which ought not to be done" (verse 7).
Shechem Repents: The young prince Shechem has committed a terrible crime against Dinah, but he quickly repents and tries to make restitution..
8. GIVE HER TO HIM AS A WIFE: On the surface this was a reasonable request from Hamor, the father of Shechem, and it was in keeping with God's law. Dinah's honor had been violated, and it would have been difficult for her to find a husband in the future. The problem, however, was that the Canaanites did not serve God, and the people of Israel were not to intermarry with the world around them. It is understandable that Jacob was hesitant to make a decision here, as he was in a difficult position.
9. MAKE MARRIAGES WITH US: Abraham and Isaac had charged their sons not to take wives from among the Canaanites (see Genesis 24; 28:1), and Jacob understood this principle. God's people are not to intermarry with those who do not serve Him, because it is similar to yoking together an ox and a donkey: the two animals are completely different and will attempt to plow in different directions. "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14).
10. THE LAND SHALL BE BEFORE YOU: Hamor's offer was perfectly legitimate, even generous: "Settle with us; trade with us; become one of us; own land and homes." But the Lord had already promised the land to Abraham's descendants, so from God's perspective it wasn't Hamor's to give. The Lord intended for His people to live as pilgrims and strangers in the land during Jacob's day (see Hebrews 11:9–10), and it was not time yet for the nation of Israel to settle into Canaan.
11. Let me find favor in your eyes: Shechem was asking for forgiveness, and he made it clear he was willing to make whatever restitution for his crime that Dinah's family demanded. His crime was grievous, but his sorrow seemed genuine. Shechem's behavior here was honorable.
The Brothers Conspire: Jacob's sons are unwilling to accept Shechem's offer of restitution. Instead, they plot to get revenge.
13. the sons of Jacob ... spoke deceitfully: Jacob's life had been characterized by deceit and craftiness, and now his sons were following in his footsteps.
because he had defiled Dinah their sister: There is no question that Shechem's violence toward Dinah was wicked, but all sin is wicked in the eyes of God. The young man had repented of his sin and expressed a desired to make whatever restitution was required. But the brothers responded with wickedness of their own.
14. We cannot ... give our sister to one who is uncircumcised: This statement from Jacob's sons was actually true, as the Lord did not want His people to intermarry with the Canaanites. But the Mosaic Law (which had not yet been given) made provisions for Gentiles to be circumcised and sojourn with God's people. The Lord's reason for selecting a chosen people in the first place was to make His grace evident to the entire world — not to simply bless the descendants of Abraham. Jacob's sons were grossly misusing God's provisions of grace to serve their own ends of revenge. "My beloved brethren, let every man be ... slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:19–20).
THAT WOULD BE A REPROACH TO US: Ironically, what the sons of Jacob were about to do would also be a great reproach to them.
15. If you will become as we are: Here again we find an ironic statement, as Shechem was the one who was being honorable in this conversation, while the sons of Jacob were acting dishonorably.
16. WE WILL BECOME ONE PEOPLE: This remark from Jacob's sons was an outright lie. As Paul wrote, "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another" (Ephesians 4:25).
19. THE YOUNG MAN DID NOT DELAY: This proved Shechem's words were genuine, as he did not delay to do what Dinah's family required in making amends for his sin.
He was more honorable than all the household of his father: This can be taken two ways. It indicates that Shechem was held in high esteem by his countrymen, as demonstrated by the fact that the men of the city submitted themselves to the painful and debilitating rite of circumcision. It also means that Shechem's actions, at least in part, were motivated by a genuine sorrow, while the actions of his father's household apparently were motivated by a desire for financial gain.
23. Will not their ... property ... be ours: This seems to suggest that Hamor and Shechem were at least slightly motivated by the prospect of financial gain.
Overkill: Jacob's sons take matters into their own hands and go far beyond justice in carrying out their vengeance.
24. EVERY MALE WAS CIRCUMCISED: God made the covenant of circumcision with Abraham (see Genesis 17:9–13) as an outward sign that his household and descendants had cut off the flesh and entered into a new relationship of peace with the Lord. The rite was to be carried out when a boy was only eight days old, though it also permitted circumcision of adult men. Circumcision of an adult, however, was painful and incapacitating — as Jacob's sons were well aware. They were not interested in seeing the Canaanites make a covenant of peace with God; rather, they were concerned with satisfying their own lust for revenge.
25. Simeon and Levi: Simeon and Levi were the second and third sons of Jacob. In the next study we will discuss how Jacob's firstborn son, Reuben, committed a gross sin that made him unfit to receive the birthright of the firstborn, but this sin by Simeon and Levi may be part of the reason why they also did not receive the birthright. That honor would eventually be passed to Judah, who was fourth in line. Jesus was born through the line of Judah — not through Reuben, Simeon, or Levi.
26. they killed Hamor and Shechem: The punishment required by Mosaic Law was for Shechem to make restitution and marry the woman he had violated — not for the young man's death, and certainly not for the death of his family. Yet Jacob's sons went beyond even that extremity and slaughtered all the men of the city. This was nothing but the indulgence of bloodlust, and there was no justice in it.
27. The sons of Jacob: Simeon and Levi were guilty of murder, but all the sons apparently took a share in the guilt by plundering the dead. This sad perversion of family unity would repeat itself when the brothers united together to murder Joseph.
30. THEY WILL GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER AGAINST ME AND KILL ME: Jacob's primary concern was his own safety, not the people who were slain or the wicked behavior of his sons. The sad irony is that Jacob would not have been faced with this danger if he had avoided settling in Shechem in the first place.
31. Should he treat our sister like a harlot: The sons of Jacob were trying to justify their wickedness, but Shechem's honorable attempts at restitution point accusingly at their guilt. In the long run, Shechem had not treated Dinah like a harlot.
Unleashing the Text
1) What motivated Dinah to go into town on her own? Do you think her actions were justified or unwise? Why? the
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2) What motivated Dinah's brothers to carry out such a bloody revenge? If you had been in their place, what would you have done?
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3) Do you think Shechem's sorrow was genuine or insincere? Was his offer of marriage a sufficient recompense for what he had done? Support your answers from this passage.
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4) If you had been in Jacob's place, how would you have responded to Shechem's repentance?
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Exploring the Meaning
God's people must live as pilgrims and strangers in this world. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the entire land of Canaan, but he himself was called to live like a nomad, moving from place to place without ever inheriting a single acre. The New Testament uses his example to teach us that Christians will inherit the eternal kingdom of God — but that kingdom is not of this world, and we must not lose sight of that fact.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Genesis 34â"50 by John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008 John MacArthur. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction, v,1. The Daughter of Jacob Genesis 33:18–34:31, 1,
2. The Sons of Jacob Genesis 35:1–29; 37:1–36, 15,
3. Judah and Tamar Genesis 38:1–29, 27,
4. Joseph the Slave Genesis 39:1–23, 37,
5. Pharaoh's Chief Butler Genesis 40:1–23, 49,
6. Joseph the Ruler Genesis 41:1–57, 59,
7. Joseph's Tests Genesis 42:1–43:34, 69,
8. A Family Reconciled Genesis 44:1–45:15, 81,
9. Rescuing Jacob's Family Genesis 45:16–47:12, 93,
10. Jacob Finishes in Faith Genesis 47:13–48:22, 103,
11. The Sovereignty of God Genesis 49:1–50:21, 113,
12. Reviewing Key Principles, 123,
