Genesis 35:16-29 Jacob continues his journey back home to his father's house. While encamped near Migdal Eder (the Tower of the Flock) Reuben, his first born son, commits an atrocious act. What was the significance of Reuben's deed? Finally reunited with his father, Jacob is there when Isaac dies, and Jacob joins Esau, his once estranged brother, in burying him. On the journey to Migdal Eder, Rachel dies in giving birth to Jacob's twelfth son, Benjamin. What is the profound significance of this story about Rachel's travail and Benjamin's birth? How can we draw encouragement from it? (56 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Rachel, Bethlehem, Benjamin, Migdal Eder

Genesis 35:8-15 Why does our narrator bring up the death and burial of Deborah, of whom we know virtually nothing? A striking and important aspect of today's passage is the number of things which occur which have occurred before. What is the significance of all of the repetitions? Among these are Jacob's return to Bethel, even as Abraham returned to Bethel, God's second appearance to Jacob at Bethel, God's renaming of Jacob, and God’s restating again, for the twelfth time, the covenant promises. What are the lessons we can learn from Bethel that have application in our own experiences? (50 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Bethel, Covenant

Genesis 35:1-8 God uses the disasters at Shechem to move Jacob on to Bethel. Shechem was never intended to be a destination, only a portal to another place. What happens when we get stuck at Shechem, and why is it important that we move on to Bethel? How do we become like the world when we define our spirituality by how we are not like the world? What encouraging change do we see in Jacob in this part of his life? Do we really practice idolatry in our modern world, and if so, how? (57 min)

Keywords Jacob, Shechem, Idols, Bethel

Genesis 34:8-31 Shechem's rape of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, triggered a sequence of events which helped shape the future of the nation of Israel, and which provide us with important spiritual lessons for our lives today. What was enticing about the offer Hamor made to Jacob? Why was it perilous to Jacob? What was wrong with the counter offer made by Jacob's sons? How is their abuse of circumcision paralleled in our modern day? Why does scripture censure the retribution of Simeon and Levi, yet clearly condones the wars involved in the conquest of Canaan? How did God turn these disastrous circumstances into good for His purposes? (59 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Dinah, Simeon, Levi

Genesis 34:1-12 Instead of stopping only briefly at Shechem, Jacob spends many years there, with tragic consequences for his family. When Dinah goes out to visit the daughters of the land, she is taken and raped by the prince Shechem. What happens when we fail to obey God and more forward in our relationship with HIm? What are the interpretive flags that help us to understand what God is teaching us in this passage? Why is so little said of Jacob's reaction to the rape of his daughter? Why is so little said about the actual rape, but so much more said about the events the rape precipitated? Why is Jacob's passivity so dangerous? (63 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Dinah, Leah