REALS Research Institute

Chapter 34Chapter 34 records the tragic incident involving Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. Dinah goes out to visit the women of the land, but she is violated by Shechem, the leader of the region. Afterward, Shechem seeks to marry her and approaches Jacob with a proposal (verses 1–12). Jacob’s sons respond deceitfully, demanding circumcision as a condition for marriage. While the men of Shechem are..

Chapter 31In Chapter 31, as Jacob’s wealth continues to increase, Laban grows jealous, leading to serious conflict between them. After spending more than twenty years in his uncle Laban’s household, Jacob prepares to return to his homeland in obedience to God’s will. This return fulfills the vow Jacob made in Genesis 28:21. Conflict arises over possessions, and through this situation, God instru..

Chapter 28Beginning with Chapter 28, Jacob’s long journey as a wanderer begins. Isaac commands Jacob to go to Paddan-aram, the home of his mother’s family, to find a wife, and he blesses him before sending him away (verses 1–5). Meanwhile, Esau attempts to gain his parents’ approval by marrying a daughter of Ishmael, who belongs to Abraham’s lineage (verses 6–9). On his way to Haran, Jacob encou..

Chapter 26In Chapter 26, Isaac moves to Gerar because of a famine in Canaan. While living there, he deceives others by saying that Rebekah is his sister in order to protect his own life. Nevertheless, God preserves Isaac and continues to bless him (verses 1–16). Conflict arises between Isaac and the people of Gerar over the ownership of wells. Despite repeated disputes and the loss of wells, Isa..

Chapter 24Chapter 24 describes the process by which Isaac, the heir of the covenant, is married. After the death of his wife Sarah, Abraham hastens to arrange Isaac’s marriage. Two important principles guide this process: Isaac’s wife must be chosen from among Abraham’s relatives, and Isaac must not be taken back to Haran. Abraham sends his faithful and trusted elderly servant to his distant hom..

Chapter 21Chapter 21 records the birth of Isaac, the heir of the covenant. God gives Abraham and Sarah the promised son at the very time He had spoken, fulfilling His word. Isaac is born 25 years after Abraham was first called at the age of 75(verses 1–7). Isaac is circumcised on the eighth day and grows as the heir of God’s promised inheritance. However, Ishmael, who was born through Hagar, moc..

Chapter 19Chapter 19 clearly reveals God’s justice, as He executes thorough judgment against sin through the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It describes the extreme wickedness of these cities, which turned away from God and pursued only pleasure (verses 1–14). At the same time, the chapter records God’s love and grace in saving Lot and his family even in the midst of severe judgment (verses ..

Chapter 17Thirteen years after Abram had Ishmael by Hagar, God appears to Abram and renews His covenant, commanding him to receive circumcision (verses 1–14). Circumcision becomes the most important sign by which the people of Israel distinguish themselves from the Gentiles, and Chapter 17 records the origin of this covenantal sign. God also changes the names of Abram and Sarai, thereby guarante..

Chapter 14Chapter 14 records the first war in human history. The invading forces were four kingdoms from the north of Palestine—Shinar, Ellasar, Elam, and Goiim—while the attacked region consisted of five cities in the southern Jordan Valley: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar. In this war, Lot is taken captive (verses 1–12). In order to rescue Lot, Abram intervenes with his southern alli..

Chapter 11Chapter 11 records the Tower of Babel incident and the genealogies of Shem and Terah. After the flood, as humanity began to multiply again, people once more revealed their pride before God. Those who had experienced the flood sought to build a great city and a tower reaching high into the sky, uniting around it in order to avoid being scattered and to escape God’s judgment (verses 1–6)..