gen 26

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
		26:1 This is the title for the chapter. The bible tells us what happened, and then gives us the details in the following verses.
		26:1The fact that the scripture makes a distinction between the famine of Abraham and the famine of Isaac is significant It is interesting that these famines send people on a  journey. Usually down to Egypt.
		26:2 It is interesting that a similar famine sent Isaac to the same province to a similar king. Note Abimilech is only a title and not a name. It seems consistent to think that it was the Isaac story in chapter 20, rather than the Abraham Sarah story (repeating)
		26:2 The scripture records that the Lord appeared unto Isaac. However it is not clear if this is a face to face meeting or a dream.
		26:2 So Isaac was on his way down to Egypt when the Lord told him not to go.
		26:3-5 Same promise made unto Abraham was being repeated to Isaac.
It is not clear if Isaac shared his ingertiance after the death of Abraham. It seems there might have been some division, granted that Ishmael helped to bury his father.	Note that the fireld was already purchased and unlike funerals today, there was little or no cost associated with paying respect to the dead (Abraham)	26:12-14 Although Abraham had left a great possession for Isaac, it seems that the famine may have withered this inheritance.
		26:15 This verse does not seem to be rightly placed. Instead it should have been placed with 18. Note it is just a duplicate of 18.
	Philistine = "immigrants" A.           an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan
		26:17 it seems consistent that the valley is different from the capital, and that was where Isaac was asked to leave. He then went to the valley to live.
Were these wells stopped prior to Isaac going to Gerar  or were these wells stopped as a result of the envy that the philistines had for Isaac?	It is not clear whether or not the philistines envied Isaac and consequently stopped the wells or if these wells were stopped before.	26:
Why would the Philistines stoop the wells; especially since they could have used the water for themselves?
		26:28It is interesting that these men would make mention of the  Lord, although there were many gods in that land. Either they knew the right God but just rejected to acknowledge him. They had a fear of the true God although they did not recognize Him as King of their lives. The fact that Isaac is now prospering is a testimony to them, and being fearful they seek out refuge. Rather than being the enemy of Isaac they made peace with him realizing that God was with Isaac.
		26:34 Esau takes two wives from among the people that he lived, not sure if this was the Canaanites/Philistines. Judith = "Jewess" or "praised" A.           the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and wife of Esau Bashemath or Basmath = "spice" A.           Hittite wife of Esau, daughter of Ishmael, sister of Nebaioth

gen 25

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
		Keturah=incense
Why is there no emphasis placed upon these children, given that Abraham had these long after, he had had the miracle child Isaac?		25:2 Zimran = "musician" Jokshan = "snarer" Medan = "contention" Midian or Midianite = "strife" Ishbak = "he releases" Shuah = "wealth"
Keturah is only mentioned in verse 1. Then mention is made of concubines in verse 6. Was Keturah a concubine? If not where were her children sent?
Could it be that the nations that are in the middle east have their origin with Abraham?
		25:7 Abraham dies being 175 years old.
		25:8 The promise of the Lord was fulfilled.
Who were these people that Abraham was gathered to?
What does gathered mean?	25:8 It seems it is just an expression that means that a person has passed on, and it is not to be taken literally.
		25:9-11 Abraham was buried in the cave in which Sarah was buried.
	Beer-lahai-roi = "well of the Living One seeing me"
Which well is this, is this the well at which Hagar and Ishmael had an encounter with the Lord while Ishmael was still a young lad?
		25:16 Note Ishmael also had twelve Sons.
		25:17 Ishmael lived to 137 years
		25:20 Note that with the descendants of the righteous line, age and years are mentioned.
		25”20 Note that Laban and Rebekah’s lineage are reckoned as Syrians. It can be assumed that Abraham would also have been reckoned an Assyrian.
		25:21 It seems very interesting that Rebekah would be also barren.
How are we to understand that Rebekah did, when she enquired of the Lord?	Whatever she did it is recorded that she received an answer.
		25:25 Esau = "hairy"
		25:26 Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter"
		25:26 Isaac was married for 20 years before they had the twins. (Esau and Jacob)
		Jacob was described as being plain, however these are the menaings associated with the word: perfect, complete A.           complete, perfect i.one who lacks nothing in physical strength, beauty, etc B.           sound, wholesome  .an ordinary, quiet sort of person C.          complete, morally innocent, having integrity  .one who is morally and ethically pure
		It is notewortht that Edom means red, Consequeently an Edomite is not only the descendant of Esau, but a red person.
What was the birthright?	The right of being born first. There were privileges (inheritance) that only the first born could have. Some have said that in addition to the inheritance, the birthright also came with the promise of the priesthood.	Although this is the first mention of a birthright. It seems that it could be sold, otherwise Jacob’s request would have seen Ludacris. Maybe it was a custom at a time.
Why was it important for Jacob? The request seems out of place, why would Jacob be requesting this.
		After Esau sold his birthright, as could be imagined it was no longer a pleasant thing for him, given that he had already sold it.

Gen 24

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
		24:1 This is a fulfillment of the promise that God had made him.(gen 15:15) Here is a fulfilment also of the scripture math 6:33. Abraham was blessed in all things because he had sought God first.
Was this the same Eliezer of Damascus 15:2?		24:2
Why wasn’t the name of the servant mentioned here?		24:2
Where was Abraham at the time he had made this request ?	If it was important it would have been mentioned.	24:2
Why did Abraham ask the servant to put his hand under his thigh?	It seems that this was a custom for an oath.	24:2
Why did Abraham ask of his servant to not chose from among the canananites for a wife for his son?	One he had the example of what mixing the righteous seed with the unrighteous seed, could bring (gen 6). Also he was fully aware that the people of the land would soon be wiped out, to procreate with them, would have been to extend their lives beyond cananaan. Maybe also he had received instruction from God in this  matter. Gen 24:7	24:4 Note from Gen 11:31 that Nahor of a truth did not leave with Terah, but remained behand in Ur the land of their nativity.
Was the servant doubting?	It was probably more than 70 years that Abraham had left the land of his Nativity. Note there was no phone neither street address as we have them now. What was asked of the servant was a great thing. It was indeed possible that the man could not have found the house, Abraham’s kindred. Nor if he had found a woman, she might not have wanted to come.	24:5 Servant raises a wise rebuttal. This shows that the Holy spirit is with this servant because he makes a wise rebuttal, and the Holy Spirit is the source of all wisdom.
		24:10 Mesopotamia=Aram-naharaim = "Aram of the two rivers" Ur is a city in the large country of Mesopotamia (map below)
		24:10 Note that the servant travelled with ten camels. This may have been for a trade for the woman, as well as for show that the prospective husband had some amount of wealth.
		24:11 Note that there was a special time for women to go to the well to get water.
		24:12 send good speed means, a good encounter, a good meeting. It is believed by some that even thee term Godspeed, means an encounter with God.
Why did the servant say the God of my master Abraham?	It is clear that in the land wherein he dwelt, there were many Gods, so he had to be clear that he was not referring to the any of the other gods. It was as if the servant was saying “I don’t really know you God, but I have seen you work for Abraham, so work for me now.	24:12 Note that the servant acknowledged God, because of the relationship of Abraham with God.
		24:14 The servant seems to ask for a sign because he has never had a face to face talk with God.
		24:15 Here it is that we are seeing that God works through our circumstances, and meets us where we are. Hence we see the servant’s prayer being answered in the way that he had asked.
Why was it necessary to state that Rebekkah was a virgin, if most women in that time who were not married were virgin?
		24:21 The man marvels that his prayer has been answered so quickly. This is a natural process of getting to know God. The more He does things for you, is the more you can testify of Him and the better you get to know Him. Although it is natural to doubt, the servant acted upon what he had prayed, we should follow that example. For confirmation from the Lord we should act upon the answer received.
Was it that  the servant was surrendered that his request was in line with God’s will, or was it on the account that the servant had asked that Rebekah is urged by the unseen hand to make the offer?
		Note what the servant did. He did not go back to God to question the event he witnessed, but instead acted upon his prayer. It would seem that the servant gets another confirmation by asking if there is room in the house. Again Rebecca answers including his camels in her answer. When Rebecca reveals however that she is the granddaughter of Nahor, the servant could no longer hold his peace and worships the Lord audibly.
		24:26 The servant having experienced the miracle now had a testimony (a personal experience) of the Lord. Consequently, he could worship in sincerity. Now the servant was converted. He would now praise the God of Abraham, surely. The servant’s faith was strengthened.
		24:27 Note that the servant proclaims how miraculous the finding of Rebecca is. He could have gone any which way, he could have spoken to any which woman; yet he found himself talking to Nahor’s (kin to Abraham) only mentioned grand-daughter.
		24:28 Rebecca goes to tell the story of how the servant of Abraham met her by the well.
		24:31 Abraham was a well beloved of the house of Nahor. As a result Laban greets him in seemingly an excited tone.
		24:40 The servant testifies of the sureness of the events that would unfold.
		24:50 Note that the testimony was so convincing and the people were so God fearing that they did not question the servants request or story.
		24:58 Note how willingly Rebeca agrees to go, although her family is a little hesitant about sending her.
Is this nurse someone who has been looking after Rebecca since she was a child, or is this a nurse as in the custom of sending a concubine with a wife-to-be?	Based on the mention of damsels in verse 61, it seems that this nurse was the woman who took care  of Rebecca since she was a child.  The damsels mentioned seemed to be in keeping with the custom of sending other women  with the wife-to be.	24:60 The blessing pronounced upon Rebecca seem to be evidence that they too were in touch with the Lord, and He had advised them.
		24:63 Just imagine the anxiety that must have filled Isaac’s heart when he saw the camels coming. Was the servant successful, did he find a wife? Must have been questions that plagued his mind at the time.
Is this  where the custom originated to cover up your face before the marriage?		24:65
Why did Rebecca put a vail over her face?
Did Sarah already die when Rebecca was presented into her tent?	It could mean that Isaac was mourning the death of his mother until he had taken a wife, filling the void. The fact that Isaac takes Rebecca into his mother tent, is a direct hint that Isaac was filling  the void of losing his mother, with Rebecca.	24:67
What kind of marriage service was conducted	The marriage vow came before the actual consummation of the marriage. Note the ceremony concluded in Sarah’s tent.
Was this where the precedent was established that the bride would leave her house and go live with the bride groom’s father/house?	It seems plausible, given tat Abraham is reckoned as the father of the faithful,,,not Terah Abraham’s father.