Resumo de Jacob - The Bible

Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah and brother of Esau. His paternal grandparents are Abraham and Sarah. While Esau and Jacob are twins, Esau is the firstborn, a position that gives him certain advantages. Jacob however, is very conniving, and as the story shows is not above deceiving his brother. One day when Esau has just returned from hunting, and is very hungry, Jacob demands that he sell him his birthright in exchange for food. Esau agrees, and Jacob has taken away the first of his brother?s privileges. While Esau could certainly be taken to task for placing such small importance on his birthright, the episode clears shows the flaws in Jacob?s character. Later with their mother?s help, he also steals his brother?s blessing, something always reserved for the firstborn. This time he has gone too far, and his brother vows revenge. Fearing for his life, Jacob flees the country, and on the advise of his parents, goes to live with his uncle Laban, his mother?s brother.

While journeying to Pandanaram, where his uncle Laban lives, Jacob has a dream of a ladder set up on the earth and with the top reaching to heaven, with angels of God ascending and descending on it. Above the ladder stands the Lord God, who tells Jacob that he will bless him and take care of him wherever he goes. He also promises to make of him a great nation, and to give him this land, the land of Caanan, for his inheritance. On awakening Jacob is afraid, but here he makes a vow that if God will indeed watch over him, and bring him safely back to his homeland, then the Lord will be his God, and he will give a tenth of his income to him.

Jacob?s uncle Laban has two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Jacob falls in love with Rachel, and agrees to stay with his uncle and serve him seven years, in exchange for her hand in marriage. At the end of the seven years however, Laban deceives Jacob and has him marry Leah instead of Rachel. When confronted by Jacob, Laban replies that according to their custom, the firstborn must marry before her younger sister. Laban does however, allow Jacob to marry Rachel the following week, but Jacob must give him another seven years of service.

Jacob lives a long and adventurous life fathering twelve sons, and becoming a very rich man. He is no longer the defrauding man of his youth, but a true follower of God. He dies in Egypt at the age of one hundred and forty-seven years.

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