BIBL 410 :COMPLETE WEEK 7 STUDY QUESTIONS WITH
ACCURATE ANSWERS –LIBERTY
WEEKLY STUDY QUESTIONS 7
Isaac: Jacob and Esau
Answer thoroughly the following questions based on this module/week’s Reading & Study
material:
1. Who is Eliezer?
a. “The ‘eldest servant of his house’ (v. 2) is not named, but commentators almost
unanimously identify him with Eliezer, whom Abraham had previously proposed
to be the heir to his property (15:2)” (Davis 1998, 227).
2. Remember the discussion about the location of Ur (Module/Week 5)? Does the location
of the city of Nahor, as given by Davis, influence the location of Ur? Explain your
answer.
a. According to the scholars of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Abraham sent his servant
to his "country and kindred," the city of Nahor, which is not in southern Ur, but in
northern Mesopotamia. There is obviously a contradiction as to where Abraham
grew up because scripture says he came from Haran, which is believed to be in
Ur.
3. Why was Eliezer’s journey successful?
a. “The servant’s journey, as it turned out, was an immediate success. This was not
because of his natural genius but because of his persistent prayer and his
sensitivity to God’s Spirit” (Davis 1998, 230).
4. What does the mentioning of Ishmael and his sons tell us about God?
a. “The mention of Ishmael at the funeral of Abraham gave the writer occasion to
point out that God’s promises to this man (cf. 16:10ff. and 17:20) had been
fulfilled. The names of the twelve princes descending from Ishmael are applied
not only to tribal divisions but also to geographical localities (cf. v. 16)” (Davis
1998, 231)
5. “The elder shall serve the younger,” tells us what about God?
a. Rebekah was pregnant with twin boys and God chose the younger one to be
Isaac’s heir. “This was contrary to ancient near Eastern custom, but the elective
purposes of God transcend custom. Esau (the eldest) became the progenitor of the
Edomites, Jacob (the younger) of the Israelites” (Davis 1998, 232).
6. Explain in detail the patriarchal custom of the birthright.
a. “The eldest son enjoyed particular privileges in the ancient patriarchal household.
During his father’s lifetime he took precedence over his brothers (Gen. 43:33);
, after his father died, he received a double share of the inheritance (Deut. 21:17)
and became head and priest (cf. Exod. 22:29; Num. 8:14-17; Deut. 21-17) of the
family. He could lose the rights of primogeniture, however, if he committed a
grave offense: “The status of the first-born was thus bound up with
responsibilities and obligations on the one hand, and rights, privileges, and
prerogatives on the other, including a double portion of the patrimony. All these
were formalized by the father’s testamentary blessing” (Davis 1998, 232-233).
7. What practical lesson can parents learn from the story of Jacob and Esau?
a. “Esau was a rugged individualist, and he regularly supplied his father with
venison, which he loved. The conflict and tragedy which follow in the family
provide a practical warning to parents who give one child preferential treatment
over another” (Davis 1998, 233)
8. When a famine hit the land, what did Isaac do? Be thorough.
a. “Famine struck the land, as it had during Abraham’s early days in Canaan (cf.
12:10). Gerar was not as affected by the drought as the less fertile regions of the
Negev, so Isaac and his family went there in search of food. The king of the
region was Abimelech. He may have been the same king with whom Abraham
had had dealings, but since ninety-seven years had passed since Abraham’s first
treaty with Abimelech (21:8, 22; 25:26, 26:34), the Abimelech of this chapter
probably was not the one in 21:22. As had been previously observed, Abimelech is
in all likelihood a dynastic title. The Lord appeared to Isaac, perhaps in a
theophany, and instructed him not to continue into Egypt (v. 2), a prohibition
which had not been given to Abraham. The Lord promised that if Isaac remained
in Canaan, He would continue to bless Isaac’s family and fulfill His covenant
promises. While in Gerar Isaac fell prey to the same lie that Abraham had used
for at least twenty-five years. Fearing that Abimelech would kill him to take his
attractive wife, he declared Rebekah his sister (v. 7)” (Davis 1998, 233-234).
9. What do the weaknesses of biblical characters tell us about the Bible?
a. “Isaac’s lie and his preferential treatment of Esau are blotches on his life. Again
we are reminded that only a divinely inspired text would have preserved in such
detail these weaknesses” (Davis 1998, 234).
10. Which of the interpretations of Isaac’s promise to Esau makes the most sense to you?
a. “Isaac’s promise in verse 39 has been interpreted in two ways, differing on the
force of the preposition min: “thy dwelling shall be in the fatness of the earth”;
and “thy dwelling shall be away from the fatness of the earth.” The first
interpretation, which is implied in the Authorized Version, would make this
essentially the same as the blessing of Jacob in verse 28. The second, however,
makes this more of a curse: the Edomites would inhabit a region less fertile than
Canaan. The Interpretation of Isaac’s promise to Esau that makes the most sense
to me is his dwelling being away from the richness of the earth” (Davis 1998,
238).
ACCURATE ANSWERS –LIBERTY
WEEKLY STUDY QUESTIONS 7
Isaac: Jacob and Esau
Answer thoroughly the following questions based on this module/week’s Reading & Study
material:
1. Who is Eliezer?
a. “The ‘eldest servant of his house’ (v. 2) is not named, but commentators almost
unanimously identify him with Eliezer, whom Abraham had previously proposed
to be the heir to his property (15:2)” (Davis 1998, 227).
2. Remember the discussion about the location of Ur (Module/Week 5)? Does the location
of the city of Nahor, as given by Davis, influence the location of Ur? Explain your
answer.
a. According to the scholars of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Abraham sent his servant
to his "country and kindred," the city of Nahor, which is not in southern Ur, but in
northern Mesopotamia. There is obviously a contradiction as to where Abraham
grew up because scripture says he came from Haran, which is believed to be in
Ur.
3. Why was Eliezer’s journey successful?
a. “The servant’s journey, as it turned out, was an immediate success. This was not
because of his natural genius but because of his persistent prayer and his
sensitivity to God’s Spirit” (Davis 1998, 230).
4. What does the mentioning of Ishmael and his sons tell us about God?
a. “The mention of Ishmael at the funeral of Abraham gave the writer occasion to
point out that God’s promises to this man (cf. 16:10ff. and 17:20) had been
fulfilled. The names of the twelve princes descending from Ishmael are applied
not only to tribal divisions but also to geographical localities (cf. v. 16)” (Davis
1998, 231)
5. “The elder shall serve the younger,” tells us what about God?
a. Rebekah was pregnant with twin boys and God chose the younger one to be
Isaac’s heir. “This was contrary to ancient near Eastern custom, but the elective
purposes of God transcend custom. Esau (the eldest) became the progenitor of the
Edomites, Jacob (the younger) of the Israelites” (Davis 1998, 232).
6. Explain in detail the patriarchal custom of the birthright.
a. “The eldest son enjoyed particular privileges in the ancient patriarchal household.
During his father’s lifetime he took precedence over his brothers (Gen. 43:33);
, after his father died, he received a double share of the inheritance (Deut. 21:17)
and became head and priest (cf. Exod. 22:29; Num. 8:14-17; Deut. 21-17) of the
family. He could lose the rights of primogeniture, however, if he committed a
grave offense: “The status of the first-born was thus bound up with
responsibilities and obligations on the one hand, and rights, privileges, and
prerogatives on the other, including a double portion of the patrimony. All these
were formalized by the father’s testamentary blessing” (Davis 1998, 232-233).
7. What practical lesson can parents learn from the story of Jacob and Esau?
a. “Esau was a rugged individualist, and he regularly supplied his father with
venison, which he loved. The conflict and tragedy which follow in the family
provide a practical warning to parents who give one child preferential treatment
over another” (Davis 1998, 233)
8. When a famine hit the land, what did Isaac do? Be thorough.
a. “Famine struck the land, as it had during Abraham’s early days in Canaan (cf.
12:10). Gerar was not as affected by the drought as the less fertile regions of the
Negev, so Isaac and his family went there in search of food. The king of the
region was Abimelech. He may have been the same king with whom Abraham
had had dealings, but since ninety-seven years had passed since Abraham’s first
treaty with Abimelech (21:8, 22; 25:26, 26:34), the Abimelech of this chapter
probably was not the one in 21:22. As had been previously observed, Abimelech is
in all likelihood a dynastic title. The Lord appeared to Isaac, perhaps in a
theophany, and instructed him not to continue into Egypt (v. 2), a prohibition
which had not been given to Abraham. The Lord promised that if Isaac remained
in Canaan, He would continue to bless Isaac’s family and fulfill His covenant
promises. While in Gerar Isaac fell prey to the same lie that Abraham had used
for at least twenty-five years. Fearing that Abimelech would kill him to take his
attractive wife, he declared Rebekah his sister (v. 7)” (Davis 1998, 233-234).
9. What do the weaknesses of biblical characters tell us about the Bible?
a. “Isaac’s lie and his preferential treatment of Esau are blotches on his life. Again
we are reminded that only a divinely inspired text would have preserved in such
detail these weaknesses” (Davis 1998, 234).
10. Which of the interpretations of Isaac’s promise to Esau makes the most sense to you?
a. “Isaac’s promise in verse 39 has been interpreted in two ways, differing on the
force of the preposition min: “thy dwelling shall be in the fatness of the earth”;
and “thy dwelling shall be away from the fatness of the earth.” The first
interpretation, which is implied in the Authorized Version, would make this
essentially the same as the blessing of Jacob in verse 28. The second, however,
makes this more of a curse: the Edomites would inhabit a region less fertile than
Canaan. The Interpretation of Isaac’s promise to Esau that makes the most sense
to me is his dwelling being away from the richness of the earth” (Davis 1998,
238).
