...................................................................LET US LEARN TOGETHER WHAT IS GOOD. Job 34:4b(NIV)................................................................Some people see the Bible as a long and boring book filled with incidents and events from the lives of ancient people who probably never existed. The biblical stories are seen as fables. Romans 15:4 (KJV) reveals: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. In this blog, many of the situations and conversations found in the divinely inspired Scriptures of the Holy Bible have been placed in categories that correspond to expressive sayings and phrases. Reference information, background information and links connecting the people and places are given to help you find a place to begin reading the Bible for yourself.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

More Plus More Because of the Lord

Isaac

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold:
and the LORD blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him
.
-Genesis 26:12-14***The Philistines and Egyptians descended from Noah the ark builder, and Noah's son Ham, and Ham's son Mizraim. The Arameans descended from Noah's son Shem and Shem's son Aram. The Israelites descended from Shem's son Arphaxad, Arphaxad's great-great-great-great-great-grandson Terah, Terah's children Abraham (Abram the Hebrew) and Sarah (Sarai), their son Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and Isaac and Rebekah's youngest fraternal twin son Jacob (Israel). The divinely inspired Scriptures of the Holy Bible reveal that Abraham, Sarah, Nahor (Nachor), and Haran
were born to Terah. Lot and Milcah were born to Haran. Bethuel the Syrian (Aramean) was born to Nahor and Milcah. Laban the Syrian (Aramean) and Rebekah were born to Bethuel. Abraham was living in Ur, in southern Mesopotamia, when the Lord God appeared to him and told Abraham to go out from his country and kin and come into the land he would be shown. Abraham journeyed away from Ur with his wife Sarah, their father Terah and nephew Lot and began living in Haran, in northern Mesopotamia. Sometime after 205-year-old Terah died in Haran, 75-year-old Abraham, 65-year-old Sarah, and Lot journeyed with their servants and possessions to Canaan, land inhabited by idolaters that the Lord God promised to give to Abraham's descendants and childless Abraham. During a famine, Abraham, Sarah and Lot went to Egypt, and they returned to Canaan with the servants and animals that Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave Abraham due to an incident involving Sarah. When Lot moved away and began living near Sodom, Abraham's fortune included tents, silver and gold. Ishmael was born to 86-year-old Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian maidservant. Abraham was 99 years old when the Lord God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. Abraham circumcised 13-year-old Ishmael, and Abraham and all the males throughout Abraham's home and property were immediately circumcised. In Gerar, King Abimelech, the Philistine ruler, took Sarah. After the Lord God spoke to Abimelech and warned him, Abimelech gave Abraham sheep, cattle and servants. Isaac was born to 100-year-old Abraham and 90-year-old Sarah. On the 8th day after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised Isaac. The Holy Bible reveals that Ishmael was born according to flesh and Isaac was born through the promise. Years after Isaac was born, Abraham was able to show the depth of his faith in the Lord God. Sarah was 127 years old when she died. Isaac was 40 years old when he became Rebekah's husband. Fraternal twin sons Esau (Edom) and Jacob were born to 60-year-old Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was Isaac's favorite, and Jacob was Rebekah's favorite. Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah were born to Abraham and his 2nd wife Keturah. Before 175-year-old Abraham died, he gave his sons gifts and sent them eastward, far away from Isaac. In Padan Aram, Haran, Jacob was married to Laban's daughters Leah and Rachel. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and daughter Dinah were born to Jacob and Leah. Dan and Naphtali were born to Jacob and Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. Gad and Asher were born to Jacob and Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. Joseph was the 1st son born to Jacob and Rachel, and Rachel and Joseph were Jacob's favorites. During Jacob's 20th year in Haran, he began journeying home to Canaan with his family, servants, animals, and possession. Near Bethlehem, Benjamin was born to Jacob and Rachel, and Rachel died. Over 1,800 years after 180-year-old Isaac died, and Esau and Jacob buried Isaac's body in the same cave in Hebron (Kirjath-arba) wherein Sarah, Abraham and Rebekah had been buried,  Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, was born. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, a virgin, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem into the tribe of Judah to Mary and her husband Joseph when Mary was a virgin.-Genesis, Exodus, Numbers 13:1-14:45, 20:1-29, 26:1-27:23, Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12, Joshua 1:1-4:24, 23:1-24:33, Judges 1:1-2:23, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra 1:11, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1:1-26, Romans 9:1-33, Galatians 4:1-31

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Saturday, July 26, 2014

I Told You Once, I Told You Twice, You're Not Applying Your Listening Ears to My Lies

Isaac, Rebekah and Jacob

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him,  Upon me by thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.-Genesis 27:6-24***Isaac was born to 100-year-old Abraham (Abram the Hebrew) and 90-year old Sarah (Sarai). When Isaac was 40 years old, he was married to Rebekah, Abraham and Sarah's grandniece. Isaac and Rebekah were childless when Isaac pleaded with the Lord God. The Lord God granted Isaac's plea, and Rebekah conceived. Esau and Jacob, the fraternal twins in Rebekah's womb, were in disharmony. Esau, the firstborn, became a rugged, hairy outdoorsman and was Isaac's favorite. Jacob became a quiet, smooth-skinned homebody and was Rebekah's favorite. Esau began to be called Edom, meaning "red." After a divine wrestling encounter, Jacob was renamed "Israel," defined as "he struggles with God," and "prince with God," and "let God rule," and "God is upright," and "he retains God." When Isaac was elderly and his eyesight was diminished, he told Esau to hunt and cook a specific animal and prepare a specific meal, and Isaac told Esau that he would bless him. Rebekah heard Isaac's words, and sent Jacob on a speedier mission, prompting Jacob to deceive Isaac and cheat Esau. After Rebekah learned that Esau planned to kill Jacob, she spoke to Jacob, and spoke to Isaac, and Isaac sent Jacob from their home in Beersheba, Canaan, to the home of Rebekah's family in Padan Aram, Haran, in northern Mesopotamia. During Jacob's 7th year in Haran, he was married to Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Rebekah's brother Laban the Syrian (Aramean). Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and daughter Dinah were born to Jacob and Leah. Dan and Naphtali were born to Jacob and Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. Gad and Asher were born to Jacob and Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. Joseph was the 1st son born to Jacob and Rachel, and Rachel and Joseph were Jacob's favorites. During Jacobs 20th year in Haran, he began journeying home to Canaan with his family, servants, animals, and possessions. Near Bethlehem, Benjamin was born to Jacob and Rachel, and Rachel died. Joseph was 17 years old when his brothers sold him to merchants traveling to Egypt and led Jacob to believe that Joseph was killed by a wild beast, and Joseph was 30 years old when Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, proclaimed him second-in-command. Jacob was 130 years old when he moved with his family from Canaan to Egypt. In Egypt, Jacob proclaimed Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons born to Joseph and his wife Asenath, to be his own sons, and the tribe of Joseph became the tribe of Manasseh and the tribe of Ephraim. Over 1,800 years after 147-year-old Jacob died in Egypt, and Jacob's family buried his body in Canaan, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, was born. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, a virgin, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem into the tribe of Judah to Mary and her husband Joseph when Mary was a virgin.-Genesis, Exodus, Numbers 13:1-14:45, 20:1-29, 26:1-27:23, Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12, Joshua 1:1-4:24, 23:1-24:33, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra 1:1-11, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1:1-26

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

I'm a Great Ol' Wealthy Man, I'm so Great and Wealthy

David, Abigail and Nabal

And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb. And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep. And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David. And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?-1 Samuel 25:2-11***Forty years after Moses and his older brother Aaron led their fellow Israelties away from Egyptian slavery, across the divinely parted Red Sea, into the desert wilderness of Shur, and the desert wilderness of Sin, and the desert wilderness of Sinai, 123-year-old Aaron the high priest died, and Moses went upon Mount Nebo. The Lord God showed Moses the Promised Land, and 120-year-old Moses the prophet died, and was divinely buried. Joshua was Moses' aide and successor from the tribe of Ephraim, descended from Abraham (Abram the Hebrew) and Sarah (Sarai), Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob (Israel) and his 2nd wife Rachel, their firstborn son Joseph and his wife Asenath, and Joseph and Asenath's 2nd born son Ephraim, whom Jacob proclaimed to be his own son. The Lord God spoke to Joshua, and Joshua sent 2 spies to Canaan, the Promised Land, and Rahab hid the spies, and the spies returned, and Joshua led the Israelites across the divinely parted Jordan River and onto the land that the Lord God promised to give to Abraham, and Isaac, and to Jacob, and their descendants. After 110-year-old Joshua died, and was buried in his tribe's portion of the Promised Land, the Israelites were led by elders, judges and their own minds. Samuel the priest, prophet and judge was from the tribe of Levi, descended from Jacob and his 1st wife Leah and their firstborn son Levi. The divinely inspired Scriptures of the Holy Bible reveal that Aaron and Moses were born into the tribe of Levi. When Samuel was elderly, and his sons Joel (Vashni) and Abiah (Abijah) were not obeying the commands of the Lord God, and King Nahash and his Ammonite army were preparing to attack, the Israelite elders demanded that Samuel appoint a king to lead them, and Samuel anointed Saul, from the tribe of Jacob and Rachel's 2nd and last son Benjamin, to reign, according to the command of the Lord God. Saul was at Gibeah of God (the hill of God) when the Spirit of God came upon him. At least twice, Saul did not obey the commands of the Lord God. Samuel told Saul that the Lord God rejected Saul from being king and had torn the kingdom from Saul. David was from the tribe of Jacob and Leah's 4th born son Judah, and lived in Bethlehem and was a man after God's own heart.  While Saul reigned, the Lord God sent Samuel to anoint David to reign as king, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David, and the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul. After Saul heard about David's skills, strength, appearance, and favor with the Lord God, he commanded that David's father Jesse send David to him, and David began serving as a musician and an armor-bearer for Saul. Amid the Valley of Elah, David killed and beheaded Goliath, the gigantic Philistine from Gath. David and Jonathan, Saul's son, made a covenant. The Israelite women sang of David higher than they sang of Saul, and Saul was angry. Saul wanted to kill David, and became afraid of David, and sent David on missions to get killed, and commanded others, including Jonathan, to kill David. Saul's daughter Michal was married to David and helped David escape from their home. David went to Samuel, and Jonathan, and Ahimelech the priest, and King Achish, ruler of Gath. David and the men who joined him stayed in a cave, and a forest, and in the desert wilderness, including Maon. Notably, Maon, Carmel and Hebron were in the portion of the Promised Land allotted to the tribe of Judah. After the Philistines killed Jonathan and his brothers Malchishua and Abinadab (Ishui?), and Saul's self-inflicted death on the same battlefield, men from the tribe of Judah anointed 30-year-old David, and David began to reign in Hebron only over the tribe of Judah. Saul's son Ishbosheth (Eshbaal) ruled over the other Israelite tribes. Sometime after Ishbosheth was murdered, the Israelite elders went to David and David made a covenant with them. The elders anointed 37-year-old David, and David began to rule over all of the Israelites. At least 950 years after Solomon, a son born to David and Bathsheba, became the 3rd king to reign, and 70-year-old David died, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, was born. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, a virgin, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem into the tribe of Judah to Mary and her husband Joseph when Mary was a virgin.-Genesis, Exodus, Numbers 13:1-14:45, 20:1-29, 26:1-27:23, Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12, Joshua 1:1-4:24, 23:1-24:33, Judges 1:1-2:23, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra 1:1-11, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1:1-26

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Thursday, July 17, 2014

Very Glad for Ropes and Rags

King Ahab and King Ben-hadad

And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day. But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber. And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life. So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.
-1 Kings 20:28-32***The Arameans descended from Noah the ark builder, and Noah's son Shem, and Shem's son Aram. The Israelites descended from Shem's son Arphaxad,  Arphaxad's great-great-great-great-great-grandson Terah, Terah's children Abraham (Abram the Hebrew) and Sarah (Sarai), their son Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and Isaac and Rebekah's youngest fraternal twin son Jacob (Israel). In Padan Aram, Haran, Jacob was married to Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Rebekah's brother Laban the Syrian (Aramean). Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and daughter Dinah were born to Jacob and Leah. Dan and Naphtali were born to Jacob and Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. Gad and Asher were born to Jacob and Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. Joseph was the 1st son born to Jacob and Rachel, and Joseph and Rachel were Jacob's favorites. During Jacob's 20th year in Haran, he began journeying home to Canaan with his family, servants, animals, and possessions. Near Bethlehem, Benjamin was born to Jacob and Rachel, and Rachel died. Joseph was 17 years old when his brothers sold him to merchants traveling to Egypt and led Jacob to believe that Joseph was killed by a wild beast, and Joseph was 30 years old when Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, proclaimed him second-in-command. Jacob was 130 years old when he moved with his family from Canaan to Egypt. In Egypt, Jacob proclaimed Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons born to Joseph and his wife Asenath, to be his own sons, and the tribe of Joseph became the tribe of Manasseh and the tribe of Ephraim. Sometime after 147-year-old Jacob died in Egypt, and Jacob's family buried his body in Canaan, and 110-year-old Joseph and his siblings were dead, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. Miriam and her younger brothers Aaron and Moses were born into the tribe of Levi to Amram and Jochebed. Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 when the Lord God sent them to speak to the Israelite elders and Pharaoh. The elders believed the words of the Lord God spoken by Aaron. Pharaoh did not believe and he made work for the Israelites more difficult. After the Lord God brought the 10th and final plague upon Pharaoh and Egypt, Pharaoh told Moses and Aaron to get the Israelites and their animals and go worship the Lord God. Moreover, Pharaoh told Moses and Aaron to bless him. Before Moses and Aaron led the Israelites, and those with them, away from Egypt, across the divinely parted Red Sea, into the desert wilderness of Shur, and the desert wilderness of Sin, the Israelites asked for and were given an abundance of valuable goods, fulfilling the words that the Lord God spoke to Abraham. In the desert wilderness of Sinai, in the region of Mount Sinai, the Israelites heard the voice of the Lord God proclaim the Ten Commandments to them, and the Lord God began giving Moses judgments, statutes and laws for the Israelites, and the Lord God made a covenant with the Israelites, and the Israelites said they would obey the words of the Lord God. When Moses was upon Mount Sinai 40 days and nights with the Lord God, the Lord God gave Moses commands about the offering willing Israelites were to bring, and the Lord God described to Moses, and showed Moses the likeness of the tabernacle, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the other sacred items the Israelites were commanded to make, and the Lord God told Moses that only Aaron, and Aaron's sons and the sons born to their descendants were to serve the Lord God as priests. Meanwhile, the Israelites thought they were abandoned and told Aaron to make gods to lead them. Aaron told the Israelites to bring him their gold earrings, and Aaron made a golden calf that the Israelites worshiped and Moses burned and ground. During the 40-year journey to Canaan, the Promised Land, Miriam the prophetess died and was buried in Kadesh, in the desert wilderness of Zin. Upon Mount Hor, 123-year-old Aaron the high priest died. When Moses went upon Mount Nebo, the Lord God showed Moses the Promised Land, and 120-year-old Moses the prophet died, and was divinely buried. Joshua, Moses' aide and successor from the tribe of Ephraim, led the Israelites across the divinely parted Jordan River and onto the land that the Lord God promised to give to Abraham, and Isaac, and to Jacob, and their descendants. Over 300 years after 110-year-old Joshua died, and was buried in his tribe's portion of the Promised Land, Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, became the 1st king to reign. David, from the tribe of Judah, was the 2nd king to rule over all of the Israelites. Solomon, a son born to David and Bathsheba, was the 3rd king. Rehoboam, the son born to Solomon and Naamah, was the 4th king to rule over all of the Israelites. After Rehoboam gave a specific answer, the Israelites split into 2 kingdoms, according to the will of the Lord God, due to the idolatry and other wickedness of Solomon. Judah was the nation in the south, Jerusalem was the royal city and Rehoboam was the 1st king to reign. Israel was the northern nation, Samaria was the final royal city and Jeroboam, the son born to Nebat and Zeruah, was the 1st king to reign. Ahab
was the 7th king to rule over all of the Israelites in the northern nation of Israel. Ahab was an idolater and was married to Jezebel, an idol worshiping Sidonian (Zidonian) princess. During Ahab's 22-year reign, King Ben-hadad, ruler of Syria (Aram), arrived in Samaria and put a claim on Ahab's gold, silver, wives, and children. After Ahab agreed to the demands, Ben-hadad said he was going to send men to plunder the palace and homes in Samaria. The Israelites told Ahab not to concede to Ben-Hadad, and the Syrians (Arameans) and Israelites prepared to fight. Ben-hadad assembled his army and the armies of the 32 kings with him, and Ahab prepared his 232 officers and 7,000 troops. The Lord God sent a prophet to tell Ahab the manner and reason the enemies would be handed to him, and the Syrians and their allies were defeated. A prophet of the Lord God told Ahab that Ahab would have to fight the Syrians the following spring, and Ben-hadad's men advised Ben-hadad to fight the Israelites on level land. Over 800 years Ahab was wounded in a different battle against the Syrians (Arameans), and died, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, was born. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, a virgin, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem into the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Judah's kings, to Mary and her husband Joseph when Mary was a virgin.-Genesis, Exodus, Numbers 13:1-14:45, 20:1-29, 26:1-27:23, Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12, Joshua 1:1-4:24, 23:1-24:33, Judges 1:1-2:23, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra 1:1-11, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1:1-26

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Monday, July 14, 2014

Xxxs and Ooos Before You Go

The Lord God, 
and Jacob, and Laban

And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead. And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing
.
-Genesis 31:20-28***Abraham (Abram the Hebrew), Nahor (Nachor), Haran, and Sarah were born to Terah. Lot and Milcah were born to Haran. Bethuel the Syrian (Aramean) was born to Nahor and Milcah. Ishmael was born to 86-year-old Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's maidservant. Isaac was born to 100-year-old Abraham and 90-year-old Sarah. Laban the Syrian (Aramean) and Rebekah were born to Bethuel. When Isaac was 40 years old, he was married to Rebekah. Fraternal twin sons Esau (Edom) and Jacob (Israel) were born to 60-year-old Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was Isaac's favorite, and Jacob was Rebekah's favorite. Issac was elderly and his eyesight was diminished when he told Esau to hunt a specific animal and prepare a specific meal, and Isaac told Esau that he would bless him. Rebekah heard the conversation, and prompted and prepared Jacob to deceive Isaac and cheat Esau. After Rebekah learned that Esau planned to kill Jacob, she spoke words to Isaac that led Isaac to send Jacob from their home in Beersheba, Canaan, to the home of Rebekah's family in Padan Aram, Haran. Jacob's only possessions were the clothes he was wearing and the staff in his hand. In Bethel (Luz), Jacob was asleep and saw, in a dream, the angels of God, and Jacob saw and heard the Lord God speaking to him. 
One month after Jacob arrived, Laban asked Jacob to name a price for the work Jacob was performing. Jacob wanted to become the husband of Rachel, Laban's youngest daughter, and Laban agreed to Jacob's 7-year plan. Laban worked deceitfully before the wedding ceremony, and Jacob became the husband of Leah, Laban's oldest daughter. One week later, Jacob was married to Rachel, and Jacob worked 7 more years. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and daughter Dinah were born to Jacob and Leah. Dan and Naphtali were born to Jacob and Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. Gad and Asher were born to Jacob and Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. Joseph was the 1st son born to Jacob and Rachel, and Rachel and Joseph were Jacob's favorites. Jacob sought Laban's permission to leave, and Laban offered to negotiate another deal. Jacob used the opportunity to grow wealthy. Tensions increased, and the men in Laban's household spoke resentfully about Jacob, and Laban acted differently towards Jacob. The Lord God spoke to Jacob and told Jacob to return to Canaan. Jacob spoke with Rachel and Leah, and during Jacob's 20th year in Haran, he began journeying home to Canaan with his family, servants, animals, and possessions. Approximately 1,900 years after Benjamin was born near Bethlehem to Jacob and Rachel, and Rachel died, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, was born. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, a virgin, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem into the tribe of Judah to Mary and her husband Joseph when Mary was a virgin.-Genesis, Exodus, Numbers 13:1-14:45, 20:1-29, 26:1-27:23, Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12, Joshua 1:1-4:24, 23:1-24:33, Judges 1:1-2:23, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra 1:1-11, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1:1-26

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