Jacob’s Wealth

Revd Dr Paul Vrolijk, Ph.D (2008) in Philosophy, University of Bristol (through Trinity College Bristol) is an ordained minister in the Church of England. Currently he is the Chaplain of Aquitaine in the Anglican Diocese in Europe.

All those interested in the Jacob story, the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), Genesis, biblical studies on material possessions, wealth and poverty, OT ethics and OT narrative.

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Rationale for this Study
1.2 Literature Survey
1.2.1 Wealth and Poverty
1.2.2 Commentaries on Genesis
1.2.3 Old Testament Ethics
1.2.4 Monographs on Jacob
1.2.5 Monographs on Related Topics
1.2.6 Other Approaches
1.2.7 Conclusions
1.3 Methodology
1.3.1 What Sort of Presuppositions?
1.3.2 What Sort of Text?
1.3.3 What Sort of Meaning?
1.3.4 What Sort of Method(s)?
1.4 Summary

CHAPTER 2
JACOB IN CANAAN I (GEN 25-28)
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Introducing Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:19-34)
2.2.1 Introduction
2.2.2 Commentary
2.3 Isaac’s Wealth (Gen 26:1-33)
2.3.1 Introduction
2.3.2 Commentary
2.3.3 Concluding Remarks
2.4 Isaac Blesses Jacob (Gen 26:34-28:9)
2.4.1 Introduction
2.4.2 Commentary
2.4.3 Concluding Remarks
2.5 Jacob Encounters God (Gen 28:10-22)
2.5.1 Introduction
2.5.2 Commentary
2.5.3 Concluding Remarks
2.6 Reflections on the Boundary

CHAPTER 3
JACOB OUTSIDE CANAAN (Gen 29-31)
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Jacob’s arrival in Haran (Gen 29:1-14)
3.2.1 Commentary
3.2.2 Concluding Remarks
3.3 Jacob Marries Two Sisters (Gen 29:15-30)
3.3.1 Introduction
3.3.2 Commentary
3.3.3 Concluding Remarks
3.4 Jacob’s Children (Gen 29:31-30:24)
3.4.1 Introduction
3.4.2 Commentary
3.4.3 Concluding Remarks
3.5 Jacob’s Wealth (Gen 30:25-31:1)
3.5.1 Introduction
3.5.2 Commentary
3.5.3 Concluding Remarks
3.6 Jacob’s Flight (Gen 31:2-32:1)
3.6.1 Introduction
3.6.2 Commentary
3.6.3 Concluding Remarks
3.7 Summary

CHAPTER 4
JACOB IN CANAAN II (Gen 32-35)
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau (Gen 32:2-22)
4.2.1 Introduction
4.2.2 Commentary
4.2.3 Concluding Remarks
4.3 Jacob Wrestles with ‘a Man’ (Gen 32:23-33)
4.3.1 Introduction
4.3.2 Commentary
4.3.3 Concluding Remarks
4.4 Jacob Meets Esau (Gen 33:1-20)
4.4.1 Introduction
4.4.2 Commentary
4.4.3 Concluding Remarks
4.5 Jacob’s Family and the Shechemites (Gen 34)
4.5.1. Introduction
4.5.2 Commentary
4.5.3 Concluding Remarks
4.6 The End of the Jacob-cycle (Gen 35)
4.6.1 Introduction
4.6.2 Commentary
4.7 Conclusions

CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings
5.1.1 A Pervasive Feature of the Narrative
5.1.2 Best Understood in the Context of Various Relationships
5.1.3 Source of Conflict
5.1.4 Integral Part of Conflict Resolution
5.2 Material Possessions within the Larger Context of Genesis
5.2.1 The Relationship between Blessing and Material Possessions
5.2.2 Material Possessions in view of the Patriarchal Promises
5.2.3 ‗Story as Torah‘?
5.3 Methodological Reflections
Appendix A
Nouns and Verbs related to Material Possessions in Gen 12-50
Appendix B
The Relationship between Blessing and Possessions in Gen 12-50