Thinking Torah Blog

Jacob now sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, in the countryside of Edom. - Genesis 32:4

TORAH, Genesis 32:4−36:43

SUMMARY

• Jacob prepares to meet Esau. He wrestles with a "man," who changes Jacob's name to Israel. (32:4-33)

• Jacob and Esau meet and part peacefully, each going his separate way. (33:1-17)

• Dinah is raped by Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, who was chief of the country. Jacob's sons Simeon and Levi take revenge by murdering all the males of Shechem, and Jacob's other sons join them in plundering the city. (34:1-31)

• Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin and is buried in Ephrah, which is present-day Bethlehem. (35:16-21)

• Isaac dies and is buried in Hebron. Jacob's and Esau's progeny are listed. (35:22-36:43)