Gen 28:1-4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 28:1-2: 28:1-2 Isaac remained in the land, but Jacob had to leave it. God would deal with Jacob under the hand of Laban, his uncle (see study note on 29:1–31:55). • Believers in any age must remain spiritually pure by marrying other believers (2 Cor 6:14-18 ). The Canaanite people incorporated dozens of groups and clans into their society and religion by wars, treaties, and marriages (see Gen 34:20-23 ). Abraham’s family was to resist such mixing (cp. 24:3 ; ch 34 ); they were to marry within their clan to maintain the purity of the line and of the faith that identified them as the chosen seed. The surest way to lose their distinctiveness was to intermarry with people of other tribal backgrounds and beliefs (see Ezra 9

a28:1-2►

b2 Cor 6:14-18►

cGen 34:20-23►

d24:3►

e34►

fEzra 9–10►

gNeh 13:23-29►

h28:3-5►

i17:1►

j15:5►

k18-20►

‏ Genesis 28:1-4

Summary for Gen 28:1-2: 28:1-2 ^a Isaac remained in the land, but Jacob had to leave it. God would deal with Jacob under the hand of Laban, his uncle (see study note on 29:1–31:55).

• Believers in any age must remain spiritually pure by marrying other believers (2 Cor 6:14-18 ^b). The Canaanite people incorporated dozens of groups and clans into their society and religion by wars, treaties, and marriages (see Gen 34:20-23 ^c). Abraham’s family was to resist such mixing (cp. 24:3 ^d; ch 34 ^e); they were to marry within their clan to maintain the purity of the line and of the faith that identified them as the chosen seed. The surest way to lose their distinctiveness was to intermarry with people of other tribal backgrounds and beliefs (see Ezra 9–10 ^f; Neh 13:23-29 ^g).
Summary for Gen 28:3-5: 28:3-5 ^h Before Jacob departed, Isaac gave him a pure, legitimate blessing. He did not hold back, because he now knew what God wanted him to do. Isaac clearly passed on the blessing God Almighty (Hebrew El-Shaddai; see 17:1 ⁱ) had given to Abraham and to him regarding prosperity and the land (cp. 15:5 ^j, 18-20 ^k).