Jacob’s Sojourn

(Twelve Sons and a Daughter)

Primary Content (From 1 Sefer Moses, the Book of Beginnings):

• Chapter 40 – Given in Marriage
• Chapter 41 – The Bounty
• Chapter 42 – Flocks and Flight
• Chapter 43 – A Covenant of Peace

Additional Reading (Comparison Texts):

• Genesis 29-31 from the Inspired Version of the Bible

Kabbalistic Concepts:

• Twelve Encircling One

Engage:

Engage the Spirit through Contemplation

In a Revelation on the Urim and Thummim given to David Ferriman Jan 8, 2024, the following Question and Answer are given:

1. Question: What is the relationship between the urim and thummim and the breastplates of the High Priest and High Priestess?

1. Answer: These are given power by my hand through the urim and thummim.

1. Behold, the stones and their rods: behold a son, he has heard my suffering; he will unite Israel, and Israel will praise YHVH; YHVH shall bring justice for Israel through the struggle of Israel; the fortune of YHVH is the blessing of Israel, and the reward of Israel; the Honor of Israel shall be the  indication of Israel, and YHVH shall add to Israel, even the right hand of Israel.

V39 is definitely the names of the children of Israel, in their birth order, and it appears to also be the “story” of Israel.   

Note, the Hebrew word for “Rods”(“שֵׁבֶט”, shevet) is the same as “Tribes” depending on context.  So verse 39 could just as easily started “Behold, the stones and their tribes”

I invite you to ponder upon the story that results from the titles that come from the name imagery of Jacob’s 12 sons, and 1 daughter.  

Engage the Group through Discussion

When you meet together as a group to discuss the content of these chapters, here are some ideas to help get the discussion going:

• There is a lot going on in these chapters that might well be symbols that are mixed together because they have deeper meanings when the stories are considered symbolically rather than as a historical narrative.  Which areas did you find more interesting?  (I encourage you to set aside the discomfort some of these stories might cause, and recognize that discomfort is a way that the Lord can invite us to ponder a passage for deeper understanding). Consider some of these “difficult” ideas for discussion:
  • Jacob is too drunk on his wedding night to even know who his bride is.
  • Jacob is using superstitious folk magic via the holy priesthood.
  • Leah and Rachel are fighting over herbal plant magic ingredients to use for fertility.
  • Rachel stole idols from her father, with the intent to use them in her quest for fertility.  She didn’t take them because they were pretty, or would look nice in the library, or for decoration.  She wants them to petition them to bless her with children.