About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 

The book of Genesis was written by Moses. It is divided into three main parts.  1) God creates the universe and the first man and woman    2)God destroys the earth with a flood but saves Noah, his family, and the animals 3)God chooses Abraham and his descendants to be a great nation.
 

Bible Timeline
 
Here is a good timeline to see the book of Genesis in the history of the Bible
http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/timeline.htm
 

Genesis 25


Abraham marries a new wife.


Abraham married another woman named Keturah.  They had 6 children.  These children and their descendants were Arab tribes who lived east of Canaan.
[1] Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
[2] And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
[3] And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
[4] And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.


Isaac inherited Abraham's estate.  The other sons received gifts and were sent east. 
[5] And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
[6 ] But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

The death of Abraham

Abraham lived to be 175 years old.  When he died, Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the same cave where Sarah was buried. 
[7] And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
[8] Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
[9 ] And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
[10] The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

Isaac lived by the well Lahai-roi. 
11] And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.


Ishmael's descendants are listed.  He had 12 sons, and there were 12 princes.
[12] Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
[13 ] And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
[14] And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
[15] Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
[16 ] These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.


 Ishmael lived until he was 137 years old.
[17 ] And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
[18] And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

Isaac and Rebekah have children

Rebekah didn't become pregnant for a long time.  Isaac prayed to God and asked God to give them children.  Rebekah became pregnant with twins.  When she was pregnant, she could feel the twins fighting inside her.  She prayed to the Lord because she was uncomfortable.  The Lord told her that she was carrying two nations and that the older would serve the younger.
[19] And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:
[20 ] And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
[21 ] And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
[22] And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.
[23 ] And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

"The Birth of Jacob and Esau" Master of Jean de Mandeville French, Paris, about 1360 - 1370 © 2006, J. Paul Getty Trust

The first twin born was Esau.  He was very hairy and had a red complexion (skin).  The 2nd twin born was Jacob.  While they were being born, Jacob grabbed Esau's heel.
[24] And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
[25] And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
[26 ] And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

Esau preferred the outdoors, and Jacob preferred indoors.  Isaac loved Esau the best, and Rebekah loved Jacob the best.
[27] And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
[28] And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau loses his inheritance (the valuable things he would inherit in the future after Isaac died).

One day, Jacob cooked some stew.  Esau had been out hunting and when he came home, he was very hungry.  He wanted some of the stew that Jacob was cooking. The stew was made with red meat. Esau's skin was red. Another name for Esau was Edom, which means "red".
[29] And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
[30] And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

 

"Esau Sells His Birthright to Jacob" Watercolor Bible illustrations were done in Bogota, Colombia for the Communicating Christ video course. They were later scanned by Publications for Latin America, WELS.  From From http://www.wels.net/wmc/html/clip_art_--_volume_2__part_a.html

Since Jacob and Esau were Isaac's two sons, they would each inherit half of Isaac's estate when he died.  Jacob was greedy, and he wanted it all.  So, he told Esau he could have some stew if he would agree to give him his birthright (his half of Isaac's valuable things).  Esau was very hungry, and he agreed.  After he ate, Esau was upset about what he did.
[31] And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
[32] And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
[33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
[34 ] Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 26

Isaac and Abimelech

There was a famine (no food) in the land where Isaac and his family lived.  Isaac traveled to see Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, to look for food.
[1 ] And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

God spoke to Isaac in a dream and told him not to travel any further.  He should stay there in Gerar.  God reaffirmed (reminded) Isaac of his covenant (promise) with Abraham.  He told him that he would give his descendants the land of Canaan, he would make his descendants as numerous as the stars, and he would bless his descendants.  He reminded Isaac that Abraham obeyed His laws.
[2] And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
[3 ] Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
[4] And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
[5] Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Isaac obeyed God and stayed in Gerar.  He did the same as his father - he told everyone that Rebekah was his sister.  He was afraid that the other men would be jealous and kill him if he told the truth.
[6] And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
[7 ] And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.


Abimelech looked out the window one day and saw Isaac and Rebekah hugging.  Then he knew that Isaac was lying. Abimelech was mad at Isaac for lying to him.
[8 ] And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
[9] And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.
[10 ] And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.

Abimelech ordered all of his people to leave Isaac and Rebekah alone.  If anyone harmed them, he would be killed.
[11] And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

Isaac becomes a successful farmer

Isaac continued to live in Gerar. His farm did very well, and he became rich.  His neighbors who were Philistines were jealous of him and his success.
[12] Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
[13] And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
[14] For he had possession of flocks, and possessions of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

The Philistines stopped up Isaac's wells.  Without water, Isaac would not be able to continue farming.  Abimelech asked Isaac to move away.
[15 ] For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
[16] And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
[17] And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

Isaac dug some new wells but the Philistines kept claiming them.  Finally he dug one that they didn't try to take.  He named that well "Rehoboth" which means "room enough".
[18 ] And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
[19] And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
[20 ] And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
[21] And they digged another well, and strove for that also:and he called the name of it Sitnah.
[22 ] And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.


Isaac went to Beersheba.  The Lord appeared to him and reminded him of His covenant with Abraham.  He told Isaac not to be afraid.  Isaac built an altar on the spot where the Lord appeared.  
[23] And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba.
[24 ] And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
[25] And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

Abimelech and some other men came to see Isaac.  They wanted to make a peace treaty with Isaac.  They knew that God was with Isaac.  Isaac agreed, and they had a feast (party) to celebrate.
[26] Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.
[27] And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?
[28 ] And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;
[29] That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.
[30] And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.
[31 ] And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

Isaac's servants told him that they had dug a well. Isaac named the well Shebah.
[32] And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.
[33] And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.

Esau gets married

When Esau was 40 years old, he married two women.  They were from the Hittite people.  Isaac and Rebekah were not happy about this.
[34 ] And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
[35] Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Genesis 27
 

Jacob steals Esau's blessing

Isaac became blind when he got older.  When he thought he was going to die, he asked Esau to go hunting and bring him some meat to eat. He planned to give Esau his blessing. That was an honor for a father to bless his son.
[1 ] And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
[2] And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
[3] Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
[4] And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

Rebekah heard Isaac ask Esau to go and hunt for food.  She told Jacob about it and told Jacob to bring her 2 goats. She planned to cook them and make a meal for Isaac.  Then she wanted Jacob to take it to Isaac, and Isaac would be tricked. She planned for Isaac to bless Jacob.
[5] And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
[6] And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
[7] Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.
[8] Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
[9 ] 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:
[10] And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

Jacob reminded his mother that Esau was hairy.  Jacob said that if Isaac felt smooth skin, he would know that it was not Esau.  He was afraid Isaac would curse him for lying.
[11] And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
[12 ] 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.


 

Isaac blessing Jacob From:  http://clipart.crossmap.com

Rebekah told Jacob that she would take responsibility for the trick.  Jacob brought 2 goats for Rebekah, and she cooked Isaac's food.  Then Rebekah got some of Esau's clothes and put them on Jacob.  She then took the goat skins and put them on Jacob's hands and neck so that he would feel hairy.
[13] And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
[14] And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.
[15 ] 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:
[16] And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
[17] And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

Jacob went to see Isaac.  Isaac couldn't see, so Jacob lied and said he was Esau.  Isaac wasn't sure, so he asked Jacob to come close to him.  He felt the hair on the goat skins on Jacob's hands and neck.  He felt the hair and thought it was Esau's hair.
[18] And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
[19 ] 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.
[20] 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.
[21] 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.
[22 ] 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.
[23] And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
[24] And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

Isaac ate the meal, then he kissed Jacob.  Since Jacob had on Esau's clothes, he smelled like the outdoors.  Then Isaac blessed Jacob. He prayed that Jacob would be successful and that God's promise to Abraham would continue through his descendants. He said that he would be the master over his brother.  Isaac meant this blessing and honor for Esau because Esau was born first. 
[25 ] And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.
[26] And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
[27 ] And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
[28] Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
[29 ] Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

After Jacob left, Esau came back from hunting.  He cooked the food and brought it to Isaac.  Isaac then realized that he had been tricked. 
[30] And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
[31] And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.
[32] And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
[33 ] And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.

Esau cried and asked Isaac to bless him, too.  But Isaac couldn't take Jacob's blessing back. He prayed for Esau, but he said Esau would always serve and be second to his brother.
[34] And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
[35] And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
[36 ] And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
[37 ] And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
[38 ] And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
[39 ] And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
[40 ] And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

Jacob escapes from Esau

Esau was very angry with Jacob and said he would kill him after Isaac died.
[41] And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.


Rebekah told Jacob to escape and go to her brother Laban who lived in Rebekah's hometown of Haran.  She said that after Esau calmed down, she would let him know, and he could come back.
[42 ] And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
[43] Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
[44] And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
[45 ] Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?


Rebekah told Isaac that she wanted Jacob to go and find a wife. She said she didn't want him to marry a woman from Canaan where they lived.  Rebekah didn't tell Isaac the true reason why she wanted Jacob to leave.
[46] And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?