Character Development and Cultural Parameters in the Bible

Hi, this assignment is that fill out the work sheet, work sheet asked you some questions about the reading material. That all, be sure to read article first and then answer the questions. If you need the “Bible” reading material, please let me know asap. Thank you very much!
Day 1
Text without context is pretext. Basically, context matters! So often we read or hear a biblical story out of context and assume we understand the significance based only on a few verses. In doing this, we do a great disservice to the overall shape of the story as well as the arch of a character! This week we looked at Jacob and Esau—brothers with a long and volatile history. Consider the individual stories in the life of Jacob as an episode in a Netflix series—if you only watch the last episode, you may get some meaning out of it, but you cannot possibly understand the depth and significance of character.
First, read the greeting between Jacob and Esau in Gen 32:1–20. What are your first impressions of this story?
In Gen 32:1–20, Jacob prepares to meet Esau, and in Gen 32:22-32, Jacob wrestles with God. My impression of the story is that Jacob probably felt guilt for causing sibling rivalry, having taken Esau’s blessing and birthright. Jacob seems cautious when making preparations to meet his brother, and he had to send the messengers first. Additionally, since Jacob met with the angels of God, this was a sign that the Lord wanted to open his eyes, and prior to making the journey to meet Esau, this had not happened. Jacob first sent messengers to gauge the situation in Sier, and then Esau made an arrangement also to see Jacob. However, Jacob seemed fearful. Jacob did not necessarily believe they would be a happy reunion, even as he came with gifts for Esau. In Gen 32: 7-8, Jacob divided the people into two groups, as were the animals (flocks, herds, and camels) so that if any of the group was attacked, the other would escape. As part of the preparation, Jacob gave servants and animals to Esau as a gesture to make peace.
After skim-reading the story of Jacob (Gen 25:19–34:29), create a brief outline of the major events in Jacob’s life (it may help to write a sentence for each major story—or episode—of his life, with the ch:vs).
Genesis 25:19–34 Jacob and Esau
* Prologue: The first story is on the background of the birth of Esau and Jacob
* Scene 1: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, and the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.
* Rebekah was barren, and Isaac prayed for children, but the children struggled against each other in her womb (Gen 25:21-22)
* The Lord told Rebekah that there would be divided (Gen 25:24)
* Esau was born first with a red color and had a hairy cloak. Jacob was born holding Esau’s heel, and at the time, Isaac was sixty years old (Gen 25:25-26).
* Esau became a skillful hunter, while Jacob was a quiet man, mainly dwelling in tents, and Isaac loved Esau, who ate his own game, and Rebekah loved Jacob (Gen 25:27-28).
Scene 2: Esau sells his birthright (Gen 25: 29-34)
* Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau, having come from the field, requested Jacob to give him some red stew (Gen 25:29-30).
* Jacob asked Esau to sell his birthright first (Gen 25:31).
* Esau indicated the birthright was of no value to him as he was about to die from exhaustion (Gen 25:32).
* Jacob asked Esau to swear and give away his birthright, and he did so (Gen 25:33).
* Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew, who then ate and drank, and then went away, and Esau then despised his birthright (Gen 25:34).
Genesis 29
* Prologue: Jacob marries Leah and Rachel
Scene 1: Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram (Gen 29:1-14).
* Jacob went eastwards and met people and flocks of sheep (Gen 29:1-3).
* Jacob asked where they were from, and Rachel came with a flock of sheep (Gen 29:7).
* Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep. He kissed Rachel and told her he was her father’s relative and son of Rebekah (Gen 29:18-11).
* Scene 2: Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel (Gen 29:15-30)
* Jacob is formally introduced to Laban’s two daughters, Leah and Rachel (Gen 29:15-18).
* Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but Laban brought Leah and gave his servant Zilpah to Leah (Gen 29: 20-24).
* The following morning Jacob learned he had been deceived and had to work for another seven years (Gen 29: 25-27).
* After seven years, Jacob took Rachel as his wife and given Bilhah as a servant.
* Scene 3: Jacob’s Children (Gen 29: 31-35)
* The Lord allowed Leah to conceive as she did not get the same love as Rachel, but Rachel remained childless (Gen 29: 33).
* Leah gave birth to four sons and named the first Reuben (Gen 29: 32).
* She conceived the second time and gave the son the name Simeon since the Lord heard she was not loved (Gen 29: 33)
* Leah gave birth to the third son Levi, believing Jacob would love her, now that she had four sons (Gen 29: 34).
* She gave birth to the fourth son and named him Judah as she praised the Lord (Gen 29: 35).
.Now, re-read the story of Jacob and Esau’s meeting in Gen 32:1–20. What do you notice that is different? How has his cha...