Today’s Old Testament chronological reading is in Genesis 33 and 34.
The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Psalm 38.
No New Testament reading today.
Today’s notes.
My study today was in the Gen 32:3-33:17 {s} paragraph. The expanded chiasm, new for today, is linked below.
I noticed while working on the expanded chiasm, that twice Jacob, renamed Israel, mentions seeing the face of God.
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Gen 32:30
And Jacob said: “No, I pray you, if now I have found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand; inasmuch as I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me.” Gen 33:10
They are not matching elements in the chiasm formed by the paragraph. They may be matching elements in a greater structure as yet uncovered. But what is interesting to me, is that in each instance, seeing the face of God led to his life being preserved. Esau did not kill him as he had expected.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Yeshua, in Mat 5:8
Jacob’s heart was pure.
Who shall ascend into the hill of YHVH? Or who shall stand in His holy place? 4 He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from YHVH, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psa 24:3-5
Didn’t Jacob swear deceitfully to his father in the matter of receiving the blessing of the firstborn? I must say I am not wise enough to parse this out, but perhaps it has something to do with the fact that he objected to doing as his mother suggested, and only went along when she compelled him to obey her. This is why we cannot judge the servant of another, but must leave the matter in God’s hands, who sees the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrew root word parables.
TO SEE. Strong’s H7200 ראה ra’ah; one who has the power to behold (including visions and revelations)
FACE. Strong’s H6440 פנים paniym; the face bowed down in worship
PURE. Strong’s H1249 בר bar, an adjective meaning, “clean, pure;” from Strong’s H1305 ברר barar, a primitive root meaning, “to separate or sever, to select or choose.”
bet ב = house, thus house, household, family, in, within
resh ר = head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
resh ר = head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
The story: Bet + resh together is painting the picture of the family (bet) of heads (resh), i.e. ripened grain. Ripened grain, after it is harvested, is threshed to separate the wheat from the chaff, thus selecting the choice (resh) or usable portion of the grain. The connection to clean, pure, is that the grain stalks were then burned, and the ash used to make soap used for cleaning.
Chiastic structures.
Download the Gen 32:3-33:17 {s} expanded chiasm pdf.
Download the Psa 38:1-22 {p} expanded chiasm pdf.
Links to previous studies.
Genesis 33:18-20, Jacob’s safe arrival
Genesis 34:1-31, Defilement with Canaanites
Genesis 33 and 34, Strong themes in the life of Jacob
Psalm 38, Chiastic structure
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