Guiding Questions: Genesis 32

This is part of the Tanakh Yomi Project.

  1. Is any detail (purpose) set forth for the meeting with God’s messenger?
  2. What place name derivative results from this “meeting”?
  3. What appears to be Jacob’s anticipation of how Esau will receive him?
  4. Does Jacob plan to fight, or to salvage what he can?
  5. In Jacob’s prayer (Genesis 32:10–13), what promise does he recall and what does he plead for?
  6. Is there any reply to this prayer (at this point)?
  7. How does Jacob seek to placate the anticipated reaction of Esau? (Genesis 32:14–20)
  8. How is Jacob’s intent specifically stated in Genesis 32:21 – to apologize and/or to placate anger?
  9. How to translate Ish (“a man”) in Genesis 32:25 – and why the “wrestling” and why “until the dawn”?
  10. Who, in Genesis 32:27, appears victorious?
  11. The translation of the new name specifies “contesting with God”; what might it mean?
  12. What does the change of name specify, from (literally) “trickster” to “fighter with (for) God”?
  13. One might ask “how does this compare (if it can be compared) with Genesis 32:4:24-26”?
  14. What food prohibition does the text derive from this encounter (Genesis 32:23) and what is the time element devolving from the phrase “to this day”?

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  • Exploring Judaism

    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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Perek Yomi materials originally produced by the USCJ and Dr. Morton K. Siegel.
We are grateful to be able to share this material.

Author

  • Exploring Judaism

    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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