GENESIS 35
Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram. 27 And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. 28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. – Genesis 35:24-29
GENESIS 35 THE SONS OF JACOB
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Jacob had six sons by Leah with Reuben as the firstborn
Then there was Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulon
With Rachel, Jacob had Joseph and Benjamin
Bilhah, Rachel’s servant had Dan and Naphtali
Zilpah, Leah’s servant had Gad and Asher
All in all, Jacob had twelve sons born in Paddan-Aram.
In this account, we get a picture of the family of Jacob that God had blessed him with. When he left his family to run from Esau’s wrath, he had only himself and a staff. God kept his promise to him that he will have many offspring. It is the first time all these names were mentioned in the bible which comprises the twelve tribes of Israel and later on mentioned many times.
These were the chosen people of God who are not ideal and perfect. In fact, they were very sinful people who were cheaters, adulterers, idolaters, rebels, liars and schemers. What was God thinking choosing these kinds of people to be the ancestors of his own beloved son Jesus? We don’t know what were God’s reasons for choosing them, but if he chose such sinful, messy persons, we all have hope that God can do the impossible to change their hearts and make it work for good according to his plan.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think God chose these bunch of sinners to be his chosen people?
