Top 10 Facts About Jacob in The Bible

Top 10 Facts About Jacob in The Bible

Jacob was the son of Issac and Rebekah as well the twin brother of Esau. He was comfortable with his life at home while his brother went out hunting. Jacob is known for taking his brother’s birthright as well as a blessing. When he was born, Jacob was clinging to Esau’s heel thus his name. Even though Esau was Issac’s favorite, Jacob was favored by his mother.

In the bible, he is depicted as a trickster and a schemer but it was through this personality that God used him. Jacob is noted for being a man of faith and determination. He teaches us that God remembers to bless us even if it takes a while.

Here are the Top 10 Facts About Jacob in The Bible;

1. He Stole His Brother’s Blessing

When Issac was old and his eyes were weak, he called his son Esau to bless him. Issac asked his son to go hunting and prepare a tasty stew for him. However, Rebekah heard the entire conversation and helped Jacob deceive his father. Due to the fact that Esau was hairy, Jacob wore the skin of the goat he prepared for his father.

When it was time for the blessing, Issac touched Jacob’s skin and blessed him. Esau found out and held a grudge against Jacob and swore to kill his brother Jacob. Due to this, Jacob had to flee to Harran for a while and stay with his uncle Laban.

2. He Worked for His Wife for 14 years

Illustrators of the 1897 Bible Pictures and What They Teach Us by Charles Foster, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

While in Haran, Jacob met Rachel and fell in love with her. Laban promised his daughter Rachel to Jacob. However, he had to work for seven whole years in order to marry her. When the seven years were up, Jacob ended up marrying Leah, Rachel’s elder sister. Laban saw that his firstborn daughter was undesirable and decided to marry her off to Jacob before Rachel. Jacob was still madly in love with Rachel and he worked another seven years for her. 

3. Jacob Had Twelve Sons

Due to the fact that Leah wasn’t loved, God blessed her with six sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Zebulun, Issachar, and Judah as well as a daughter Dinah. Rachel was heartbroken that she could not bear any children so she asked her husband to conceive with her servant Bilhah. She bore Jacob’s two sons Dan and Naphtali. Leah gave her servant Zilpah who also bore two sons namely Gad and Asher. God remembered Rachel and blessed her with two sons Joseph and Benjamin.

4. Jacob Wrestled With God

Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

After Jacob left Laban’s land with his wives and children to go back home. At night when he was resting in his tent, without warning, he began wrestling with an unnamed man who is later revealed to be God. Before the match ends, he holds onto God and refuses to let go until he is blessed. During this moment, Jacob’s name is changed to Israel which means “He Struggles with God”

5. Jacob is Among The Patriarchs

He is a very important person in the bible. Not only did he play a key role in the formation of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob was known for his wisdom and hospitality. In the Bible, he is used as a leader to show that God remembers us even though we are not perfect. It should be noted that the patriarchs of Israel are based on Abraham, his son Issac, and his grandson Jacob.

6. He was The Ancestor of The Twelve Tribes of Israel

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Just as promised, Jacob’s sons became the twelve tribes of Israel. They were listed from oldest to youngest Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. Even though they came from different mothers, they were all still considered to be Jacob’s children thus each had their own blessing.

7. He Loved Rachel’s Children More

In the bible, we are shown how Jacob loved Joseph deeply because he was the son of his beloved Rachel. Out of all his sons, Jacob made a colorful robe for Joseph. Due to this favoritism, Joseph’s brothers began to despise him and they even plotted against him. It should be noted that in the Bible, Jacob’s love for Rachel was described as true and pure. This is why when Rachel bore Jacob two sons, they were his favorites.  However, before Benjamin was born, Jacob’s whole world revolved around God and Joseph.

8. Jacob Made Peace With Esau

Illustrators of the 1897 Bible Pictures and What They Teach Us by Charles Foster, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

While Jacob and his family were in his homeland, he felt the undeniable urge to reconcile with his brother. Jacob trusted God that everything would end well so he sent a series of peace offerings before meeting his brother. Some of the things Jacob sent included goats, sheep, camels, cows, and donkeys. On the day of meeting with his brother, everyone was anxious about what would occur. However, the two brothers embraced each other and wept.

9. His Story is a Symbol of Transformation

Jacob is among the flawed characters of the bible. He was a trickster and schemer who stole his brother’s blessing and tricked his father. However, the Lord remembered him and blessed him. For many people, Jacob is a reminder that God has used the most unlikely people to accomplish his purposes.

10. He Died At The Age of 147

Willem van Nieulandt II, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

When Jacob heard that his beloved son Joseph was alive and well in Egypt, he set out to meet him. Jacob traveled with his wives, children, and belongings to Egypt because Joseph had land for them there. After he reunited with his son, Israel stayed in Egypt for some time before passing away. He was buried in Canaan at Hebron.

All in all, Jacob was a very complex person. His story has been shared to show that transformation and redemption can make a difference in your life. Jacob’s life helps teach a lot of people that you can change for the better no matter the flaw. Israel’s match with God has been the epitome of Christianity and Judaism because he didn’t stop struggling until a blessing.