INTRODUCTION:

(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV])
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV])
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All of the studies found here, whether book studies or topical studies, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, nor lexicons, nor concordances, nor commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief, apostasy, and a falling away from God Himself. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and as the New Testament was for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc.

There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:

(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(1 Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV])
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!

Start of study

Genesis Chapter 30: HERE COME THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL

This is the listing of those born to Jacob (Israel) and through which mother:
  1. Bilhah, Rachel's handmaiden : Dan
  2. Bilhah, Rachel's handmaiden : Naphtali
  3. Zilpah, Leah's handmaiden: Gad
  4. Leah : Reuben
  5. Leah : Simeon
  6. Leah: Levi
  7. Leah: Isaachar
  8. Leah: Zebulun
  9. Leah: Judah
  10. Zilpah, Leah's handmaiden: Asher
  11. Rachel: Joseph
  12. Rachel: Benjamin
  13. Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah, to Joseph in Egypt: Ephraim
  14. Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah, to Joseph in Egypt: Manasseh

    15. A daughter, to Zilpah, Leah's handmaiden: Dinah.

    Now, because of sins of various tribes, the listing of those tribes changes as God blesses, curses them, all of the way to Revelation, where the final twelve that God calls out for his 144,000 is listed:

    (Revelation 7:4-8 [AKJV/PCE])
    And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

    1. Judah
    2. Reuben
    3. Gad
    4. Aser (Assher)
    5. Nepthalim (Naptali)
    6. Manasses (Manasseh)
    7. Simeon
    8. Levi
    9. Isaachar
    10. Zabulon (Zebulun)
    11. Joseph
    12. Benjamin

    Changing, swapping out, in the listings, there is always twelve which God considers Israel's twelve tribes. This is the same as the apostles, with Judah betraying Jesus, hanging himself, the apostles choosing Matthias, who was never heard from again (God obviously did not use him, did not choose him) and Paul, chosen of God to replace Judas, making fourteen, but really twelve, God being Sovereign over all, always. It is not up to us who God calls a tribe, an apostle, when they are considered so aspostate he removes them from the number, reinstantes them, but up to God. Paul wrote much of the New Testament.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel

(Genesis 30:1)
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

(Genesis 25:21)
And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

(1 Samuel 1:11)
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

LATER.......

(1 Samuel 1:20)
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

(Genesis 30:2)
And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

(Genesis 30:3)
And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

(Genesis 16:1-2)
Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

(Genesis 30:4)
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

(Genesis 30:5-6)
And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

(Genesis 30:7-8)
And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

(Exodus 20:17)
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

(Genesis 30:9-10)
When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.

(Genesis 30:11)
And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

(Genesis 30:12)
And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.

(Genesis 30:13)
And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

(Genesis 30:14)
And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

(Song of Solomon 7:13)
The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

(Genesis 30:15)
And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.

INTERJECTION:

(Deuteronomy 21:15-17)
If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. (Genesis 30:16)
And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

(Genesis 30:17)
And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

(Genesis 30:18)
And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

(Genesis 30:19-20)
And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

DOWRY, n. [See Dower. This word differs not from dower. It is the same word differently written, and the distinction made between them is arbitrary.]
  1. The money, goods or estate which a woman brings to her husband in marriage; the portion given with a wife.
  2. The reward paid for a wife.
  3. A gift; a fortune, given.
(Genesis 30:21)
And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

(Genesis 30:22)
And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

(Genesis 8:1)
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that waswith him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;

(Genesis 19:29)
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

(Genesis 30:23)
And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

REPROACH, n.

  1. Censure mingled with contempt or derision; contumelious or opprobrious language towards any person; abusive reflections; as foul-mouthed reproach.
  2. Shame; infamy; disgrace.
    Give not thine heritage to reproach. Joel 2. Isa 4.
  3. Object of contempt, scorn or derision.
    Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we may be no more a reproach. Neh 2.
  4. That which is the cause of shame or disgrace. Gen 30.

(Genesis 30:24)
And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

(Revelation 7:8)
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

(Genesis 30:25)
And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

(Genesis 30:26)
Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

(Genesis 30:27)
And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

(Genesis 30:28)
And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. A raise from the boss after all of this time? Payment finally? How generous of Laban!

(Genesis 30:29)
And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

(Genesis 30:30)
For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

(Genesis 30:31)
And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock:

(Genesis 30:32)
I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.

(Genesis 30:33)
So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.

(Genesis 30:34)
And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

(Genesis 30:35-36)
And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

(Genesis 30:37)
And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

(Genesis 30:38)
And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.

(Genesis 30:39)
And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

  • This is definitely divine intervention, since this does not happen naturally with flocks of anything

(Genesis 30:40)
And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.

  • Sometimes we have to just separate ourselves from even our relatives if they are acting ungodly, and our family as well

(Genesis 30:41)
And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

  • A winning strategy is repeated here

(Genesis 30:42)
But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

  • Jacob the deceiver is also Jacob the achiever, making Laban the father of the feebler

(Genesis 30:43)
And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

  • Fet accompli, since he needed to have enough wealth to leave, and his family with him

Links to studies by book or topic are on the top menu.

Genesis Chapter 31