LESSON XXII.—THE SONS OF JACOB.
1. To what place was Jacob directed to go, after he had come into the land of Canaan? Gen. 35:1. 2. What were Jacob’s family required to give up before going up to Bethel to worship? 3. What was done with these things? 4. To what place did Jacob finally journey? 5. What sad affliction came upon him near Bethlehem? 7. Did the Lord bring Jacob again in peace to his father’s house? 8. By whom was Isaac buried? 9. How many sons had Jacob? 10. Which of them were the sons of Rachel? 11. Which was Jacob’s favorite? 12. How did he manifest a special regard for him? Gen. 37:3. 13. How was Joseph regarded by his brethren? 14. What caused them to have such feelings toward him? 15. What course did they take to get rid of him? 16. How did they deceive their father? 17. What did the merchants do with Joseph? 18. How did Joseph gain the confidence of his master? 19. What did Potiphar intrust to Joseph? 20. What reverses did Joseph meet? When Jacob had come into the land of Canaan, the Lord told him to go up to Bethel, and build an altar there. Bethel was the place where the Lord had appeared to him and given him such a remarkable dream so many years before, when he was on his way to Padan-aram. Before going up to Bethel to worship, Jacob took all the false gods and earrings belonging to his family, and hid them under an oak. This would be a good example for all to follow. Jacob finally journeyed on toward Hebron, the place where his father then dwelt. When he came near to Bethlehem, Rachel, his beloved wife, died, and was buried near that place. When the wicked Herod slew all the children under two years of age, in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, Rachel is represented as weeping for her children. Jacob at last came to Isaac his father, at Hebron. So the Lord brought him to his father’s house in peace, as Jacob had requested. When Isaac died, his sons, Jacob and Esau, buried him. Jacob had twelve sons, the two younger, Joseph and Benjamin, were the sons of Rachel. Joseph was his father’s favorite, but was hated by his brothers. They hated him not only from envy, but because he had dreams that seemed to indicate that he was to be exalted above them, and because he told his father of their wicked actions. One day, while in the field, far from home, they sold him to some traveling merchants who were going down to Egypt. They then killed a kid, and dipped Joseph’s coat in the blood, and carried it to his father. Jacob’s grief was great; for he supposed that Joseph had been torn in pieces by wild beasts. The merchants took Joseph to Egypt, and sold him as a slave to Potiphar, a captain of the king’s guard. By good conduct, and the blessing of the Lord, Joseph gained the entire confidence of Potiphar; and as Potiphar noticed that everything prospered in Joseph’s hands, he gave him charge of all his affairs. One day Potiphar’s wife tempted Joseph to do wrong, and because he would not consent, she told a wicked falsehood about him. Potiphar, believing his wife’s story, was very angry with Joseph, and cast him into prison.