Genesis 28:10-19

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
  • Bereshit 28: Massoretic, Hebrew, Aramaic, JPS.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Navigating the Bible: Text/Rabbinic commentary and Divrei Torah.
  • "Transcendent, All-Pervasive Reality," Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit.
  • Chapter LVIII, Chapter CXX, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)
  • III.25, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 209)
  • Concerning Flight in Persecution (paragraph 1) Tertullian (c. 212)
  • VI.XXI, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "He felt the force of this promise only by faith: for all his life he was a stranger in this land."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Whom God loves, he never leaves."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "The mediation of Christ: He is this ladder: the foot on earth in his human nature, the top in heaven in his divine nature; or the former is his humiliation, the latter is his exaltation."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "There can be no doubt that this use of the original term was common among the early Hebrews; as there can be no doubt that this use of the original term was common among the early Hebrews; as JOSEPHUS, describing the town of Ptolemais (Acre), says it was bounded by a mountain, which, from its projecting sides, was called "the ladder," and the stairs that led down to the city are, in the original, termed a ladder thought they were only a flight of steps cut in the side of the rock."
• Contemporary References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Commentary, Genesis 28:10-19a, Esther M. Menn, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "Jacob finds himself all alone at nightfall. He is on the run from his brother Esau because of a blessing."
  • Genesis 28:10-22, Pentecost 10, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "This experience of God by Jacob is his own adult faith occurrence in which he can own God for himself rather than his comment in Gen 27:20, 'Because the Lord your God granted me success'."
  • The Old Testament Readings: Genesis 28:10-19a. Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "As God proclaims he will be Jacob’s ‘keeper’ we are reminded of the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4), where the former declared himself not his brother’s ‘keeper’ or protector."
  • Genesis 28:10-19a, Proper 16A, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Desert Scribblings, Genesis 29:10-19a, Geoff McElroy.
    • "Those eye opening moments, those moments and experience that expand our horizons, that open us up to God and God’s workings in the world often come in strange places and at strange times and in strange ways."
  • "The Ladder to Heaven," Torah Commentary by Rabbi Shai Held. BeliefNet.
    • "Three Hasidic interpretations of the ladder in Jacob's dream shed light on humanity's relationship with God."
  • "The Seeker is Sought," from the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "I find it amusing that while Jacob could not find God by striving, he was found by God while in his sleep."
  • Parshah Vayeitzei, text, commentary & articles from Chassidic Masters, sermons, etc from Chabad Lubavitch.
  • "The Stony Dreamer: Jacob," William L. Holladay, The Christian Century, 1996.
    • "Some years ago, at a site 25 miles northeast of Bethel, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a divided stone staircase leading from the city down to its water source; the staircase was evidently divided in order to separate the ascending from the descending traffic. It is likely that Jacob dreamed of such a staircase."
  • Jacob and the Angel, James Arne Nestingen, The Lenten First Lessons, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Seminary, 1985. (Section on this text begins on page 92.)
    • "If all the Bible-campers and others who have climbed it looked at the scriptural traffic on Jacob's ladder, they might be a little less aggressive about jumping aboard."
  • Genesis 28:10-17, Saint Michael & All Angels, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Parshas Vayeitzei, Divrei Torah from The Project Genesis Torah Study. Index to numerous Orthodox articles and studies on Genesis 28:10 - 32:3.
  • Parshat Vayeitzei, articles and commentary by the Jewish Community of Atlanta, at The Torah From Dixie.
• Articles & Background:
  • "Dreams and Christian Growth," Philip St. Romain, Spirituality Today, Summer 1984.
    • "Through the symbols produced in our dreams by the unconscious dimension of our persons, the Spirit of God can reveal ways of living that impede or foster Christian discipleship."
  • Dreams from Jewish Heritage OnLine Magazine. Ancient and contemporary articles, commentary, and exposition about dreams, Biblical to modern.
    • Includes "Climbing Jacob's Ladder," David Curzon
      • "Following the rabbis of the Midrash, who loved puns, do not read only 'ascending,' but also 'assenting.' And do not only read 'descending,' but also 'dissenting.'"
  • "Jacob at Bethel and Penuel: the Polarity of Divine Encounter," Bernard Och, Judaism, 1993.
    • "Possessing neither the awesome faith of an Abraham nor the stoic equanimity of an Isaac, Jacob is, nevertheless, chosen to be the bearer of Divine blessing and the eponymic father of Israel."
  • Jacob and Laban's Daughters, from And Adam Knew Eve: A Dictionary of Sex in the Bible by Ronald L. Ecker.
  • "Blessed Deception," program highlights, discussion & reflection questions and more from the Bill Moyers PBS series Genesis: A Living Conversation.
    • "How is Rebecca's relationship with God different from those of the women who preceded her in Genesis?"
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Bridgford, Kim, "Jacob's Ladder," The Christian Century, 2007. (Poetry)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Calhoun, "'What Is the Name of that Place?' A Sermon Based on Genesis 28:10-19," Presbyterion, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Greenberg, Irving, "The Maturation of Covenant in Judaism and Christianity," The Living Pulpit, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Holladay, William L., "The Stony Dreamer: Jacob," The Christian Century, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kaminsky, Joel S., "Humor and the Theology of Hope: Isaac as a Humorous Figure," Interpretation, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lamborn, Amy Bentley, "Covenant Signs Abound," The Living Pulpit, 2005.     
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Nestingen, James Arne, "The Lenten First Lessons," Word & World, 1985. (Section on this text begins on page 92.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Oblath, Michael, "'To Sleep, perchance to Dream...': What Jacob Saw at Bethel (Genesis 28.10-22)," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Rensberger, David, "Reflections on a Spirituality of Place," Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center, 2006/2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ross, Allen P., "Jacob's Vision: The Founding of Bethel," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Steinmetz, David C., "Luther and the Ascent of Jacob's Ladder," Church History, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Whartenby, Thomas J., Jr., "Genesis 28:10-22, Expository Article," Interpretation, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
  • Review: R. Christopher Heard, Dynamics of Diselection: Ambiguity in Genesis 12 - 36 and Ethnic Boundaries in Post-Exilic Judah. Society of Biblical Literature, 2001. Reviewed by E.T. Mullen and Phillip Sherman (2 reviews) in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature.
  • Reviews: Shaul Bar, A Letter That Has Not Been Read: Dreams in the Hebrew Bible. Hebrew Union College Press, 2001. Reviews by Robert Gnuse and Frances Flanner-Dailey in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature.
  • Review: Jean-Daniel Macchi and Thomas Romer, eds., Jacob: Commentaire a plusieurs voix, de, Ein mehrstimmiger Kommentar zu, A Plural Commentary of Gen 25-36: Melanges offerts a Albert de Pury. Labor et Fides, 2001. Review by James G Williams in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2003.
• Sermons:
  • "The All-American Dreamer," the Rev. Craig Barnes, Day1, 2008.
  • "Grace," Barry Robinson, Keeping the Faith in Babylon.
• Poetry, Literature, Literary References:
  • "Who Sleep on Holy Stones: A Meditation on Genesis 28:10-17," Sheila  Nelson-McJilton, Anglican Theological Review, 2000.
• With Children:
  • "Jacob, Father of Israel," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Stairway to Heaven," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "Jacob's Ladder," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "Jacob's Dream," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • "Crossword on Genesis 27 & 28," Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art: Jacob's Ladder, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
  • Jacob's Ladder, Clip Art, Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, New Zealand.
• Hymns and Music:
  • "We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder," for choir and/or congregation, arr. Sandy Willard Rogers, United Methodist Church GBOD.
  • At Oremus Hymnal:
    • As Jacob with travel was weary one day
      Awake, my soul, and with the sun
      Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
      Beneath the cross of Jesus
      Blessed assurance
      Christ, the fair glory of the holy angels
      Creating God, your fingers trace
      God is here; as we his people
      God reveals his presence
      God, that madest earth and heaven
      Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
      I want to walk as a child of the light
      It is a thing most wonderful
      Jesus, where'er thy people meet
      Lo, God is here! let us adore
      Nearer, my God, to thee
      O God of Bethel, by whose hand
      O happy band of pilgrims
      Savior, again to thy dear name we raise
      The duteous day now closeth
      They did not build in vain
      Timeless love! We sing the story
  • Hymns, midi files, scores at Blue Letter Bible/Cyber Hymnal:
    • Nearer, My God, To Thee (Genesis 28:11-12)
    • We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder (Genesis 28:11-12)
  • Hymn Selections, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Nearer My God, to Thee
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Jacob's Ladder/Dream
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study links and resources for the Book of Genesis