Study Book for Our Life and Preaching Meeting
APRIL 13-19
FINE-FINE LESSON FROM BIBLE | GENESIS 31
“Jacob and Laban Make Agreement Say Peace Go Always Dey Between Them”
(Genesis 31:44-46) Now come, make we make agreement, you and me, and e go be sign between us.” 45 So Jacob carry one stone and put-am as pillar. 46 Then Jacob tell e brothers say: “Make wuna pick stones!” And they pick stones, arrange-am and gather-am well. After that one, they chop food ontop the stones wey them gather.
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Galeed
After Jacob and Laban use peace settle the problem wey they get, they make agreement with each other. So, Jacob carry one stone and put-am as pillar. Then e tell e “brothers” make they pick stones and arrange-am well. E fit be say they arrange the stones like table. And na ontop-am they chop the food wey they cook for this occasion. After, Laban call this stones “Jegar-sahadutha.” This one na Aramaic (Syrian) name. But Jacob call-am the Hebrew name, “Galeed.” Laban talk say: “This stones wey we arrange here [Heb., gal] go be sign [Heb., ʽedh] between me and you today.” (Ge 31:44-48) The stones wey they arrange (and the stone pillar) go be sign for all the people wey go pass there. And as verse 49 talk, na “Watchtower [Heb., mits·pahʹ],” because e go make people know say Jacob and Laban don agree say peace go always dey between the two family and for the two family. (Ge 31:50-53) After, other people for Bible still use stone as sign.—Jos 4:4-7; 24:25-27.
(Genesis 31:47-50) And Laban come de call-am Je′gar-sa·ha·du′tha, but Jacob call-am Gal′e·ed. 48 Then Laban talk say: “This stones wey we arrange here go be sign between me and you today.” Na the reason why e name that place Galeed, 49 and Watchtower, because e talk say: “Make Jehovah de watch us when we no de see each other. 50 If you treat my pikin them anyhow and you begin marry other women join them, even if nobody de see us, remember say God de see and e go judge between me and you.”
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Watchtower
Jacob gather stones and arrange them well, and call-am “Galeed” (wey mean “Stone Wey Be Sign”) and “Watchtower.” Then Laban talk say: “Make Jehovah de watch us when we no de see each other.” (Ge 31:45-49) The stones wey they arrange na sign say Jehovah de watch Jacob and Laban to see whether they go keep their agreement.
(Genesis 31:51-53) Laban still tell Jacob say: “See the stones wey we arrange and see the pillar wey I set between me and you. 52 The stones wey we arrange na sign, and the pillar na wetin go be sign say I no go pass this stones to do you bad and you no go pass this stones and this pillar to do me bad. 53 Make the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their papa, judge us.” But Jacob swear with the God wey Isaac, e papa de worship.
Fine-Fine Things Wey You See for Bible
(Genesis 31:19) That time, Laban don go shave the hair from e sheep, so Rachel thief e papa teraphim idols.
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Teraphim (Family Idols)
People wey de dig old-old things from ground see some things for Mesopotamia and other area around-am. This things wey them see, show say the person wey the family gods or teraphim idols dey with, go inherit the family property. For one stone wey them see for Nuzi, they write say when some kind things happen, and the family idols dey with any son-in-law, e fit take-am go court, to claim e father-in-law property. (Ancient Near Eastern Texts, edited by J. Pritchard, 1974, pp. 219, 220, and ftn 51) E fit be say na this one make Rachel thief e papa teraphim idols. E fit de think say wetin e do correct because of the way e papa treat e husband, Jacob. (Compare Ge 31:14-16.) The way Laban do e best to make sure say e find the teraphim idols, still show say this idols really dey important. Laban find-am sotey e take e brothers and they pursue Jacob for seven days until they meet-am. (Ge 31:19-30) But the truth na say, Jacob no even know wetin Rachel do. (Ge 31:32) And nothing show say Jacob ever try to use the teraphim to collect Laban property from the sons of Laban. Jacob no ever worship idols. And Jacob go don bury the teraphim idols under the big tree near Shechem, the time wey e bury all the idols wey e family people be de use.—Ge 35:1-4.
(Genesis 31:41, 42) I don dey your house for 20 years, I don use 14 years work for you to marry your two daughters and I use 6 years care for your animals, but you continue to change my payment ten times. 42 If to say the God of Abraham, wey Isaac my papa still de worship, no dey my side, you for send me comot from your house with empty-hand. God don see my suffer and hard work, na e make e warn you for night.”
(1 Peter 2:18) Make servants put theirself under their master with all respect, no be only to the one wey good and de treat them well, but even to the one wey e no easy to make-am happy.
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Jehovah De Give Us Rest of Mind
8 When Jacob reach Haran, Laban e uncle really welcome-am. After, Laban give Leah and Rachel as wife to Jacob. But as time de go, Laban start to treat Jacob anyhow. E even change Jacob payment ten times! (Gen. 31:41, 42) But, Jacob endure everything because e dey sure say Jehovah no go stop to care for-am. And na wetin Jehovah do. By the time Jehovah tell Jacob say make e go back to Canaan, Jacob don get plenty animal and servants. (Gen. 30:43) Jacob really happy for wetin Jehovah do, so e pray and thank Jehovah say: “I no reach to receive all the love wey you don show me and all the things wey you don do for your servant, because na only my long stick I hold when I cross this Jordan but now everything wey I get don reach to form two group.”—Gen. 32:10.
APRIL 20-26
FINE-FINE LESSON FROM BIBLE | GENESIS 32-33
“You De Do Your Best to Obey Jehovah and Get E Blessing?”
(Genesis 32:24) After that one, na only Jacob come remain for there. Then one man start to struggle with-am until day break.
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You De Do Your Best to Make Jehovah Happy?
Bible get plenty example of people wey do their best to make Jehovah happy. One of them na Jacob. E use all e power struggle with angel of God until day break. Because of this one, God change Jacob name to Israel (Person wey struggle with God) because e “e no stop,” but “e use all e power” “struggle” with God. The angel bless-am because e really do e best.—Genesis 32:24-30, footnote.
(Genesis 32:25, 26) When e see-am say e no fit win, e touch the joint wey dey near Jacob waist and the joint shift as them de struggle. 26 Then e tell Jacob say: “Leave me make I go because day go soon break.” So Jacob talk say: “I no go leave you until you bless me.”
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When Person No Fit Waka Well
Jacob No Fit Waka Well Again. When Jacob dey around 97 years, e meet one angel for night and e struggle with the angel until day break. E no leave the angel until the angel bless-am. When e de struggle with the angel, the angel touch the joint wey dey e waist, the joint come shift. Because of this one, Jacob no come de waka well again. (Ge 32:24-32; Ho 12:2-4) One thing wey Jacob no go forget be say, even though say e struggle with God (angel of God) and with people and win as the angel talk, e no mean say e really win this strong angel of God. E only happen because na wetin Jehovah want and na Jehovah allow Jacob struggle with the angel. This one go show say Jacob really value the blessing from God and say e need the blessing.
(Genesis 32:27, 28) So e ask Jacob say: “Wetin be your name?” And Jacob talk say: “My name na Jacob.” 28 Then the angel talk say: “Your name no go be Jacob again but e go be Israel because you don struggle with God and with people, and you don win.”
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Israel
1. Israel na the name wey God give Jacob when e dey around 97 years. This one happen the night wey Jacob cross the river wey dey the valley of Jabbok as e de go meet e twin brother Esau. For there, e meet one angel and start to struggle with-am. Because Jacob no stop, the angel come change e name to Israel. This name Israel na sign of the blessing from God. To remember this thing wey happen, Jacob name the place Peniel or Penuel. (Ge 32:22-31; check JACOB No. 1.) Later for Bethel, God make-am clear say e don really change Jacob name. And from that time go reach when Jacob die, na e new name Israel, them call-am pass. (Ge 35:10, 15; 50:2; 1Ch 1:34) E pass 2,500 times wey them write the name Israel for Bible. And most times when Bible use the name, e de talk about the nation of Israel wey be children of Jacob.—Ex 5:1, 2.
Fine-Fine Things Wey You See for Bible
(Genesis 32:11) I de pray say make you save me from my brother Esau. I de fear because e fit come attack me and this pikin them and their mama.
(Genesis 32:13-15) And e stay there that night. Then e send some of the things wey e get as gift to e brother Esau: 14 200 she-goat, 20 he-goat, 200 female sheep, 20 ram 15 30 camel wey get pikin, 40 cow, 10 bull, 20 female donkey and 10 mature male donkey.
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Good Word De Make Friendship Better
10 To de talk good word and to sabi talk with people well, de make peace dey. In fact, when we de do our best to make our friendship with people better, e go help us de talk well with them. When we de use all our heart do good things for people—look for way to help them, give them gifts and invite them come our house—e go help us de talk well with them. E fit even make person wey de vex for us stop to vex and change. This one go make-am easy to settle problem with the person.—Rom. 12:20, 21.
11 Jacob understand this one. E twin brother Esau really vex and plan say e go kill Jacob. So because of this one, Jacob run comot for house. After plenty years, Jacob come back and Esau come meet-am for road with 400 men. So Jacob pray make Jehovah help-am. Then e send plenty animal to Esau as gift. E do this one so that peace go dey, and na so peace come dey between them. Esau no vex again when e meet Jacob, e even run come meet Jacob and embrace-am.—Gen. 27:41-44; 32:6, 11, 13-15; 33:4, 10.
(Genesis 33:20) And for there, e make altar and call-am God, the God of Israel.
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God the God of Israel
After Jehovah angel change Jacob name to Israel for Peniel and after e make peace with e twin brother Esau, Jacob live for Succoth and later, for Shechem. For there, e buy land from the sons of Hamor, and put e tent for there. (Ge 32:24-30; 33:1-4, 17-19) “And for there, e make altar and call-am God, the God of Israel,” or “God na God of Israel.” (Ge 33:20) As Jacob use e new name, Israel, call this altar, Jacob show say e accept and value the name. E still show say e happy say Jehovah lead-am back to the Promise Land. Na only once the word “God the God of Israel” dey Bible.
APRIL 27–MAY 3
FINE-FINE LESSON FROM BIBLE | GENESIS 34-35
“We Go Enter Trouble When We De Spend Time With People Wey No De Obey Jehovah!”
(Genesis 34:1) Dinah the daughter wey Leah born for Jacob de always go visit the young women of the land.
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Shechem Na City Wey Dey Valley
Which kind eye the men for the city go use look this young virgin wey de always come visit their city alone? When the son of one leader for the city see Dinah, e take Dinah, and use force sleep with-am. Why Dinah start to visit this girls for Canaan wey no de follow Jehovah law about sex? E no know say na fire e de play with? Na because e think say e need friends wey be e age mate? Or na because e get strong head like some of e brothers and no want make anybody control-am? When you read this story for Genesis, just imagine the kind pain and shame e papa and mama, go don feel because of the bad things wey happen as e de always go the city of Shechem.—Genesis 34:1-31; 49:5-7; still check Watchtower of June 15, 1985, page 31.
(Genesis 34:2) When Shechem see Dinah, e hold [Dinah] and use force sleep with-am. [Shechem] na the son of Hamor wey be Hivite man; one of the leader for the land.
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“Run From Anything About Sex Wey Bad!”
14 Shechem do wetin e feel say na normal thing. Because e like Dinah, e “e hold [Dinah]” and “use force sleep with-am.” (Read Genesis 34:1-4.) This bad thing wey Shechem do really cause serious problem for Dinah and e whole family.—Genesis 34:7, 25-31; Galatians 6:7, 8.
(Genesis 34:7) But the sons of Jacob hear about the matter and come back at once from where them go take care of animals. E pain them and them really vex because na disgrace for Israel as Shechem sleep with daughter of Jacob. This kind thing no suppose happen.
(Genesis 34:25) But for the third day when the people still de feel the pain, two of Jacob sons, Simeon and Levi, wey be Dinah brothers, enter the city when the people no expect and them kill all the male for the city.
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When Person Make You Vex
Some people de like “do-me-I-do-you.” Why? Plenty times, na because them feel say e go make the pain comot from their mind. For example, Bible tell us wetin two sons of Jacob do when them hear say Shechem from Canaan use force sleep with their sister Dinah. “E pain them and them really vex.” (Genesis 34:1-7) So Simeon and Levi plan say them go revenge. Them deceive Shechem and e people to circumcise. When the people no expect, two of them enter the city and kill all the male, plus Shechem.—Genesis 34:13-27.
As them kill all the male for the city, that one solve the problem? When Jacob hear wetin happen, e tell them say: “Wuna don bring serious trouble for me. Now the people of the land . . . go gather and fight me because we no plenty, and them go destroy me and my family.” (Genesis 34:30) Instead make e settle the problem, e even add more problem. Now, Jacob family dey for danger, their neighbors fit attack and kill them. E fit be say na this one make Jehovah say make the family of Jacob comot from there and go Bethel.—Genesis 35:1, 5.
Fine-Fine Things Wey You See for Bible
(Genesis 35:8) Later, Deborah wey be Rebekah nurse, die and them bury-am for under one oak tree for Bethel. So e call the tree Allon-bacuth.
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Deborah
1. Deborah na Rebekah nurse. When Rebekah comot from e papa house, to go marry Isaac, Deborah follow Rebekah. (Ge 24:59) Deborah stay for Isaac house for plenty years. But e be like say na after Rebekah die e start to stay with Jacob family. Na around 125 years after Rebekah marry Isaac, Deborah die and them bury-am under one big tree for Bethel. The name wey Jacob call the tree (na Allon-bacuth, and e mean “Big Tree wey people dey under-am, de cry”) show say Jacob and e family really love Deborah.—Ge 35:8.
(Genesis 35:22-26) So one time when Israel de live for this land, Reuben go sleep with Bilhah, one of the women wey born for e papa, and e papa hear about-am. Na 12 sons Jacob get. 23 The sons wey Leah born for Jacob na, Reuʹben e firstborn, then Simʹe·on, Leʹvi, Judah, Isʹsa·char, and Zebʹu·lun. 24 The ones wey Rachel born na Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The ones wey Bilhah the servant of Rachel born na, Dan and Naph′ta·li. 26 And the ones wey Zilpah the servant of Leah born na, Gad and Ash′er. This na the sons of Jacob, wey them born for Jacob when e dey Paddan-aram.
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Question Wey Some People Don Ask
Na must say for Israel that time, person go be first son or get the right of firstborn before Messiah go come from e family?
We don talk-am before say the answer to this question, na “yes.” This na because e be like say wetin dey the book of Hebrews 12:16, support-am. That verse talk say Esau “no value holy things” and “sell e right as firstborn [to Jacob] because of food.” So, e just be like say this verse de talk say when Jacob get the right as first son, na that time e get the hope say the Messiah go come from e family.—Matt. 1:2, 16; Luke 3:23, 34.
But after we check other place for Bible, e clear say person no need to be firstborn son before the Messiah go come from e family. See some things wey show say this one na true:
The first son wey Leah born for Jacob (Israel), na Reuben. After, Rachel the wife wey e love pass, born Joseph. When Reuben sleep with Bilhah, the right of firstborn become Joseph own. (Gen. 29:31-35; 30:22-25; 35:22-26; 49:22-26; 1 Chron. 5:1, 2) Even with this one, the Messiah no come from the family of Reuben or Joseph. Na the family of Judah, the Messiah come from. And Judah na the fourth son wey Leah born for Jacob.—Gen. 49:10.