And Jacob Lived
Genesis 47:28-50:26

Before we take a look at the closing Sedrah of Genesis, let us take a brief moment to review the book of Genesis and its Hebrew terminology.

The book of Genesis is called Bereshit in Hebrew. "Bereshit" means, "In the beginning." This is an appropriate name as it is "The Book of Beginnings." We read about the beginning of creation and the beginning of the Nation of Israel and the Jewish People. The "law of first mention" for sin, eternal life, all doctrines and principles (God's laws, statutes, precepts and judgments) have their beginnings in this book. Truly "Bereshit" is where we begin when developing a Main Stream Truth in the scriptures. Every Main Stream Truth not only begins in Bereshit, but also continues throughout the Tanakh and into the Brit Chadashah until the last God breathed book of the Holy Writ-Revelations. One great man of God says, "Its starts in Genesis and puckers up in Revelations." How true it is.

There are a total of twelve portions of scripture in the book of Genesis. Upon the conclusion of the Jewish High Holidays in the fall, every Synagogue around the world will begin afresh the reading of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). One portion will be read weekly along with a portion of scriptures from the books of the Prophets. This portion of scripture is known as the Halftorah. In the Synagogue, upon the conclusion of the reading of the Torah and Halftorah portions prayer and singing is made and followed by a sermon about these passages.

In the commentaries I have intermingled both the English and Hebrew words to familiarize you with Hebrew terminology. Oftentimes we find that the definitions of the Hebrew words shed insights possibly not considered in previous studies. Each one of the twelve portions is called a Sedrah and has a specific Hebrew name. The Hebrew name refers to the first few words of the chapters being read for the week. We have commented upon the following Sedrahs:

Bereshit-In the beginning: Origin of the Universe and the beginnings of the Human Race, Noach-These are the generations of Noach: The Flood, Lech Lecha-Get The Out: Begins the History of the Patriarchs (Fathers: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), Vayyera-And the LORD Appeared: The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Chayye Sarah-The Life of Sarah: The Death and Burial of Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah and the Death of Abraham, Toledoth-These are the generations: Jacob, Esau and the Birthright, Vayyetz-He (Jacob)Went Out: Jacob leaving Beer Sheva to Haran, Vayyishlach-And He (Jacob) Sent: Jacobs reconciliation with Esau and return to the Promised Land, Vayyeshev-And He (Jacob)Dwelled: Joseph's dream and exile to Egypt by his brethren, Mikketz-And It Came to Pass: Joseph's exaltation by Pharoah and confrontation with his brethren, Vayyiggash-And He (Judah) Came Near: The beautiful heartrending supplication of Judah on behalf of Benjamin and Joseph's reconciliation with his brethren and Father, Vayyechi-And He (Jacob) lived: The conclusion of both Jacob and Joseph's lives, the blessings of Jacob's sons and the immortal words of Yosef, "I die; but God will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."