Questions - Parsha Vayishlach Adot Adonai 1

Torah Study Questions

Parsha Vayishlach -- And he sent

B'reshit (Gen.) 32:4 - 36:43

Mark R. Ensign, Adot Adonai, Amarillo, Texas

Introductory questions -- Brief answers, not for extended discussion:

1. At what point in history does this parsha unfold?

2. Where does this parsha take place geographically? What are the setting and environment?

3. Who are the primary actors in the parsha and what role or roles does each play? What is the

significance of each role? Who are the secondary actors and what roles do they play? What is the

significance of their roles?

4. What is the overall theme of this parsha? What are the subdivisions, if any?

Parsha Specific Questions -- for extended discussion:

Chapter 32

What did Ya’akov send to his brother and how was he able to do that? What prompted the mission and

what was its purpose? What was the report returned to Ya’akov? How did Ya’akov respond (1)

emotionally, (2) physically, and (3) spiritually? What did Ya’akov send to Esav, for what purpose, and

accompanied by what message? What did Ya’akov do with his family? What kind of sleep did Ya’akov

get that night? Why? Who did he encounter and how was he identified? How did this encounter end?

How did it affect his name? What is the significance of the name Ya’akov received and how did it affect

his life and actions thereafter? What is the significance of the name Ya’akov gave this place?

What lessons can we learn from the preparations Ya’akov made for his encounter with his brother? How

can we apply those lessons in our lives today? What can we learn from Ya’akov's experiences and actions

about how we approach our loving heavenly Father daily and his coming Final Redemption?

Chapter 33

How did Ya’akov attempt to protect his family? What was the significance of the order in which he placed

them from first to last? How did Esav respond to the tribute Ya’akov sent to him? What was Ya’akov's

response to Esav? How did Esav and Ya’akov part company? Where did they go? Where did Ya’akov

buy land and what did he do there? What is significant about that?

Questions - Parsha Vayishlach Adot Adonai 2

What two world views are symbolized by the statements of Ya’akov and Esav? What statements does

Rav Sha’ul make in the Brit Chadashah that provide additional understanding of the conflict between these

world views? What did Y'shua do at the place that Ya’akov purchased?

Chapter 34

What happened to Dinah, who was the perpetrator and what was his position? How did Ya’akov respond

to the news? Who came to visit Ya’akov and for what reason? Who else was present and what was their

emotional state and why? What did the rapist and his father suggest to remedy this situation? How did

Dinah's brother's respond and with what counter-proposal? How was it received by the rapist and his

father? What did the rapist do to demonstrate his response?

To the people of his city, what did the ruler of Shechem propose and with what recommendation? How

did they respond to him? What was their condition on the third day? What happened to them and who

were the perpetrators? What did the sons of Ya’akov do as a group? With what emotions did Ya’akov

respond to his sons' actions and why? How did the sons justify themselves?

Chapter 35

Where did YHVH tell Ya’akov to go and why? What did Ya’akov do with his family and their

possessions? What came over the region as they traveled through it? What was significance about the

place and what he did there, both earlier and at this time? How did Ya’akov consecrate this encounter

with YHVH at this place? Compare and contrast his actions now to his first encounter in this same place?

What tragic event happened to Ya’akov's beloved wife and where? What disagreement did they have

about the name of the child and what is the significance of these names? How did Ya’akov respond?

What is significant about her burial place in relation to Ya’akov and the other patriarchs and matriarchs?

What is the location's significance today? What happened when Ya’akov visited Yitzchak and Chevron?

Who buried him and where?

Do you believe that it is proper to question the chronology (order) of events recorded in the Torah? Why

or why not? Does your conclusion about the chronology in any way impact your belief in the veracity and

inspiration of the Torah? If so, how? (Note please: Only the chronology is questioned, not the veracity

of what is written.)

Chapter 36

What separation did YHVH cause to occur between Ya’akov and Esav? Who moved and where? Why?

What does the Torah later tell us about Esav's final destination? By what name were his descendants

known? How would the descendants of Ya’akov encounter the descendants of Esav in the future?

Questions - Parsha Vayishlach Adot Adonai 3

What important lessons can we learn from the name of this portion and the events in response to this

instruction? What relationship is there between the name Yisrael and the names of the patriarchs and

matriarchs?

Closing Questions: For Personal Introspection

Why do you believe our loving Father provided us with this particular portion of his words? What was his

purpose and objective in preserving this portion of the Scriptures to this day? What benefit do they have

for Torah observant believers today?

What other insights has the Ruach HaKodesh given you in your study of this portion that you would like

to share with the group?

What questions from this portion have you had that have not been answered by the study?

What impact do you think the study of the words from your Father in this portion will have on your life?

How do you plan to implement his instructions in this parsha in your life?

Silently pray for the Ruach HaKodesh to implant his words like seeds, to nurture their growth in your heart,

and to enable you to respond fully as they do.