Jacob & sons

[carolaa]

I've been wondering what Jacob was thinking to have his sons take the flocks to graze at Shechem. I mean, didn't they have to move away from Shechem, for good reason? I can't imagine why he did that. And then, even more incredible, he sent his favorite son Joseph - apparently alone - to find his brothers. Does anyone else find that astounding? Am I missing something?

[Joe_in_RP]

Interesting

In Gen 28:1 Issac sends him away instructing him not to take a Cannan wife but to go beyond that. But when he returns in Gen 33:10-17 he settles in Canaan 18-20. In gen 35 he moves to Bethel. But he keeps his land. I think that was a mistake.

http://www.ucg.org/brp/imagesbrp/jacob/jacobsjourney.jpg

in Gen 37 he went past Shecem.

I am not sure were Canaan started. It looks like it was still the tribe of Manasseh.

[Joe_in_RP]

With a joyful heart, Joseph parted from his father, neither the aged man nor the youth dreaming of what would happen before they should meet again. When, after his long and solitary journey, Joseph arrived at Shechem, his brothers and their flocks were not to be found. Upon inquiring for them, he was directed to Dothan. He had already traveled more than fifty miles, and now an additional distance of fifteen lay before him, but he hastened on, forgetting his weariness in the thought of relieving the anxiety of his father, and meeting the brothers, whom, despite their unkindness, he still loved.

Ellen G. White Estate

Patriarchs and Prophets (1890), page 210, paragraph 5

Chapter Title: The Return to Canaan

[Haldog]

I've been wondering what Jacob was thinking to have his sons take the flocks to graze at Shechem.

[there buster]

Jacob's flocks were very numerous. The likelihood is that he had to keep finding fresh grazing areas when they exhausted the ones where they were. Thus, they would have moved the flocks to a fresh grazing area in order to "feed them."