Genesis 38 is a flashback to Joseph older brother Judah. Judah commits 3 major sins. Tamar is vindicated and bears Perez who become an ancestor to Jesus.

We see how Joseph's brothers sell him to Egypt. Joseph is sent to Shechem. Joseph is sold at Dothan. Jacob mourns in Hebron. Joseph is sold to Potiphar.

In Genesis 37:2-11, we meet Joseph the Dreamer. We see his special status, his father's favoritism, his brother's hatred, and God's providential revelation.

This introduction to the Joseph narrative includes Joseph’s childhood, his model character, his similarities with Christ Jesus, and God’s providence.

To conclude our survey of the Genesis narrative of Jacob, an important question must be asked. “Why did God choose Jacob, not Esau?” Another way to ask this question is “On what basis did God choose Jacob over Esau?”

Genesis 36 gives us the genealogy of Isaac's older son Esau. Esau spurned his birthright, but God did not forget him. He was still Jacob's brother.

In Genesis 35, Jacob returns to Bethel before seeing his father Isaac at Hebron and enduring several more trials including the death of his wife Rachel.