Where was Jacob named Israel?

Answer 1

In an ancient tradition inserted into the life story of Jacob at Genesis 32:24ff, he was left alone and wrestled with a man all night until the break of day. Even though his leg was dislocated, Jacob refused to let his opponent go unless he blessed Jacob. That the 'man' was a god is amply demonstrated - Jacob asked for his blessing, and he had the prerogative of changing Jacob's name. The new name he gave Jacob was Israel (generally assumed to mean "wrestled with God'). If the man who wrestled with Jacob was a god, then Jacob was also a god in the very early tradition behind this account, as demonstrated by the fact that he was such an even match for his opponent. And if the opponent was a god, he was also a sun god - daybreak signalled the end of the contest, he had to leave Jacob before the sun could rise, then the sun rose upon Jacob. There is evidence elsewhere in The Bible that suggests Jacob was worshipped as the moon god in very early times before his story evolved into that of a mortal hero. Jacob called the place Peniel ('the face of God') because he had seen God face to face.

Much later, God appeared to Jacob at Bethel and again Jacob was renamed "Israel" (Genesis 35:10-12: "Thy name is Jacob; thy name shall not be called anymore Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name"; and He called his name Israel. And God said unto him, "I am God Almighty [El Shaddai]. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; and the land which I gave unto Abraham and Isaac, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed after thee I will give the land." The use here of the divine name El Shaddai tells us that this passage was written by the Priestly Source, who may have objected to the paganism of the older account, but was ultimately unable to have that passage removed.

Answer 2

No. Jacob (if he lived) would have been a Semitic individual (much the same coloration of Jews and Arabs today).

Just like Jews today, the early Israelites came in differing skin-tones, heights, and body-types. Our tradition is that the twelve sons of Jacob (the 12 Tribes) were not completely similar to each other in appearance, though not one of them was really dark-skinned (Rashi commentary on Genesis 12:11).

Abraham himself came from Western Asia, and since Jews have intermarried very little in the last 3800 years, he and his family (including Jacob his grandson) probably looked like Jews today. Jacob is buried in Israel (in Hebron).

DNA testing of Jewish communities worldwide has shown that they are all interrelated and of Middle Eastern genetics, comparable to the Sephardim today (not African or Egyptian).

Answer 3

Israel is a country and received many visitors. Jacob received very few visitors and thought making himself sound popular would result in having more visitors.

Answer 4

Jacobs name was changed in the bible to Israel , after he wrestled with a heavenly messenger all night long.

Answer 5

Gen:32:28: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Answer 6

Because God is probobaly called Jacob