Genesis 36 gives the history of the descendants of Esau ( called Edomites). Esau had three wives, two from Canaan and one was his cousin. He had 5 sons in all that were born to him in Canaan. When Esau's household and goods and livestock became too great, they moved away from Jacob's household to the hills of Seir, since the land could not support both households.
Genesis 37 begins with an account of Joseph tending flocks with his brothers. Joseph was Israel's ( =Jacob's) favorite son and his brothers despised him for that. Furthermore, Joseph had shared some of his dreams with his brothers, in which he was a ruler over the people. His brothers were jealous even more, but Israel took the dreams into consideration. Later, when the brothers were out with the flocks, Israel asked Joseph to go check on them to see if all was well and then return to report their status. When the brothers saw him coming they plotted to kill him, but instead decided to throw him into a deep pit and then tell their father that wild animals must have eaten him. Then some traveling merchants came by and the brothers sold Joseph to them as a slave and he was taken to Egypt. The brothers took Joseph's coat and dipped it in goat's blood and brought it to their father. Israel believed that Joseph had been killed by some ferocious animal and he mourned for many days and refused to be comforted. Joseph was sold by the merchants to Potiphar, and official of the Egyptian Pharaoh.

In Genesis 35, Jacob moves his family to Bethel as God had directed him and tells everyone to destroy all their idols. God appeared to him again, reminding him that he will now be called 'Israel' (=one who struggles with God), and that he is to multiply and become great nations, and will receive the land given to Abraham and Isaac. Leaving Bethel, they traveled on to Bethlehem, but before they arrived Rachel gave birth to another son, Benjamin. Jacob now had twelve sons in all. Rachel died soon after the delivery of Benjamin. Jacob moved back to the home of his father Isaac, near Hebron, where Abraham also had lived. The chapter ends with Esau and Jacob burying their father, Isaac, who lived 180 years.

Genesis 34 begins with Jacob's daughter, Dinah, being taken and sexually assaulted by Shechem, who is the son of the local ruler, Hamor. Shechem wanted to take her also then for his wife and asked Hamor to "get me this girl as my wife". Jacob and his sons were "filled with grief and fury" because of the disgraceful thing that was done to Dinah. Hamor came to Jacob and asked permission for his son to marry Dinah and also for his other sons to marry Jacob's daughters. Shechem himself also came to Jacob and his sons and asked, "let me find favor in your eyes... let me marry her.. I will give you whatever you ask".
But, Jacob's sons responded deceitfully and told them they would agree to give Dinah if all the men among them were circumcised. Hamor and his sons agreed and instructed the town council to have every man in the town circumcised. Then Jacob's sons came 3 days later, while the men's wounds were still sore, and slaughtered them all with their swords. They also plundered and looted all their wealth, heards, and even their wives and children as captives. Afterwards, Jacob was angry, saying " You have ruined me ! .. We are so few that they will join forces and crush us.. my entire household will be wiped out !"
Their only response was,"But why should we let him treat out sister like a prostitute?". They avenged the evil done to their sister, rather than allowing God to deal justly with Shechem.

Genesis 33 begins with Jacob bowing as he approached his brother Esau cautiously, but Esau "ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed (Jacob)". Esau then asked Jacob why he had sent all the flocks, and Jacob said, "to find favor in your eyes". But Esau said " My brother, keep what you have for yourself". What a picture of forgiveness!
Esau did finally accept the gifts, since Jacob insisted, but then he said to Jacob, "Let us be on our way; I'll accompany you." Jacob, though, told him to go on ahead, since he had to move along slowly with his droves and children. Esau then offered, "Then let me leave some of my men with you." Jacob said to Esau, "to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably".

Genesis 32 gives the account of Jacob journeying back toward Canaan and preparing to meet Esau. Jacob was concerned about how Esau would receive him, so he made plans to send him gifts ahead of his arrival to appease any remaining hostility towards Jacob. Jacob prayed, " I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant... Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children". Jacob wrestled that night with an Angel of the Lord and God spoke to him saying, "your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob realized he had seen God face to face and yet his life was spared.

In Genesis 31, Jacob notices that Laban and his sons were becoming increasingly hostile toward him. The Lord told Jacob to "Go back to the land of your father and your relatives ( Canaan) and I will be with you". So he took his family, household, livestock, and belongings, but left without telling Laban. When Laban learned of their departure, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him, but the Lord warned Laban in a dream, saying "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob , either good or bad". So, when Laban confronted Jacob about fleeing in secret, he said "It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night and warned me to be careful not to harm you or speak anything to you". Rachel had taken Laban's household idols when they left, so Laban searched through their stuff looking for his stolen idols. Jacob became angry and lectured Laban about how he had served him in his house for twenty years, yet he still treated Jacob unfairly, Jacob said, "If the God of my father...had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed, but God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night." Laban offered a covenant with Jacob , asking the Lord to "watch between you and me... God is witness between you and me... that I will not harm you .. and you will not harm me.. and the God of Abraham judge between us". Laban then departed and returned to his home.

Genesis 30 is about Jacob's family growing and becoming prosperous. Both Leah and Rachel have children with Jacob and also their maidservants have children with Jacob, eventually twelve sons in all ( ie. twelve tribes of Israel). We see in this chapter God faithfully continuing to bless the descendants of Abraham through Jacob, despite the dysfunctional mess of a family that resulted from his multiple wives. Once more we realize that it is only by God's sovereign will and purposes that history moves as it does, not because of man's control or wishes.