EXPOSITION: Jacob arrives in Haran after escaping from Esau, his brother, and he meets Rachel at a well and immediately falls in love with her. He works to get the hand of Rachel, wherein he agrees to work to her father in exchange for her hand in marriage. However, Laban her father tricked him, and give his elder daughter Leah instead of Rachel. Jacob works another seven years in order to marry Rachel as well. Jacob's household grows complicated with rivalry of Rachel and Leah. Their handmaid, Zilpah and Bihlah were also involved in their complicated family relationship. Through them, Jacob became the father of 12 sons and one daughter Dinah. Then the family begins to grow, fulfilling the promise of god of numerous descendants.
RISING ACTION: Jacob feels the tension with Laban and escapes with his family. On the journey, he reconciles with Esau after wrestling with a divine figure and taking on the new name Israel, which represents his transformation. Jacob returns to Bethel and renews his covenant with God. Rachel died while giving birth to Benjamin. Then, the death of Isaac signifies the transmission of a generational mantle.
CLIMAX: Jacob shows favoritism to Joseph, the son of Rachel, which causes the jealousy among his other sons. Due to this jealousy, they sold Joseph into slavery. They made their father, Jacob, believed that Joseph his beloved son was dead through showing him Joseph's coat, dipped in blood.
FALLING ACTION: Joseph becomes powerful in Egypt. A famine strikes and Jacob sends his sons to Egypt for grain. They did not expect that they will meet Joseph, who challenge their characters. Joseph eventually confesses his identity and forgives them. Jacob is happy to find that Joseph is alive. The entire family relocates to Egypt, completing God's plan to preserve Jacob's heritage.
RESOLUTION: Jacob reunites with Joseph and blesses Pharaoh. Before dying, he blesses each of his twelve sons and Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and predicts their fates. Jacob died and was buried in Canaan. Joseph assures his brothers that he has no grudges and recognizes God's hand in their life.