M³ The (Hebrew) Underworld

Jacob and Joseph die at the end of Genesis. Sorry, spoilers. We have an interesting passage at the end where Jacob dies, where he “breathed his last, and was gathered to his people,” (Gen 49:33). His people are not his family. They were already gathered around him in life, so what is going on with this description?

M³ Switching It up

Before Jacob dies, his last official act is to bless Joseph’s sons. Joseph presents them in order, putting the oldest on Jacob’s right, and the youngest on the left, which is the proper, traditional method of delivery such blessings. The oldest should receive the blessing first and the best blessing, yet Jacob subverts expectations once again.

M³ Jacob's Trauma

Joseph, still in disguise, is all too happy to sell the brothers food, although he does ask for a ransom of sorts. In order to know if the brothers are truly spies, he holds one back (Simeon volunteers) and asks that they return with their youngest brother Benjamin. He’s not heartless, though, as he returns the brothers’ money in with their sacks of grain.

M³ Harsh World

            With each passing story in Genesis, the narrative is becoming more vivid and more visceral. The stories of creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Noah are behind us when there were only allusions to horrors and almost always a clear-cut answer.

M³ Again, Rape Is Bad

            Okay, so, there are a number of similarities between the Bible and Greek mythology throughout, but this ain’t one of them. Genesis, with the story of Sodom and Lot’s daughters sends the message that rape is bad. In the first instance it’s the idea that raping and breaking hospitality is bad. In the second, it’s that incestual rape is bad. This time, there are no qualifiers. Rape is bad.

M³ If One Is Good, More Is Better?

            Okay, so we have to take a minute here to talk about the marriage thing. From Adam through Noah, we have monogamous relationships. One man, one woman, the end. Even Cain is only mentioned at having one woman, an unnamed wife (though some rumors and questionable sources name Lilith as his wife).

M³ Trickses on Jacob

            So, Jacob wins out over Esau. The most clever and deserving wins and takes all. Now down to the business of his own life, Jacob wants to settle down and falls in love with Rachel, the second daughter of Laban. In order to prove his worth, he serves Laban for seven years. Then, on what is supposed to be his nuptial night, Laban gives him Leah, the eldest daughter, not Rachel.

            This is why it’s important to have the lights on at first.

M³ Bucking the Trend

            So far, we have had Cain and Esau demonstrate to us that the first-born son is not always the best one. The Bible is very carefully starting a pattern, one that we will see continued with Jacob’s many sons. To the Hebrews, it is more important that the person most deserving, the one who works the hardest be the one to inherit, regardless of birth order.

M³ Half the Formula

            The physical portion of the birthright is set in tradition and law. It’s very contractual in its way. But it’s only half of what Jacob needs to ensure his father’s legacy and to safeguard his mother.

            Unfortunately, the other half is up to Isaac to bestow however he wishes. The blessing is a companion piece to the physical birthright. It generally follows the birthright, but it’s really up to the giver of the blessing (usually the family patriarch) to give it to whomever he wished.

M³ Protecting Isaac's Legacy

            Esau, due to his lack of skills as a hunter, and for not being around to tend to his father’s lands, really is not the best candidate for inheritance. With him, the land would likely just go back to wilderness, and the flocks would end up sold, slaughtered, or wander off. In the end, Isaac’s legacy would also dwindle to nothing under Esau. He would be a poor caretaker for everything.

M³ The Good Son

            It’s easy to vilify Jacob in this. I mean, it’s pretty absurd to sell stew for a birthright. Even worse to do so while his brother is hungry (although that’s the only time he’ll ever agree to that kind of discounted price, I’m sure). Jacob comes off as kind of predatory in this, and that he doesn’t care about family at all.

M³ Never Bargain when Hungry

            Esau the Hunter went out hunting one day, only he didn’t catch anything. The reasons why are not given, but it might be a clue to his general character, later on. He returned home to find his brother Jacob cooking a stew of some vegetables. Since he hadn’t caught anything, he was pretty hungry, so he asked for some stew.

M³ Playing Favorites

            It’s been a while since we’ve visited the line of Abraham, so we’ll pick back up after Abraham as passed, and we have Isaac with his two sons Esau and Jacob. This story is often looked at comically as a disagreement between two brothers, and—according to my students—Jacob is a bit of a jerk for how he treats his brother.

            But as with all things, it’s slightly more complicated than that.