Personal Note on Posting Timeline
We will gather next on Sunday, April 7th so our next post will be no later than Friday, April 12th.
Background: Gen. 26: 34 – 28: 09: Jacob, Esau, and the Blessing
Our editor / author weaves together material from both the J and P sources. He uses the P [Priestly] to bookend, as it were, the material from the J [Yahwist] source. In both chap. 26: 34 – 35 and chaps. 27: 46 – 28: 09 the Priestly source provides content that revolves around the wives of the two sons, the contentious wives of Esau and Jacob in search of a wife.
The remainder of the story told by the Yahwist has as two poetic pieces vv. 27 – 29 and vv. 39 40 that serve to focus. Scholars are uncertain of the origin of this material but it could be reflective of the later relationship between the Israelites and the Edomites.
As you read the various episodes in this story, see if you can notice that the author / editor keeps the characters separated both in terms of the content and in terms of internal communications. Rebekah never talks to Esau. Jacob and Esau never appear in the same scenes.
Because of the length of this passage, we will deal with it in a series of related episodes.
- The first episode is Gen. 26: 34 – 35. http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/26.
This episode sets the context for what follows. Esau, without parental consent marries two “foreign” women and these marriages are a source of embitterment between them and both Isaac and Rebekah. Esau continues to be painted in a less than admirable manner. As you will read though, none of the characters are presented other than as flawed human beings. It is this simple fact that enables us to identify with it. We know something of this cunning and devious behaviors.
Here are some of the questions that our group engaged in.
- What meaning do these two verses contain for you?
- Do they affirm a negative impression of Esau?
- What is the significance that the embitterment includes both Isaac and Rebekah?
- The second episode – Gen. 27: 01 – 04. http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/27.
Isaac in his old age [despite the fact that his death is not announced until 35: 29] makes plans to fulfill his special blessing on his eldest son, Esau. Keep in mind Isaac doesn’t know that Esau sold his birth right. Also scholars don’t necessarily agree that the birthright and this final blessing are one and the same thing. As we read later, this special blessing has a determined ritual content to it; that is why a meal has to be prepared.
- The third episode – Gen. 27: 05 – 17. http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/27.
Rebekah overhears the conversation between Isaac and Esau, his son. She turns to Jacob, her son. The breakdown of communication in the family is evident. Only she knows of the oracle that the Lord spoke to her and thus she adds to her retelling of the conversation, two critical words, “before Yahweh.” This addition places her account in a theological, faith context.
It is this faith context that drives her to do all that she does. She is not a passive player in fulfilling God’s will. And this fact resulted in a considerable discussion among our group. We ended up discussing questions such as these.
- How would you describe Rebekah’s behavior?
- What role does the fact that Rebekah is living in a male dominated, patriarchal society have to play on her behavior? Is that fact something you even thought about?
- Why doesn’t doing “God’s will” free you from the demands of morality on your behavior?
- How can God seemingly accept and work with characters who are presented as conniving, lying, etc.
- How do you discuss this type of behavior with others who do not believe and can’t understand how God, “your God” seemingly approve of such behavior?
- What motivates Jacob to follow the directives of his mother?
- What does this motivation say to you of the character of Jacob?
- What appeals to you in this episode?
Your comments, observations, questions are welcomed. See “comment” link below