Difference between revisions of "Avraham and Yaakov/0"
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<h2>Introduction</h2> | <h2>Introduction</h2> | ||
| − | <h2>Content Parallels</h2> | + | <h2>Content Parallels and Contrasts</h2> |
<table lang="en"> | <table lang="en"> | ||
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<tr> | <tr> | ||
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Blessing</span></td> | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Blessing</span></td> | ||
| − | <td>Both departures are accompanied by a prophetic blessing, the first revelation of Hashem to each of these patriarchs.</td> | + | <td>Both departures are accompanied by a prophetic blessing,<fn>Part of the blessings are identical, as each is told, "וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה".</fn> the first revelation of Hashem to each of these patriarchs.</td> |
<td>Avraham is blessed before he leaves, while Yaakov receives Hashem's reassurance only en route.</td> | <td>Avraham is blessed before he leaves, while Yaakov receives Hashem's reassurance only en route.</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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<tr> | <tr> | ||
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #ff00ff;">Barren wife</span></td> | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #ff00ff;">Barren wife</span></td> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>Sarah and Rachel are both described as beautiful but barren.</td> |
<td>---</td> | <td>---</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #ff00ff;">Potential loss</span></td> | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #ff00ff;">Potential loss</span></td> | ||
<td>Avraham thinks his beloved Yitzchak is to die, and Yaakov believes his favorite, Yosef, is dead.</td> | <td>Avraham thinks his beloved Yitzchak is to die, and Yaakov believes his favorite, Yosef, is dead.</td> | ||
| − | <td>While Avraham willingly brings Yitzchak to be | + | <td>While Avraham willingly brings Yitzchak to be sacrificed, Yaakov is not part of the plot to kill Yosef.<fn>He does, nonetheless, unintentionally lead him to the site of danger.</fn></td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span style="color: #339966;"> | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span style="color: #339966;">Lavan and Paroh</span></b></td> |
<td></td> | <td></td> | ||
<td></td> | <td></td> | ||
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<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #339966;">Wife-sister trick</span></td> | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #339966;">Wife-sister trick</span></td> | ||
<td>Avraham pretends that Sarah is his sister rather than his wife, while Lavan passes off Rachel's sister as Yaakov's wife. </td> | <td>Avraham pretends that Sarah is his sister rather than his wife, while Lavan passes off Rachel's sister as Yaakov's wife. </td> | ||
| − | <td>Avraham | + | <td>Avraham plots with Sarah's consent,  while Lavan acts without Yaakov's knowledge.</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #339966;">Complaint</span></td> | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #339966;">Complaint</span></td> | ||
<td>In reaction to the trickery, Paroh and Yaakov both cry "what have you done to me?"</td> | <td>In reaction to the trickery, Paroh and Yaakov both cry "what have you done to me?"</td> | ||
| − | <td></td> | + | <td>---</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
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<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #339966;">Hashem's warning</span></td> | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #339966;">Hashem's warning</span></td> | ||
<td>Hashem appears in a dream to Avimelekh/ Lavan warning them not to harm Avraham/ Yaakov.</td> | <td>Hashem appears in a dream to Avimelekh/ Lavan warning them not to harm Avraham/ Yaakov.</td> | ||
| − | <td>In reaction, Avimelekh ladens Avraham with gifts and offers him to live in his land. Lavan, in contrast, gives nothing and sets up a border between the families.</td> | + | <td>In reaction, Avimelekh ladens Avraham with gifts and offers him to live in his land.  Lavan, in contrast, gives nothing and sets up a border between the families.</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #339966;">Covenant</span></td> | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #339966;">Covenant</span></td> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>Avraham and Yaakov make a covenant with the other side.</td> |
| − | <td></td> | + | <td>---</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
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<tr> | <tr> | ||
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">New names</span></td> | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">New names</span></td> | ||
| − | <td>Both Avraham and Yaakov are given new names. Avram becomes Avraham, and Yaakov becomes Yisrael.</td> | + | <td>Both Avraham and Yaakov are given new names.  Avram becomes Avraham, and Yaakov becomes Yisrael.</td> |
| − | <td>Whereas Avraham's name changes by but one letter, Yaakov gets a totally new name. In addition, Avraham is never again called by his old name, while Yaakov's names become interchangeable.</td> | + | <td>Whereas Avraham's name changes by but one letter, Yaakov gets a totally new name.  In addition, Avraham is never again called by his old name, while Yaakov's names become interchangeable.</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
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<td>(כב:א) <span style="color: #993366;">וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו</span> אַבְרָהָם <span style="color: #993366;">וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי...</span> (ד) <span style="color: #993366;">וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחֹק</span>...(יב) וַיֹּאמֶר <span style="color: #993366;">אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדְךָ אֶל הַנַּעַר</span> וְאַל תַּעַשׂ לוֹ מְאוּמָה</td> | <td>(כב:א) <span style="color: #993366;">וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו</span> אַבְרָהָם <span style="color: #993366;">וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי...</span> (ד) <span style="color: #993366;">וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחֹק</span>...(יב) וַיֹּאמֶר <span style="color: #993366;">אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדְךָ אֶל הַנַּעַר</span> וְאַל תַּעַשׂ לוֹ מְאוּמָה</td> | ||
<td>(לז:יג) <span style="color: #993366;">וַיֹּאמֶר</span> יִשְׂרָאֵל <span style="color: #993366;">אֶל</span> יוֹסֵף... <span style="color: #993366;">וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הִנֵּנִי...</span> (יח) <span style="color: #993366;">וַיִּרְאוּ אֹתוֹ מֵרָחֹק</span>... (כב) וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם רְאוּבֵן אַל תִּשְׁפְּכוּ דָם ...<span style="color: #993366;">וְיָד אַל תִּשְׁלְחוּ בוֹ...</span></td> | <td>(לז:יג) <span style="color: #993366;">וַיֹּאמֶר</span> יִשְׂרָאֵל <span style="color: #993366;">אֶל</span> יוֹסֵף... <span style="color: #993366;">וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הִנֵּנִי...</span> (יח) <span style="color: #993366;">וַיִּרְאוּ אֹתוֹ מֵרָחֹק</span>... (כב) וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם רְאוּבֵן אַל תִּשְׁפְּכוּ דָם ...<span style="color: #993366;">וְיָד אַל תִּשְׁלְחוּ בוֹ...</span></td> | ||
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| − | |||
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</tr> | </tr> | ||
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<h2>Analysis</h2> | <h2>Analysis</h2> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b> | + | <li><b>Distinctive phrases</b> –</li> |
| − | <li><b> | + | <li><b>Degree of similarity</b> –  </li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
Version as of 03:52, 13 November 2015
Avraham and Yaakov
Introduction
Content Parallels and Contrasts
| Parallels | Contrasts | |
| Leaving Home | ||
| Uprooting | Avraham leaves his family in Charan and heads to Canaan, while Yaakov makes the opposite trek, from Canaan to Charan. | While Avraham uproots upon the command of Hashem, Yaakov's departure is in essence a flight from his brother, Esav. |
| Blessing | Both departures are accompanied by a prophetic blessing,1 the first revelation of Hashem to each of these patriarchs. | Avraham is blessed before he leaves, while Yaakov receives Hashem's reassurance only en route. |
| Success | Both Avraham and Yaakov are successful and gain wealth in their new abodes. | Avraham's success earns him respect from his neighbors,2 while Yaakov's accomplished shepherding leads to Lavan's enmity. |
| Coming to Canaan | ||
| Route taken | Upon arrival in Canaan, Avraham stops first in Shechem and then in Beit El, eventually making his way to Chevron. When Yaakov returns to Canaan, he takes the same path.3 | While the verses suggest that Avraham merely passed through Shechem, Yaakov buys a plot of land there. |
| Altars | In both Shechem and Beit El, both grandfather and grandson build an altar for Hashem. | --- |
| No room | When the "land could not contain them", both Avraham and Lot and Esav and Yaakov decide to separate.4 | The text suggests that it is Avraham's initiative in one case, and Esav's in the other. |
| Family | ||
| Barren wife | Sarah and Rachel are both described as beautiful but barren. | --- |
| Giving of maidservants | Both Sarah and Rachel/Leah give their maidservants in marriage to their husbands so they can bear children in the wives' stead. | While Avraham ends up banishing Sarah's servant, Hagar, Bilhah and Zilpah remain married to Yaakov. |
| Source of strife | The multiple wives are a source of conflict in the family. | In Avraham's case the enmity is between real wife and servant, while in Yaakov's family, it is the two full wives who struggle. |
| Children | In each family, one son (Yitzchak/ Yosef) is favored over the others. | In Avraham's case, this leads to the expulsion of Yishmael, whereas In Yaakov's story, all the sons are chosen in the end. |
| Potential loss | Avraham thinks his beloved Yitzchak is to die, and Yaakov believes his favorite, Yosef, is dead. | While Avraham willingly brings Yitzchak to be sacrificed, Yaakov is not part of the plot to kill Yosef.5 |
| Lavan and Paroh | ||
| Wife-sister trick | Avraham pretends that Sarah is his sister rather than his wife, while Lavan passes off Rachel's sister as Yaakov's wife. | Avraham plots with Sarah's consent, while Lavan acts without Yaakov's knowledge. |
| Complaint | In reaction to the trickery, Paroh and Yaakov both cry "what have you done to me?" | --- |
| Wife taken | Avraham fears that Paroh/ Avimelekh will take Sarah, and Yaakov fears that Lavan will "steal" his wives. | Whereas Sarah is in fact taken, Rachel and Leah are not. |
| Hashem's warning | Hashem appears in a dream to Avimelekh/ Lavan warning them not to harm Avraham/ Yaakov. | In reaction, Avimelekh ladens Avraham with gifts and offers him to live in his land. Lavan, in contrast, gives nothing and sets up a border between the families. |
| Covenant | Avraham and Yaakov make a covenant with the other side. | --- |
| Change of Name | ||
| New names | Both Avraham and Yaakov are given new names. Avram becomes Avraham, and Yaakov becomes Yisrael. | Whereas Avraham's name changes by but one letter, Yaakov gets a totally new name. In addition, Avraham is never again called by his old name, while Yaakov's names become interchangeable. |
| Role of the thigh | The name change is associated with a physical act connected to the thigh.6 | In Avraham case, this is the positive act of circumcision. By Yaakov, in contrast, it is an injury inflicted in his struggle with the "איש". |
| Blessing | The new name is accompanied by a blessing. |
Literary Allusions
EN/HEע/E
| סיפורי אברהם | סיפורי יעקב |
| (יב:א) לֶךְ לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ. | (לא:ג) וַיֹּאמֶר י"י אֶל יַעֲקֹב שׁוּב אֶל אֶרֶץ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֶּךָ |
| (יב:ב) וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל... וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה | (כח:יד) וְהָיָה זַרְעֲךָ כַּעֲפַר הָאָרֶץ... וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כׇּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה וּבְזַרְעֶךָ. |
| (יב:יח) וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה לְאַבְרָם וַיֹּאמֶר מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לִּי | (כט:כה) וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר וְהִנֵּה הִוא לֵאָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל לָבָן מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לִּי |
| (יג:ו) וְלֹא נָשָׂא אֹתָם הָאָרֶץ לָשֶׁבֶת יַחְדָּו כִּי הָיָה רְכוּשָׁם רָב וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לָשֶׁבֶת יַחְדָּו.... | (לו:ז) כִּי הָיָה רְכוּשָׁם רָב מִשֶּׁבֶת יַחְדָּו וְלֹא יָכְלָה אֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵיהֶם לָשֵׂאת אֹתָם מִפְּנֵי מִקְנֵיהֶם. |
| (טז:ב-ג) וַתֹּאמֶר שָׂרַי... הִנֵּה נָא עֲצָרַנִי י"י מִלֶּדֶת בֹּא נָא אֶל שִׁפְחָתִי אוּלַי אִבָּנֶה מִמֶּנָּה... וַתִּקַּח שָׂרַי... אֶת הָגָר הַמִּצְרִית שִׁפְחָתָהּ... וַתִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ לְאַבְרָם אִישָׁהּ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה | (ל:א-ד) וַתֵּרֶא רָחֵל כִּי לֹא יָלְדָה לְיַעֲקֹב... וַתֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה אֲמָתִי בִלְהָה בֹּא אֵלֶיהָ וְתֵלֵד עַל בִּרְכַּי וְאִבָּנֶה גַם אָנֹכִי מִמֶּנָּה. וַתִּתֶּן לוֹ אֶת בִּלְהָה שִׁפְחָתָהּ לְאִשָּׁה וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ יַעֲקֹב |
| (יז:א) וַיֵּרָא י"י אֶל אַבְרָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי אֵל שַׁדַּי ... (ה) וְלֹא יִקָּרֵא עוֹד אֶת שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָם וְהָיָה שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָהָם כִּי אַב הֲמוֹן גּוֹיִם נְתַתִּיך (ו) וְהִפְרֵתִי אֹתְךָ בִּמְאֹד מְאֹד וּנְתַתִּיךָ לְגוֹיִם וּמְלָכִים מִמְּךָ יֵצֵאוּ.... (כב) וַיְכַל לְדַבֵּר אִתּוֹ וַיַּעַל אֱלֹהִים מֵעַל אַבְרָהָם. | (לה:י) וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אֱלֹהִים שִׁמְךָ יַעֲקֹב לֹא יִקָּרֵא שִׁמְךָ עוֹד יַעֲקֹב כִּי אִם יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיֶה שְׁמֶךָ וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל. (יא) וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אֱלֹהִים אֲנִי אֵל שַׁדַּי פְּרֵה וּרְבֵה גּוֹי וּקְהַל גּוֹיִם יִהְיֶה מִמֶּךָּ וּמְלָכִים מֵחֲלָצֶיךָ יֵצֵאוּ.... (יג) וַיַּעַל מֵעָלָיו אֱלֹהִים בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ. |
| (כ:ג) וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בַּחֲלוֹם הַלָּיְלָה וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הִנְּךָ מֵת עַל הָאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר לָקַחְתָּ וְהִוא בְּעֻלַת בָּעַל | (לא:כד) וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל לָבָן הָאֲרַמִּי בַּחֲלֹם הַלָּיְלָה וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן תְּדַבֵּר עִם יַעֲקֹב מִטּוֹב עַד רָע |
| (כב:א) וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי... (ד) וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחֹק...(יב) וַיֹּאמֶר אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדְךָ אֶל הַנַּעַר וְאַל תַּעַשׂ לוֹ מְאוּמָה | (לז:יג) וַיֹּאמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יוֹסֵף... וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הִנֵּנִי... (יח) וַיִּרְאוּ אֹתוֹ מֵרָחֹק... (כב) וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם רְאוּבֵן אַל תִּשְׁפְּכוּ דָם ...וְיָד אַל תִּשְׁלְחוּ בוֹ... |
Analysis
- Distinctive phrases –
- Degree of similarity –
