Difference between revisions of "Avraham and Yitzchak/0"
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<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Parallels</b></td> | <td style="text-align: center;"><b>Parallels</b></td> | ||
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Contrasts</b></td> | <td style="text-align: center;"><b>Contrasts</b></td> | ||
| + | </tr> | ||
| + | <tr style="text-align: center;"> | ||
| + | <td></td> | ||
| + | <td colspan="2"><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Family Life</span></b><b></b></td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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| − | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> |
| − | <p><b><span style="color: #0000ff;"> | + | <p><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Barren wife</span></b></p> |
| − | + | </td> | |
| − | <td> | + | <td>Despite blessings of progeny, both Sarah and Rivka are initially unable to have children.</td> |
<td>While Sarah gives Hagar to Avraham in order to bear an heir, Rivkah's womb opens after prayer.</td> | <td>While Sarah gives Hagar to Avraham in order to bear an heir, Rivkah's womb opens after prayer.</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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| − | <td><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Two children</span></b> | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Two children</span></b></td> |
| + | <td> Each of Avraham and Yitzchak bear two children, one of which is favored by the mother, while the other is loved by the father.</td> | ||
<td>In Avraham's case, each child is born of a different mother, while in Yitzchak's case the two sons are twins, born to Rivka.</td> | <td>In Avraham's case, each child is born of a different mother, while in Yitzchak's case the two sons are twins, born to Rivka.</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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| − | <td><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Younger son chosen</span></b> | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Younger son chosen</span></b></td> |
| + | <td> In both stories the mother (Sarah/Rivka) ensures that it is the younger child who inherits or is blessed.</td> | ||
<td>Avraham banishes Yishmael due to Sarah's demand and Hashem's sanction thereof, while Yitzchak is duped by Rivka into blessing Yaakov..</td> | <td>Avraham banishes Yishmael due to Sarah's demand and Hashem's sanction thereof, while Yitzchak is duped by Rivka into blessing Yaakov..</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Son marries non-Canaanite</span></b> | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Son marries non-Canaanite</span></b></td> |
| + | <td>Both Avraham and Yitzchak ensure that their chosen son does not marry a Canaanite, but rather a woman from the family in Charan.</td> | ||
<td>While Avraham sends his servant to fetch the wife, Yitzchak sends Yaakov himself. Moreover, Yaakov has an additional purpose in leaving – flight from Esav</td> | <td>While Avraham sends his servant to fetch the wife, Yitzchak sends Yaakov himself. Moreover, Yaakov has an additional purpose in leaving – flight from Esav</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Rejected son leaves</span></b> | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Rejected son leaves and thrives<br/></span></b></td> |
| + | <td>Both Yishmael and Esav leave their homeland, but grow to be great nations and fathers of 12 princes/alufim.</td> | ||
<td>---</td> | <td>---</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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| − | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td> |
| − | <td><b><span style="color: #339966;">Famine</span></b> | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" colspan="2"><b><span style="color: #339966;">Sister-wife Episode</span></b></td> |
| + | </tr> | ||
| + | <tr> | ||
| + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span style="color: #339966;">Famine</span></b></td> | ||
| + | <td> A famine leads both Avraham and Yitzchak to uproot.</td> | ||
<td>While both patriarchs head to Egypt, Yitzchak is told to remain in Canaan.</td> | <td>While both patriarchs head to Egypt, Yitzchak is told to remain in Canaan.</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td><b><span style="color: #339966;">Fear</span></b> | + | <td><b><span style="color: #339966;">Fear </span></b></td> |
| + | <td>Recognition of their wives' beauty causes both husbands to fear that the women will be taken by the locals, while they are killed.</td> | ||
<td>In Avraham's case, Sarah is, nonetheless, taken to the king, while Rivka is not.</td> | <td>In Avraham's case, Sarah is, nonetheless, taken to the king, while Rivka is not.</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td><b><span style="color: #339966;">Wife-sister</span> </b> | + | <td><b><span style="color: #339966;">Wife-sister</span></b></td> |
| + | <td>Sarah and Rivka are passed off as Avraham and Yitzchak's sisters</td> | ||
<td>---</td> | <td>---</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td><b><span style="color: #339966;">Great wealth</span></b> | + | <td><b><span style="color: #339966;">Great wealth </span></b></td> |
| + | <td>The story ends with a description of the wealth of Avraham/Yitzchak</td> | ||
<td>Avraham is enriched by the many gifts of the king, while Yitzchak earns his own wealth through the successful sowing.</td> | <td>Avraham is enriched by the many gifts of the king, while Yitzchak earns his own wealth through the successful sowing.</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
Version as of 13:19, 11 November 2015
Avraham and Yitzchak
Introduction
The dictum, מעשה אבות סימן לבנים (the deeds of the fathers are a sign for the sons), is particularly apt when speaking of the lives of Avraham and Yitzchak. The stories of father and son are surprisingly similar, and many of the episodes that define the Avraham narrative find their echo in the life of Yitzchak. In several of these cases, linguistic parallels strengthen the comparison.
Content Parallels and Contrasts
EN/HEע/E
| Parallels | Contrasts | |
| Family Life | ||
| Barren wife | Despite blessings of progeny, both Sarah and Rivka are initially unable to have children. | While Sarah gives Hagar to Avraham in order to bear an heir, Rivkah's womb opens after prayer. |
| Two children | Each of Avraham and Yitzchak bear two children, one of which is favored by the mother, while the other is loved by the father. | In Avraham's case, each child is born of a different mother, while in Yitzchak's case the two sons are twins, born to Rivka. |
| Younger son chosen | In both stories the mother (Sarah/Rivka) ensures that it is the younger child who inherits or is blessed. | Avraham banishes Yishmael due to Sarah's demand and Hashem's sanction thereof, while Yitzchak is duped by Rivka into blessing Yaakov.. |
| Son marries non-Canaanite | Both Avraham and Yitzchak ensure that their chosen son does not marry a Canaanite, but rather a woman from the family in Charan. | While Avraham sends his servant to fetch the wife, Yitzchak sends Yaakov himself. Moreover, Yaakov has an additional purpose in leaving – flight from Esav |
| Rejected son leaves and thrives | Both Yishmael and Esav leave their homeland, but grow to be great nations and fathers of 12 princes/alufim. | --- |
| Sister-wife Episode | ||
| Famine | A famine leads both Avraham and Yitzchak to uproot. | While both patriarchs head to Egypt, Yitzchak is told to remain in Canaan. |
| Fear | Recognition of their wives' beauty causes both husbands to fear that the women will be taken by the locals, while they are killed. | In Avraham's case, Sarah is, nonetheless, taken to the king, while Rivka is not. |
| Wife-sister | Sarah and Rivka are passed off as Avraham and Yitzchak's sisters | --- |
| Great wealth | The story ends with a description of the wealth of Avraham/Yitzchak | Avraham is enriched by the many gifts of the king, while Yitzchak earns his own wealth through the successful sowing. |
Literary Allusions
Analysis
- Degree of similarity –
- Distinctive phrases –
