Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 25/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 25

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Infertility

The story of Yitzchak and Rivka’s difficulties in having a child parallels the narratives of many other prominent couples in Tanakh.

Tools

• See Makbilot Bamikra for a list and links to stories dealing with infertility in Tanakh.

Articles

• See Barren Women for an exploration of the parallels between the six Biblical narratives of barren women who give birth to leaders of Israel and commentators’ perspectives on the possible reasons for their barrenness. Some suggest that their barrenness was an impetus for their spiritual growth, others maintain that it was a means of engendering greater love for the children they would eventually bear, while yet others view it as proof of Hashem’s miraculous intervention in the births of their children.

Tension Between Brothers

The story of the struggles between Yaakov and Esav is one of many stories of tension between brothers in Sefer Bereshit.

Tools

• Makbilot Bamikra points out that Esav’s expressed intent to kill Yaakov in Bereshit 27:41 is parallel to the brothers’ plan to kill Yosef in Bereshit 37:19-21.
• Tanakh Lab – Compare the linguistic parallels between the two stories in the Tanakh Lab. The parallel language of  "לְאַחֶיךָ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ" / "וְאַחֶיךָ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת לְךָ" might hint to what lies at the heart of the various stories of jealousy throughout the book - struggles over who will be the "chosen" one, to whom others will bow and pay homage.

Articles  / Lectures

• In קנאת אחים בספר בראשית, R. Shlomo Brin explores the pattern of tensions between brothers in Sefer Bereshit. He suggests that a comparison of the stories of sibling rivalry highlights that there is a progression towards better relationships as the book moves forward.¹ Thus, though Sefer Bereshit opens with jealousy and fratricide, Sefer Shemot opens with a picture of sibling harmony, as Aharon, Moshe and Miryam work together.
• See וישב: מרבית אחים by Dr. Esti Rosenberg and Dr. Yosefa Wruble for a discussion of the meaning behind the tense relationships between brothers in Sefer Bereshit, culminating in the relationship of Yosef and his brothers.

Divine Promises of Children

There are several instances in Tanakh in which Hashem promises a child to a childless parent (as in this chapter). These stories follow a similar format, with each story containing several common motifs. However, it is often the variations between the stories which are most telling.

Tools

• See Makbilot BaMiIkra for a list and links to such stories, including: promises of the births of Yitzchak, Yaakov and Esav, Shimshon, Shemuel, and the child of the Shunamite woman

Articles

• For an analytical comparison and contrasting of these narratives, see How Convention Helps Us Read: The Case of the Bible’s Annunciation Type-Scene by Robert Alter.

¹ Kayin’s story ends in murder for which Kayin exhibits at best halfhearted remorse. In the story of Esav and Yaakov, there seems to be fuller reconciliation at the end of the narrative. Finally, Yosef is saved by one of his brothers (Reuven) and, at the end of his story, puts his trust in his brothers to bury him in Israel. This pattern of improving sibling relations continues with Menashe and Ephraim and culminates in the relationship of Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam.