Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 27/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 27

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Deception in the Life of Yaakov

The theme of deception recurs in the stories of Yaakov, most blatantly in the story of the stealing of the blessings and in the sale of Yosef.

Tools

• Use the Tanakh Lab to compare the stories of Yaakov's deception of Yitzchak in stealing the blessing (Bereshit 27) and the brothers' deception of Yaakov during the sale of Yosef (Bereshit 37). In both stories a goat aids in the ruse.

Articles

• See Yaakov for discussion of how many of the the trials and tribulations he faced later in life might have been measure for measure punishment for his deception of his brother.

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 phrases "לְאַחֶיךָ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ" / "וְאַחֶיךָ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת לְךָ" might belie 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, . 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 sibling strife throughout Sefer Bereshit. The Torah presents jealousy and competition as deeply rooted and natural, and calls upon people to overcome it nonetheless. Yosef manages to reverse the cycle when he decides not to take vengeance upon his brothers, and Sefer Shemot thus begins with the first relationship between siblings that is not fraught.

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.