Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 27

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.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.

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.

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

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.

In קנאת אחים בספר בראשית, R. Shlomo Brin explores the pattern of jealousy between brothers in Sefer Bereshit, beginning with the narrative of Kayin and Hevel.
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.

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 27/0