Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 31/0
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This topic has not yet undergone editorial review
Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 31
Rachel, Michal and Terafim
There are several parallels between the stories of Rachel and Michal, including the role played by "terafim" in both.
Tools
- Concordance – Using the concordance to see where "תְּרָפִים" appear in Tanakh, one sees that the word appears 15 times, one third of which are in the stories of Rachel (Bereshit 31) and Michal (Shemuel I 19). A comparison of the two stories points to further parallels, most notably how both women are entangled in conflict between husband and father and practice deception relating to the use of "תְּרָפִים", perhaps in an effort to save their loved ones.
Articles / Lectures
- In his lecture, The Gods of Deceit- Rachel, Michal and the Terafim, R. Michael Hattin explores the many thematic and linguistic parallels between the stories of Rachel and Michal. Additionally, he suggests that the terafim represent the deceitful code by which Lavan lives his life, and the deceit with which Shaul seeks to defame David. Rachel and Michal use the terafim as part of a strategy to unmask Lavan and Shaul and reveal their wrongdoing.
- See Rachel's Stealing of the Terafim for various understandings of Rachel's actions, some of which compare her to Michal. Commentators suggest different understanding of what the terafim were, as well as different motivations for Rachel’s actions. While some commentators believe that she was motivated to distance her father from idolatry, others suggest that her goal was to protect her family’s safety or economic interest, or even that she herself had not completely abandoned her father’s religious practices. Hoil Moshe compares Rachel to Michal, suggesting that they both might have believed that terafim had certain powers to help the infertile.
- See מערכת היחסים בין דוד ומיכל על רקע יחסי יעקב ורחל, by R. Amnon Bazak, for analysis of the many parallels between the stories of these two relationships looking at three decisive stages in their lives: marriage, when in conflict with their in-laws, and when crisis hits.1 This comparison sheds light on the strong love of Yaakov and Rachel, and the unbridgeable gap that characterizes the relationship of David and Michal.
Yaakov and David
There are a number of parallels between the stories of Yaakov and David, including their difficult relationships with their fathers-in-law and the challenging tasks they must complete as a prerequisite to marriage.
Tools
- Tanakh Lab – As the stories of each figure span multiple chapters (in the case of David, an entire book), it is difficult to linguistically compare the entire story. However, individual components might more easily be paralleled. For example, one might compare the tragic stories of the rape of Yaakov and David's daughters, Dina and Tamar, using the Tanakh Lab.2
Articles
- See Yaakov and David for an exploration of both the plot parallels and linguistic similarities in the stories of these two figures. For example, they both face numerous challenges in their relationships with their siblings, wives, fathers-in-law, and children. The parallels between these two figures reflect the trials and tribulations associated with leadership.
Sojourning, Slavery and Oppression
Articles
- R. David Silber, in his essay, "Gerut, Avdut, and Innuy: The Covenantal Formula" in Go Forth and Learn: A Passover Haggadah, notes that the root words of גרות, עבדות ועינוי, which appear in the Covenant Between the Pieces in relation to the Egyptian exile (Bereshit 15:13), also figure in Yaakov’s experience in Lavan’s house (see Bereshit 31:41-42, 32:5). This indicates that Yaakov experiences, on an individual level, mirror the national destiny of the nation of Israel.
