Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 33/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 33

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Yaakov and Esav, Moshe and Aharon

There are parallels between the narrative of the anticipated reunion of Yaakov and Esav in Bereshit 32-33 and the reunion of Moshe and Aharon in Shemot 4.¹

Tools

• Concordance – The concordance demonstrates that the root "פגש" appears only four times in Torah, twice in each of these stories, perhaps a linguistic hint to compare the two.

Articles

• See Moses in Danger, by R. Alex Israel, for an exploration of these parallel stories, who suggests that both relate to a character's avoidance of a mission and the repercussions of such delay.²

Esav Throughout Tanakh

Bereshit 36 speaks of the descendants of Esav, the nation of Edom. Throughout Tanakh, Edom is seen as a rival and enemy of the nation of Israel, paralleling the initial conflict between Esav and Yaakov.  The Sages noticed such parallels in choosing Ovadiah 1 as the haftarah for Parashat Vayishlach.

Tools

• Concordance – Using the concordance, one can find all the various texts in which Edom plays a role, and compare the nation's various interactions with Israel.
• Makbilot Bamikra – See Makbilot Bamikra on Ovadiah 1 for a listing of stories in which Edom is happy for Israel's downfall.  This might stand in contrast to Esav in the stories of Bereshit, who according to a simple understanding of the verses, appears capable of forgiving his brother and ultimately wishing him well.

Articles

• See Esav As Brother, Esav As Other by R. Mosheh Lichtenstein for an analysis of the complex identity of Esav throughout Tanakh.

¹ In both, a younger brother on his way to reunite with an older brother encounters an angel who attacks him or someone in his family (the only two such stories in Chumash). In addition, both stories have an association with a commandment: the prohibition of eating the sciatic nerve in the story of Yaakov, and the mitzvah of circumcision in the story of Moshe.

² Alternatively, one might suggest that the harmonious reunion relationship of Moshe and Aharon represents a resolution of the tensions between brothers that were so prominent in Sefer Bereshit, and is a necessary precursor to the redemption of the Jewish people.