Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 37/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 37

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Tension Between Brothers

The story of the sale of Yosef is the climax of stories of animosity between brothers in Sefer Bereshit.

Tools

• Makbilot Bamikra points out that the brothers’ plan to kill Yosef in Bereshit 37:19-21 parallels Esav’s expressed intent to kill Yaakov in Bereshit 27:41.
• 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 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.

Avraham and Yaakov

Tools

• Concordance – Using the concordance highlights how there are several phrases that are unique to the Avraham and Yaakov narratives. For instance, the blessing, "‎וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה",‎¹ the wish "אִבָּנֶה מִמֶּנָּה"‎² and the descriptions, "הָיָה רְכוּשָׁם רָב מִשֶּׁבֶת יַחְדָּו" ³,"וַיָּבֹא אֱ-לֹהִים... בַּחֲלוֹם הַלָּיְלָה",‎⁴ and "וַיַּרְא... מֵרָחֹק" appear in only these two stories. Such literary allusions serve as the basis for a larger comparison of the two figures.⁵

Articles

• See Avraham and Yaakov for an exploration of the parallels and contrasts between the stories, with a list of both thematic and linguistic points of contact.
• See The Parallel Between Yaakov and Avraham by Professor Yonatan Grossman for analysis of the parallels. He notes how Yaakov’s surprising departure from Canaan after his father, Yitzchak, was forbidden from leaving inversely parallels Avraham's arrival in Canaan, and attempts to understand the significance of the episode. He sees in Yaakov a second trailblazing Avraham, both serving to establish the nation.

¹ Click on the phrase in Bereshit 12:3 and choose concordance from the drop-down.

² Click on the phrase in Bereshit 16:2 and choose concordance from the drop-down.

³ Click on the phrase in Bereshit 20:3 and choose concordance from the drop-down.

⁴ Click on the phrase in Bereshit 13:6 and choose concordance from the drop-down.

⁵  There are also notable contrasts, including the fact that many of the significant narratives of Yaakov’s life take place at night whereas key events of Avraham’s life take place in the morning.  The similarities and differences between the two Patriarchs might point to their distinct roles in the establishment of the Jewish people and their individual experiences and challenges in the service of Hashem.