Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 36

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Overview

This index is meant to help the reader explore Biblical parallels, be they two accounts of the same event, stories with similar motifs and themes, or units of text which are linguistically similar and perhaps alluding one to the other. The page includes links to tools that aid in comparison, primary sources that touch upon the parallels, and summaries of and links to articles which analyze them in depth.

Separation of Brothers

The separation of Esav and Yaakov due to their abundance of property (Bereshit 36:6-8) parallels the separations of other sets of relatives in Tanakh.

Tools

  • Tanakh Lab – If one enters the three verses about the separation (Bereshit 36:6-8) into the Tanakh Lab, one sees that the closest parallel in Tanakh is the story of the separation of Lot and Avraham in Bereshit 13.1  Compare the two stories here.

Articles

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 those in which Esav does, and compare the two and each one's interactions with Israel/Yaakov..
  • 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

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