As usual Janzen has some insightful things to say in his Abraham and all the families of the earth commentary. I like his notion that Esau is a natural man, while Jacob is more 'civilized."
Yes the account in the battle in the womb points toward the nations, but it is also a pointer to the issue of election by God in the first place as well.
again, the infertility issue comes up, but this time not as long as for Abraham and sarah. it is ironic as rebecca's name has a fertile sense to it, if Albright is right and the name is connected to an earth mother image. Otherwise, it is close to a Hebrew word for being captivating, ensnaring, securing with rope.
I also think of how the story plays out in A River Runs through It or even Jacob I Have Loved.
I always like to look at the names, jacob would mean grabby, pushy, and esau is a seeming play on being hairy (seir) but also off Edom as red. this gets heightened when Easu sounds like a neanderthal and says red stuff to his wily brother.
Again, we are presented with the issue of the younger brother gaining power. Why is that do you think? Does it point to generations or does ti point us to a little nation living by its wits?
Does Jacob actually receive the birthright as he has to go on the run for cheating esau twice?
What character sketch for the brothers would you draw for the stew interaction?For Jacob., the word, quiet is tam oftne meaning of integrity. it could mean that jacob was well-balanced or a well-=integrated composite of elements.
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