29 November 2024
Week of 24-30 November 2024
Torah portion : Genesis 25 :19-28 :9 Haftarah: 1 Samuel 20:18-42
Theme: Family Relationships affect Generations
In this commentary I am going to look at the four different characters and their actions and the possible reasons for their actions: Isaac, Esau, Rebekah and Jacob.
Isaac meaning ‘he laughs’- both his parents laughed at different times in disbelief that they would have a child together. The name is also associated with Ishmael ‘playing’ with Isaac; but in this context it seems to suggest in an obscene way (Gen.21:9). The same word is used for Isaac ‘fondling’ Rebekah – here meaning ‘playfulness’ between spouses – and being seen by Abimelech (26:8). McKenzie in “Dictionary of the Bible” (p.396) states that Isaac seems to be a shadowy figure as the stories about him are almost a repeat of the narratives about Abraham. It seems as if the original information about him in tradition was purely genealogical. What affect did his growing up with Ishmael and then losing him have on him? More so what affect did his father’s attempt to sacrifice him have on him? He is in the hands of others and this continues with Rebekah and Jacob, influenced by his mother.
I find the story of Esau’s (origin of name unknown) begging his father to give him the blessing due to him even more heartrending than the Akedah. How did Isaac feel about his favourite son being bereft of his right as the eldest son? Did the powerlessness of his youth come crashing down on him? The origin of his name being unknown is almost like a prophecy of his bereftness. It recalls for me the meaning of Abel – ‘emptiness’ or ‘nothingness’ – a life cut short by his brother.
According to McKenzie ‘Rebekah’ also is from an unknown origin. When I looked up “Name your Baby” by Laureina Rule, it is from the Hebrew ‘Ribqah’ meaning ‘bound’. Strong gives ‘fettering’ (by beauty)! I can only think that this refers to Isaac being captured by her beauty and therefore being under her spell! She and Jacob are the active ones in this parashah. Whether Isaac is deceived by Jacob is not very clear. Perhaps Rebekah had shared her vision of the LORD speaking to her. The Rabbis dignified both Sarah and Rebekah with the title of prophet. They also stated that the LORD spoke twice to Rebekah: 25:22 – two peoples in her belly- and 27:41 – Esau’s plan to kill Jacob.
Jacob, the ‘usurper’/’trickster’- thus he was especially when it came to his brother! A friend of mine just sent this quotation from Erich Fromm “Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.” I believe there was love, sometimes misguided, in this narrative and I believe even more that these persons learnt to love and reconcile as life continued. We read that further in Genesis.
For Reflection and Discussion: 1. Another quotation received today by one Al Franken: “Mistakes are part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learnt the hard way.” Do we see humanity mirrored in this narrative of a family? What lessons are there for you?
Bibliography: Ezkenazi ed. The Torah, A Woman’s Commentary (NY; 2008); McKenzie, John L. S.J. Dictionary of the Bible (NY: 1965); Rule, Lareina. Name your Baby (USA, Canada:1963
This week’s Parasha Commentary was prepared by
Bernadette Teresa Chellew, Ethekwini, South Africa, Bat Kol Alumna: 2008.
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