Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/235

 The Unity of came

in

time to be fused with a number of similar stories

about the same patriarch current

in the south,

by these prophetic compilers

recast

later

217

the Jacob Story

Jacob story.

It

Hosea himself

and these were our present

into

interesting to note in this connection thai

is

refers to various traditional episodes

in

the

of Jacob, and denounces the patriarch for his deceitful

life

Hosea and 13). Of course to the prophet Jacob symbolized the whole nation Israel. And these compilers had still more in mind. In their hands not alone the Jacob story became a unit, nor also the creation-flood and Abraham cycles, and the Joseph story, but, in a very positive sense, the entire Book of Genesis and Their ultimate aim w^as to show even the entire Torah. how Israel was chosen by God as His servant, was given the Law, and was disciplined and prepared for his mission as the herald of this Law and of God's truth unto mankind. They had told how God had called Abraham and had bidden him become a blessing unto all the families of the earth. They had told, too, that Isaac had received the birthright from Abraham. Now they told that the birthright deTrue he acquired it by taking scended in turn to Jacob. base advantage of his brother's need and weakness of character. But as the Bible so carefully emphasizes, Esau denature and his wrongful treatment of his brother

XII,

4,

spised the birthright

desired

(

5

it.

By



it

implies thereby that Jacob

eagerly

thus despising the birthright and by his

weak

and passionate nature, Esau had proved his unworthiness of the birthright. And although Jacob was far from perfect, none the less the implication is that he was more worthy of this birthright than was Esau. What was this birthright, as these compilers conceived it? It

was not merely

father's

estate,

Bible nowhere that

the

states

he acquired

the right to a double portion of their

usual

all

that his

privileges

of

the

firstborn.

The

Jacob received this, but implies wealth during his sojourn with