Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/238

 The Book of Genesis

220

national pride impelled

them

to picture

Jacob as

finally

tri-

umphing over Esau. Israelite chauvinism whispered to them that the Edomite might not be trusted too implicitly, and so there could be no harm in making Jacob realize this and be on his guard. It was an insurmountable obstacle for them. But we must admit that it has weakened the otherwise wellnigh perfect drama.

One

other difficulty confronted them and tended to ren-

der their story somewhat obscure.

In a certain sense they

is it true, whose was to record all the events of history in proper sequence and proportion, but rather prophetic historians, who sought to reinterpret the facts and traditions of Israel's history in such manner as to illustrate and enforce the message Nevertheless they had a certain hisof the great prophets. toric consciousness which bade them make some reference

were historians; not objective historians

task

at least to all traditions

which centered about the figure with

which they were dealing.

They could not

resist the

tempta-

which had no direct con-

tion to introduce certain traditions

nection with the main story other than that they, too, dealt

with Jacob, and which actually im])e{le and obscure the log-

and dramatic evolution of

ical

Thus main

the

story.

and thought.

plot

Mahanaim incident has no connection with tbe As students of Jewish history and tradition, we

are grateful for the reference, and regret only that the complete tradition has not been preserved.

But we must admit

Jacob story as a piece of narrative or dramatic literature would be more complete and j)erfect without it. that

This

the

is

true also of the brief reference to

with Bilhah, his father's concubine

And Jacob story

to a far greater degree

is

(

XXX

Reuben's incest 22).

this true of the ei)isode of

at Shechem. The natural and logical course of the would liave been for Jacob, immediately after his recon-

ciliation

whicli he

with

Esau,

to

])rocee(l

to

his

father's

had so eagerly longed and prayed.

This

house,

for

])rotracte(l