Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/257

Rh A

239

Father's Blessing

relationship (XIII, 8), and the same term designates the although in both cases and 15), 12 (XXIX, Jacob and Laban l:etween Kinship is very frequently they were actually only uncle and nephew. Orient. Semitic the in manner this in expressed

his "brother"

of God's

The last portion of Isaac's blessing reminds us strongly thee, and him word to Abraham, "And I will bless them that 1)less would seem impUcation The that curseth thee will I curse" (XII, 3). is transmitted Abraham of blessing God's words these to be that by to Jacob.

Y.

effect

of the statement that

Jacob goes out after receiving the

as

just

The dramatic

30.

blessing,

Esau comes is

readily

in

per-

moment sooner is that had Esau come but a for have circumvented Jacob and secured the blessing drama. in motive common is a late" too "A moment himself. could not be reVv. 32 and 37 imply that a blessing once uttered, The

ceived.

he might

implication

still

called or altered.

V.

XXV.

For the play upon the name Jacob here,

36.

26.

cf.

the note to.

the revolution V. 40 has been thought by historians to refer to about 849 Joram, of reign the during by which Edom succeeded, gaining its independence B. C. in casting off the yoke of Judah and (II

Kings VIII, 20-22).

is implication of this verse and of the entire story 29. XXXV, to contrast in is This that the death of Isaac is imminent. new and disturbV. 46 and XXVIII, 1-9 introduce an altogether of XXVI. continuation direct ing element into the story. They are the of Esau's because not home, his left Jacol) that imply They 34f. Rebekah alone, hatred and desire for vengeance and at the bidding of peacably received, or but at the bidding of Isaac, and after having Isaac and Rereceived a second time, his father's blessing, because women, and Hittite with marriage Esau's of bekah disapproved some kinswished to ensure Jacob's making a proper marriage with This version is, of course, a father had done.

V.

41.

woman, protest

The

just as

against

his

intermarriage.

This and other incontrovertible evi-

a part of the dence make it certain that this entire passage was not after the Babyoriginal narrative, but was inserted during, or shortly first became lonian exile, about which time opposition to intermarriage The passage is contradictory of the main narrative, acute in Israel. at issue. and disturbs the continuity and obscures the real question XXVIII, 10 is the direct continuation of XXVII, 45. \n