Friday, December 16, 2016

Ge 27:41 So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

42 And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, "Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you.

43 "Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran.


44 "And stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury turns away,


45 "until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?"


46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?"

Ge 28:1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.

Ge 28:2 "Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother.


Moses is explaining the origin of the rift between Israel and Edom. It started with Jacob and Esau. Just as Esau was angry at Jacob so Edom was angry with Israel.

Moses also shows how Rebekah despised the daughters of Heth. Heth was a descendant of Canaan, and so, therefore, the daughters of Heth were Canaanites. Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here not to marry Canaanites.