Why Jacob Fled Beersheba, the Place of Oaths

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayetzei 9:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Hosea 12:13:) "Then Jacob fled to the field of Aram." And from where did he flee? From Beersheba, as it is said (Genesis 28:10): "And Jacob set out from Beersheba." But was he in Beersheba? Was he not rather in Hebron, as it is said (Genesis 35:27): "that is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned"? Rather, he fled from the place designated for oaths, for there Abraham swore to Abimelech, as it is said (Genesis 21:23): "And now swear to me by God here, etc." (Genesis 21:31): "Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there the two of them swore." And from where do we know that Isaac swore there? As it is said (Genesis 26:32): "And the servants of Isaac came, etc.," (Genesis 26:33) "and he called it Shibah." And Esau too swore to Jacob, as it is said (Genesis 25:33): "Swear to me as of this day." When he took his birthright, he thought in his heart and said: If he should come and say, "Come, swear to me that you did not take the blessings by deceit," what can I do to him? Rather, I will go out from this place designated for oaths. Therefore it is said: "And Jacob set out from Beersheba, etc." Thus: "Then Jacob fled to the field of Aram."

Themes

PatriarchsJacobCovenantCreationAbraham

Biblical References

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