Esau was seething after Jacob received their father Isaac's blessing. He was so consumed by hatred, according to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, that Jacob had to escape to the house of Eber, the son of Shem. Imagine, fourteen years hidden away, studying the ways of God.
What was Esau doing during this time? Well, he wasn't exactly mellowing out. He was furious at everyone – Jacob, his parents – the whole situation! He even took a second wife, Basemath, a Hittite, in the land of Seir, renaming her Adah. The text implies this name change was a symbolic acknowledgement of his perceived loss; he was so upset that the blessing had "passed from him." He kept his two wives in his father's house in Hebron. But these wives were a constant source of grief for Isaac and Rebekah. They didn't follow God's ways, but worshipped idols, causing Isaac and Rebekah deep sorrow.
After fourteen long years, Jacob yearned to see his parents. But Esau hadn't forgotten. According to the text, seeing Jacob return reignited Esau's fury. He wanted to kill Jacob, but he hesitated, fearing it might lead Isaac to have another son, jeopardizing Esau's inheritance. He decided to hasten his father's death and then kill Jacob.
Pretty dark, right? But nothing is truly hidden. "Probably thou knowest not that I examine the hearts of men, for I am the Lord that searcheth the heart," the text tells us.
And Rebekah, ever the insightful mother and a prophetess in her own right, saw Esau's true intentions. She warned Jacob, "Thy brother is as sure of accomplishing his wicked purpose as though thou wert dead. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice, and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother, to Haran, and tarry with him." She even thought Esau’s anger would eventually fade, which, sadly, wasn’t the case.
Jacob, though, wasn’t exactly thrilled about running. He even declared, "I am not afraid; if he wishes to kill me, I will kill him." Rebekah wouldn’t hear of it and responded, "Let me not be bereaved of both my sons in one day." And, chillingly, her words proved prophetic – Esau was slain during Jacob's burial.
So, how do you convince someone to leave when they don't want to?
Rebekah used a clever tactic. She approached Isaac, feigning concern about Jacob marrying a Canaanite woman. "If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, what good shall my life do me?" she lamented.
This prompted Isaac to call Jacob and command him to go to Haran, to the house of Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban. It wasn’t just about finding a wife; it was about preserving the covenant. Isaac charged Jacob: "Take heed lest thou shouldst forget the Lord thy God and all His ways in the land to which thou goest…But when thou comest to the land, serve the Lord."
Isaac, recognizing the gravity of the situation, reinforced his blessing to Jacob. "In so far as I am endowed with the power of blessing, I bestow blessing upon thee. May God, with whom there is endless blessing, give thee His, and also the blessing wherewith Abraham desired to bless me." This was a way of ensuring no one could say Jacob had gotten the blessing through trickery. Isaac even foresaw the exile of Jacob's descendants, praying for their eventual return.
While Jacob was leaving, Esau was busy plotting with Ishmael. In a twisted conversation, Esau suggests they both kill their fathers so that they can divide the world between them. Ishmael, however, suggests Esau should kill his own father. Esau responds that a man killing his brother (like Cain and Abel) is more common than a son killing his father. However, the text reveals that Esau's resistance to parricide was merely part of his twisted scheme to kill both his father and brother in order to claim the inheritance.
Esau even married Mahalath, Ishmael's daughter, but not to please his parents, who disapproved of his Canaanite wives. His real motive was to secure Ishmael's support for his evil plans. But things didn't go as planned. Ishmael died before the wedding, and Esau's continued association with his Canaanite wives proved his lack of genuine concern for his parents' feelings.
As Jacob departed, Rebekah wept, deeply distressed. Isaac, however, offered comfort: "Weep not for Jacob! In peace doth he depart, and in peace will he return. The Lord, God Most High, will guard him against all evil." He had faith in Jacob, believing in his righteousness.
So, Jacob leaves. Marked by deception, threats of violence, and a mother's desperate maneuvering. But also, it is a story filled with blessings, promises, and the hope of a future secured through faith. Where does that leave you thinking about your own path? How do we reconcile the messy, complicated humanity of these stories with the sacred messages they carry?