That’s exactly what happened to Zepho.
After a fierce battle, Joseph—yes, that Joseph, of the coat of many colors—returned triumphant. But instead of celebrating, he ordered Zepho and his followers to be shackled, imprisoned, their lives made even harsher than before. Can you feel the despair? The crushing weight of those chains?
What led to this? Well, the sons of Esau, reeling from the loss of their king Bela, appointed Jobab of Bozrah to take his place. According to the biblical account in Genesis 36:33, Jobab was indeed the successor to Bela. Jobab reigned for ten years. But what did his reign mean in the larger story?
They abandoned any further attempts to wage war against the sons of Jacob. Their previous encounter had been too… bruising. But don’t mistake that for peace! Oh no. Their hatred simmered, their enmity burned even fiercer. This wasn’t a truce; it was a cold, simmering resentment.
As Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg vividly retells, this animosity never waned. It just festered, waiting for its chance to erupt again. This is a key idea in Legends of the Jews: the continuation of conflict, even when overt battles cease. So, while the immediate threat subsided, the seeds of future conflict were sown, nurtured by bitter memories and an unyielding thirst for revenge. : sometimes the absence of war isn't the same as peace. Sometimes, it's just the quiet before the storm.