180 myths · Page 4 of 6
Fleeing his brother's rage, Jacob nearly died of despair, and the divine presence withdrew until the angels argued him back into life.
Jacob came into the tent in goat skins and borrowed clothes. He walked out crowned like a bridegroom, his bones strengthened by dew from heaven.
Esau sold the birthright for lentils and Methuselah's blade, then deeded the land and Machpelah to Jacob. Heaven repaid him with provinces ending at Rome.
Esau was coming with four hundred men. Jacob sent the camps across the ford and stayed behind alone. Something took hold of him in the dark.
Laban's words rekindled Esau's old fury. Four hundred men marched while Rebekah sent seventy-two retainers, and Jacob named the place Mahanaim for God's host.
Esau lunged to bite his brother to death, but Jacob's neck hardened like ivory, and the hunter howled while his own teeth cracked.
At Jacob's funeral procession, Esau fell slain by the cave, and his severed head rolled into the lap of blind Isaac, who begged mercy heaven refused.
Alone at the Yabbok, Jacob ferried a flock that never shrank, until fire burst from the earth and a night-long wrestle left him limping with a new name.
Before Esau's four hundred, Jacob prayed, sent gifts, and readied for war. He cited a future Torah law so God would not kill mothers with sons.
Jacob sent sacred tithes to Esau and named himself servant. Heaven rebuked the profaned gift, then Eliphaz refused to fight his teacher Jacob.
The Jebusites sold Abraham the cave only after he swore his seed would not seize their city. Generations later Esau sold his share for gold.
Jacob feared a father's curse more than a brother's rage. Rebecca claimed the curse for herself, dressed her smooth son, and sent him in for the blessing.
Three days after Jacob was laid to rest, Seir and the East rode against Joseph. Six hundred thousand fell, then Esau's sons and Seir turned on each other.
Isaac could not stand the women his son had married out of Canaan. So Esau rode down to Ishmael's camp and came back with a third one.
Zepho of Kittim won with help from heaven, then kept Esau's idols. When Balaam fled Africa, the king opened his court to dark wisdom.
Every Hebrew had marked his name on the bricks of forced labor. Amalek got hold of those lists. Outside the camp he called out: Reuben. Simeon. Levi.
The king of Africa would not accept the loss. Agnias drafted every male in his land, boys of ten included, and seized the property of anyone who refused.
Levi worked his father's fields until he was too tired for anything else. He married at thirty. Firstfruits went to the priest, then Jacob, then him.
Goat hide is the foulest thing a nose can meet. Isaac pressed his face into it and said his son smelled like a field the Lord had blessed.
Isaac heard Jacob's voice and felt Esau's hands in one blessing. Years later Jacob sent waves of gifts while Esau learned what the stolen words had cost.
Dying Rebecca demanded burial beside Sarah and peace between Jacob and Esau. She blessed holy seed, then Jacob swore her bones would rest near Sarah's.
They waited in groups for Moses to leave the house of study, then poured out blame. He had led them from a fruitful land into thirst.
Gold, silver, and brass could enter the Sanctuary. Iron stayed out as the metal of a hatred that would one day claim kinship with Abraham.
Heaven waits for the grave before attaching the divine name to anyone. Isaac was lying in a tent, alive and waiting for venison, when it happened.
Jacob counted the chiefs of Edom and could not see how his household would survive them. Heaven's answer was a blacksmith standing beside a load of flax.
Ishmael was fifteen when he brought the idols home to play with. Abraham was rich in cattle and silver, and sent him out with a loaf and a waterskin.
Jacob froze outside Isaac's tent, sure a deceiver earns a curse. Rebekah claimed it as earth once did for Adam, and heaven crowned him with dew.
Rebekah walked her son to the curtain and stopped there. Past it a blind father was reaching for his arms, and Jacob's legs were going out from under him.
When Joseph vanished, Jacob would not be comforted. Twelve pillars held heaven and earth, and one missing tribe cracked the order of creation itself.
Twenty years earlier a frightened boy had asked for bread, a coat, and a road home. Now he was back, and four hundred men were riding toward him.
