483 myths · Page 10 of 17
On the day Ephron became chief of Heth, Abraham sealed the Cave of Machpelah with silver, after a covenant that Israel would not seize Jebus by force.
God sealed east, west, and south where sky meets earth, then left the north open. Any pretender claiming divinity would fail the unfinished quarter.
Ten times brothers called Jacob thy servant. Joseph stayed silent and lost ten years, then rode out like a subject to meet his father-king.
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.
Jacob was seventy-seven when he left Beersheba with Esau's anger behind him. At a well in the east he rolled the heavy stone off alone for Rachel's sheep.
Fleeing Esau, Jacob dreamed at the foundation stone, reached Haran in a blink, and found a well that rose by itself for twenty years.
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.
Laban admitted Jacob had filled their wells, then bound Haran by oath to keep silent while Leah entered the tent meant for Rachel.
Blind with tears for Joseph, Jacob wrote to Egypt's ruler and prayed for two lost sons, never guessing the viceroy was the first.
Gerar's king had taken Sarah, and every womb in his house shut. Abraham asked God to let them multiply instead. Abimelech's barren wife bore a child.
Asenath nursed the dying man and told Joseph to bring his sons for a blessing. Jacob's answer was that in seventeen years the boys had never come.
Jacob lay dead and Joseph needed Canaan for the burial. Pharaoh stalled until Joseph reminded him of the throne-secret oath sworn in seventy languages.
For seventeen years Joseph kept runners on the road so that he would never be alone in a room with his father. His father knew the whole time.
Joseph threatened anyone who skipped the welcome. Purple ranks and rooftop drums met Jacob while he served proper meat and taught his brothers how to stay free.
Dying, Jacob ordered Joseph to forgive and shield his brothers. Ages later the tribes buried Joseph in Shechem, the ground that first took him.
On the road to Egypt, Jacob counted five terrors for his house. God answered each one, and Joseph sent horses ahead so the old man would not break.
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.
While Laban counted wool, Jacob told Leah and Rachel of God's dream. They rose with him, crossed the river, and left the house of wages behind.
Jacob's family boarded a crewless ship in a shared dream, Joseph seized both rudders in jealousy, and only the patriarch's whistle raised the wreck.
Joseph sent clothes up from Egypt, a turban among them for his father. Jacob put it on, then slaughtered sacrifices asking whether he should go at all.
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.
Jacob named every clause before he served for Rachel. Years later Laban hunted stolen teraphim. In Rachel's tent the idols became ordinary cups.
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.
Zelophehad died without sons, his daughters forced a ruling on inheritance, and the women of the Exodus loved the land more than the men.
They needed ten men to swear the ban and there were only nine of them left at the pit. So they made the Holy One the tenth.
On his deathbed Jacob stripped Reuben of three crowns, spared Shechem's killers by cursing only rage, and made Dan a lone serpent like Samson.
The animals were empires. Babylon wore the lion, Media the wolf, and a later kingdom waited for the bull. Daniel would bring Babylon down.
After Shechem fell, allied kings gathered to wipe out Jacob. Their own counselors recited Abraham's miracles until the armies turned home.
