Abraham and His Descendants…
The Torah readings this season, taken from the book of Genesis (chapters 12-50) focus on the generations of Abraham and his descendants. It has well been said that the “Bible is the story of one man’s family.” It is quite fascinating the follow the ways in Genesis in which the line/seed of Abraham “splits.” And yet, even before one gets to Genesis 12 with the story of Abram, there are already significant splits. The line of Noah is divided into Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and the children of Ham in particular include tyrants like Nimrod who built Babylon, Asshur who fathered the Assyrians, Mizraim, the father of the ancient Egyptians, and the various nations of the Canaanites. These Ancient Near Eastern peoples surrounded the family of Abraham throughout its history. In contrast, Abraham is descended from Shem, and beginning in Genesis 11:10, it is this smaller branch of the familes of humankind that upon which the Biblical narrative concentrates. Abram is born of Nahor, who is sixth in the lineage from Shem.
In terms of Abraham’s own direct family he first has two sons, Ishmael his firstborn and Isaac, but they are of different mothers and Abraham is told that the “covenant” will be through Isaac (Gen 17:21). Ishmael is to become a “great nation” and God tells Abraham that he will be with him, but he makes it clear the “seed” as it is called, passes through Isaac. Apparently this is because of Sarah, who is of the Nahor/Shem lineage, whereas Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, is likely of the line of Ham. It is the combination of the two descendants of Nahor, Abraham and Sarah, who become one in Isaac that sets the Abraham Plan into motion. Gen 17:5 says she will be a “mother of nations” just as Abram is the “father.” This is very important, and Sarah, the Princess, must not be left out or forgotten. After Sarah dies Abraham marries and has other children, quite a few. But none of them are to be part of this divine Plan, called the “covenant.” This involves, of course, the Gen 12 promises which are repeated to Isaac and Jacob…
Isaac of course has two sons, the twins, Esau and Jacob, who are rivals even in the womb. It is worth noting that he is 40 when he marries, he asks YHVH for children as Rebekah is barren, but it not until 20 later, when he is 60, that his prayers are answered (Gen 25). The two “nations” embody an eternal struggle. It seems the “line” of Abraham & Sarah, which offered the right combination in Isaac, still has “recessive” characteristics that can even yield an Esau. But the line of Rebekah is important, coming from the family of Terah through Nahor, some kind of combination was here needed. Even though the behavior of Jacob seems somewhat selfish and deceptive, the Torah makes clear that it is El Shaddai who has determined that the “covenant” is to go through Jacob, not Esau. Everything else is a playing out of that theme. Rebekah had the perception to know and see this. Jacob was her clear favorite. Isaac seems oblivious to it all, and in his old age at least, enjoys eating the meat that Esau brings in. Rebekah is quite vital here, in producing the lineage that can carry the covenant.
It is very interesting to note that Esau first marries two Hittite woman! Both Isaac and Rebekah are grieved! But notice, later, when he sees that Jacob is sent to marry in the family line he takes another wife–a daughter of Ishmael, thinking that will somehow redeem him.
The Beth-el experience of Jacob is thus crucial. He is singled out for the “covenant” promise and this incredible epiphany at the “gate of the skies” is fundamental for him. He commits his life to El Shaddai, God of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebecca and sets out alone–pledging a tenth or tithe of all that YHVH gives him, to YHVH.
So once again the “line” has split and Jacob is destined to have 12 sons with four woman…thus the “great nation” of Israel–but it is Joseph who is the focus of the next “split.” Though Reuben was the firstborn, in the end, the birthright passed to Joseph (1 Chronicles 5:2). Ultimately, based on Jacob’s prophecies in Genesis 49 the Shepherd/Stone of Israel will come from Joseph (v. 24), and the “septre” will depart from Judah (v. 10)–the tribe that had the rule from the time of King David.
The name Israel is YISRAEL in Hebrew and consists of the Hebrew letters: Yod, Shin, Resh, Alef, Lamed, that are the first letters of the names of the Fathers & Mothers who make up the nation of Israel, namely: Abraham (Alef), Sarah (Shin), Isaac (Yod), Rebekah (Resh), Jacob (Yod), Rachel (Resh) and Leah (Lamed). To readers of the Bible these names, this family, are as familiar as one’s own. They become the root of the nation and the focus of God’s plan to bless all nations.