Connecting Isaac and Jacob on the Family of Abraham

… Sarah cannot appear in ch. 24. Lookin right back along the facts, new reference might possibly be only to the daddy who, early in the new chapter, believed he had been close to dying. It is likely therefore your concluding phrase ran: ‘So Isaac try comfortable pursuing the loss of their dad.’…

Gunkel’s solution is not adequate, although not. Their dispute you to definitely “in the event that slave concerns Isaac, Isaac says to him one to their father keeps died throughout the meantime,” ignores the fact new servant means Isaac while the “their grasp” before the a couple of had a chance to talk (v. 65), from which point, new servant lack identified you to definitely Abraham had sexiga heta Colombianska kvinnor died. Moreover, this new notice throughout the Isaac finding morale to possess their mother’s passing links definitely to Sarah dying (ch. 23), and therefore there is absolutely no valid reason to emend the latest verse to “father.”

Good Fragment off Heritage

I will suggest you to originally it actually was Isaac, presumably by himself initiative, which delivers from his slave to acquire your a spouse. Thus, in the event that servant productivity which have Rebecca, he gift suggestions their own right to Isaac.

When i dispute during my “Isaac before He had been Abraham’s Child” (TheTorah 2020), Abraham was once another patriarch, exactly who served by yourself just like the “father” of the nation

A publisher changed the majority of new narrative (vv. 1–52), that in the first place worried about Isaac simply, presenting Abraham as person who cared for his child and you may create to possess his wedding in advance of their demise. Thus, the guy makes reference to “his grasp Abraham” (vv. several, twenty seven, 42, 48) and is named “Abraham’s slave” (vv. 34, 52), and far of one’s talk concerns this new slave finding an excellent partner towards master’s young man.

Good fragment of one’s earliest style of new story are preserved out-of v. 53, which refers to the new servant’s present so you can Rebecca’s sister and you can mommy, before the stop of the narrative, with only a number of article glosses (vv. 59, and you can 67a).

Here, the brand new servant is referred to just because “the brand new servant” otherwise “the person” (vv. 53, 58, 61, 65 [twice], 66), that will just as be easily a mention of the Isaac’s slave. Alot more significantly, starting with verse 54, we find “the brand new servant” talking with Rebecca’s mother and you can sister throughout the “my master” (vv. 54, 56) in lieu of “my personal grasp Abraham” (as in vv. 12, 27, 35–37, 39, 42, 48):

?????? ??:?? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ????????? ????????? ???????????? ????? ????????? ???????????. ??:?? ??????????? ???????????? ???? ????????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????? ??????????? ???????? ????????? ??????????? ????????. ??:?? ????????? ??????? ??? ?????????? ????? ???????? ????????? ????????? ???????????? ????????? ????????.

Gen The slave presented stuff out of silver and gold, and garments, and you can offered these to Rebecca; and he provided presents so you’re able to her sister along with her mom. Then he therefore the dudes that have him ate and you will taken, and they invested the night. When they arose second morning, he told you, “Render myself get-off to consult with my learn.”… He considered them, “Do not slow down myself, now that YHWH has made my personal errand winning. Promote me personally get-off which i could go back at my learn.”

From this point up until verse 65, new servant is apparently writing on Isaac as he says “my master;” it is clear when he demonstrates to you to Rebecca just who the guy handling them was.

As to why is actually the story reworked to really make the step towards is why and not Isaac’s? Originally, the fresh Abraham and you can Isaac tales was in fact independent life style, and you will were not connected: Isaac wasn’t Abraham’s young man. Meanwhile, Isaac with his son Jacob-the daddy off Israel-belonged to help you a parallel, independent, national culture.