What does the story of Jacob and Esau symbolize?

Answer 1

It's at Genesis 25:19-34 & 27:1-45.

Jacob and Esau were twins. When their mother was pregnant with them, God told her that there were two babies in her and that the older would serve the younger. This was pretty much unheard of back then.

Since Esau was born first, he was to get the blessing/inheritance from his father Isaac. A blessing from the father was a really big deal. Esau was Isaac's favorite. A manly man. Jacob was his mothers favorite. Not a sissy but not as rough as his brother. As Isaac got older his eyesight failed. Esau was came in very hungry and was willing to give away everything for a meal. This is when Jacob told him to trade his birthright for a meal.

Esau, like so many of us, live for the moment and make rash decisions. Obviously Esau didn't really mean it, he just said it to get a meal. But he did say it. In chapter 27 it is told about the deception of Isaac. The deception was actually their mothers idea, Rebekah. She loved Jacob more that Esau and she wanted Jacob to get the blessing. This would also fulfill what God had told her. If Jacob got the birthright then he would be over his brother just as God had told.

Not everything has to make sense to us because we cannot presume to have the same understanding as God. Everything that happens has to have a chain of events and God sees that they come true. Keep reading and you will see what troubles this deception has caused Jacob. But God has a plan.

Answer 2

Answer:

For your consideration. The story of these two individuals can also symbolize a form of "Election". That is to say God selecting certain individuals to fulfill specific functions though in different ways and for various purposes. Jacob was more fit to be the father of God's Messianic Nation as Esau was profane and irreligious. Their story can also symbolize "Reconciliation" (Genesis 33:4-16).

Answer 3

There is biblical evidence that Jacob was the Israelite moon god before the story evolved to portray him as a human and patriarch of the Israelites. His twin brother's name is Esau, which is associated with the colour red and could suggest association with the sun god. Oriental children often describe the sun as red, just as Western children describe the sun as yellow. Both twins went on to have twelve sons, the same number as the constellations in the zodiac.

The story of Jacob and Esau is the story of the eternal struggle between the sun god, Esau, and the moon god, Jacob. There was constant rivalry between the two twins throughout their lives, just as the ancients saw constant rivalry between the sun and the moon. The twins fought, even in the womb. Each wanted to be born first, and the baby Jacob exhibited dexterity, strength and reasoning far beyond the capabilities of mortal babies (Genesis 25:26). According to this analysis, that rivalry culminated with the moon god, Jacob, winning favour as the god of the Israelites - when he stole the blessing that rightfully belonged to Esau.

I believe that Genesis chapters 28 and 29 tell the story of Jacob's marriage to the ancient Hebrew goddess Asherah. He could not marry any of the mortals in the land, but was told to marry a cousin. Jacob's uncle Labon and his two cousins, Leah and Rachel, lived in the city of Haran, a chief site of the moon god, Sin. In Hebrew, the name 'Labon' means 'white' or 'bright', and is associated with 'Lebanah' - the moon. Rachel means 'ewe' and Leah means 'wild cow', although it can also mean 'weary'. Clearly, 'wild cow' is the more probable meaning here: Leah was described as 'tender eyed', or cow-eyed, and her sister's name was Ewe. And Weary seems such an improbable name for a daughter. Of course, Ewe and Wild Cow are also improbable names in the modern context, particularly as we think that Labon could not have predicted that Leah really would grow up to have at least one physical attribute of a cow. This begins to make sense when we learn that several ancient hymns to the Sumerian goddess Inanna describe her as a splendid wild cow, while in shepherd communities Inanna was usually associated with a ewe.

When Jacob returns from Haran with his two new wives, he encounters Esau and fears for his life. As soon as he reaches an understanding with Esau, we read about the famous story in which he wrestles with a stranger for the entire night. Although his rival was not named as Esau, this passage continues the mythical contest with Esau and Jacob's opponent appears once again to be the sun god. In an ancient tradition in the life story of Jacob, he was left alone and wrestled with a man all night until the break of day, when the man said he must leave (Genesis 32:24ff). Even though his leg was dislocated, Jacob refused to let his opponent go unless he blessed Jacob. That the 'man' was a god is amply demonstrated - Jacob asked for his blessing, he had the prerogative of changing Jacob's name, Jacob's new name was Israel (generally assumed to mean "wrestled with God') and Jacob called the place Peniel ('the face of God') because he had seen God face to face. If the man who wrestled with Jacob was a god, then Jacob was also a god in the very early tradition behind this account, as demonstrated by the fact that he was such an even match for his opponent. And if the opponent was a god, he was also a sun god - daybreak signalled the end of the contest, he had to leave Jacob before the sun could rise, then the sun rose upon Jacob. This was the daily struggle in which the sun god defeats the moon god at dawn.

Interestingly, Keel and Uehlinger (Gods, Goddesses and Images of God in Ancient Israel) present archaeological evidence that in early times, the Israelites focussed on the moon god but later, the sun god, associating them in turn with the national God, YHWH (Yahweh/Jehovah). We need not take too much notice for present purposes of this change of relative allegiances, except to note that there is substantial archaeological evidence of the worship of both the moon god and the sun god in ancient Israel.

Answer 4

In addition to the actual historic events that this narrative records (Genesis ch.25 and 27-8), it symbolizes the dichotomy between the service of God and the love of physicality. Esau was a hunter who gave up the spiritually elevated status of firstborn for a mere meal of food, while Jacob was a quiet man of the tents of learning, who later achieved prophecy. See also:

More about the Hebrew Bible-narrative

More about Jacob's family

Answer 5

The biblical story of these twins shows differing priorities of each. Esau, the firstborn, and usual inheritor of the father's blessing, did not have it as his main desire. Instead he wanted to roam freely and live his passion of hunting. Jacob on the other hand desired the birthright promise much more.

Esau sold this awesome blessing for a mere bowl of lentils as he was hungry. Jacob then listened to his mother and tricked his aging father, Isaac into giving the blessing to him. Sibling rivalry? Beguilement?? Or God's will???

In any event, the overriding message from this story is that God's plan for mankind will go forward regardless of the machinations/wants of men.

Answer 6

Primarily in Genesis 25:20 to Genesis 28, but also beyond.