In genesis 33 Jacob and Esau finally meets after the escape of Jacob to Laban’s house, when he stole the blessing of his brother. If someone would have read the story in Genesis 33 without knowing Jacob’s perforations, he could understand even then the relationship between Jacob’ his wives and his children , soon to be to people of Israel.

We are reading in the beginning of Genesis 33 this verses, as written:

“וַיִּשָּׂא יַעֲקֹב עֵינָיו, וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה עֵשָׂו בָּא, וְעִמּוֹ, אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ;

וַיַּחַץ אֶת-הַיְלָדִים, עַל-לֵאָה וְעַל-רָחֵל, וְעַל, שְׁתֵּי הַשְּׁפָחוֹת.

וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת-הַשְּׁפָחוֹת וְאֶת-יַלְדֵיהֶן, רִאשֹׁנָה; וְאֶת-לֵאָה וִילָדֶיהָ אַחֲרֹנִים, וְאֶת-רָחֵל וְאֶת-יוֹסֵף אַחֲרֹנִים”

“And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.”

When Jacob saw Esau , he was frightened , he thought that Esau will revenge, after he sold his birthright and the blessing of Isaac was stolen from him from his small little brother, the one who held his heel!

From the arrangement of his sons and also from their nicknames one can learn a lot: firstly, the children of Jacob and Lea are called kids, without telling us are their name. Also the names of his made are not written with the names of their sons as well.

Secondly, the only name that is mentioned from the sons of Jacob is Joseph; furthermore his name is coming before his mother’s name- Rachel.

What can we say, my friends, this is a sign to the future quarrel between the brothers – it does all relate to the order and to the nickname!

Main phrases of the post + transcription + translation

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