Why Did Rebekah Trick Isaac In The Bible?
Rebekah and Isaac are one of the most important couples in the Old Testament. They got married after Isaac’s mother died, and like many other couples in the Bible, conceiving was a problem. Isaac, for example, was born when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old after God promised them a child, Jewish News reports.
Isaac also prayed to have a child. Although he would not wait as long as his father, it took 20 years until Rebekah got pregnant. God revealed to Isaac the family would welcome twins. “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger,” per Genesis 25:23.
It is easy to assume that the brothers would not get along, and the younger would have a higher position by reading those words. However, Rebekah played a definitive role in it.
Esau was born first and became Isaac’s favorite son. He became a skilled hunter who loved the outdoors, and he is described as red and hairy. Jacob was the opposite. He had smooth skin, loved staying at home, and was Rebekah’s favorite. As the oldest son, Esau had the right to replace Isaac after his death. Jacob was aware of that and once made his brother swear he would sell his birthrights.
Rebekah asked Jacob to lie to his father
According to Genesis 25, Esau once arrived starving and asked Jacob to share the stew he was cooking. “First sell me your birthright,” he replied. Esau didn’t seem to take it seriously, but Jacob made him swear. It is not clear how old they were, but Esau didn’t seem to notice how eager his brother was to have his position.
Years later, Isaac is old and nearly blind and asks Esau to hunt something and cook. He wanted to give him his blessings before he died. Rebekah heard the conversation and told Jacob to fetch something to cook. Jacob does what his mother asks and receives the blessing from his father. When Esau arrives home, it is too late. “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine,” Isaac said (via Genesis 27).
Although the Bible says that Rebekah loved Jacob more, it might not be the only reason she tricked her husband. According to Chabad, Rebekah believed Esau didn’t worship his birthright, since he quickly traded it with his brother for food. She also thought that Jacob was more suitable for replacing the father because he was not as impulsive and violent as his brother.
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