“sibling rivalry” in Genesis.
Write a concise essay of 3 – 4 typewritten pages (750 -1000 words) in which you discuss the theme of “sibling rivalry” in Genesis. You should examine the stories of Cain and Abel (Gen 4:1-16), Isaac and Ishmael (Gen 16:1 – 25:9), Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:19 – 35:29), Leah and Rachel (Gen 29:16 – 30:20), and Joseph and his brothers (Gen 37:1 – 50:26). In each case, how does the relationship of each sibling with his/her parents (and/or with God) affect the relationship with the other sibling(s)? What part do anger, jealously, and trickery play in the relationships? Recalling that, in the ancient world it is the eldest child who has the right of inheritance (the Law of Primogeniture), how do the Biblical narratives invert the normal social order? In each case, what is the relevance of the story to the promises of the Abrahamic covenant? What role does God play in the narrative, and how does divine activity affect the outcome?
Sample Solution
On Wednesday, March 24, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the Siegal Lifelong Learning Program will provide a remote lecture titled “Sibling Rivalry in the Book of Genesis.” Anthony Wexler, a SAGES Teaching Fellow and lecturer in the Department of English, will teach the course. There are numerous stories in Genesis about siblings who do not get along. Indeed, reading Genesis without understanding the first fratricide, as well as the conflicts between Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Rachel and Leah, and Joseph and his brothers, is impossible. This lecture will look at these rivalries and how they are linked.