Genesis 35:22-29

2009.Oct.15 14:45

Isaac’s Death

Read Genesis 35:22-29 | Full Chapter

While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Jacob had twelve sons:
(Genesis 35:22, NIV)

Here we see one of those quick asides that must have represented a quite dramatic episode at la casa Israel. Reuben sleeps with Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant. It’s reasonable to speculate that this comes just before or just after Rachel’s death. One can imagine that Jacob is no happy camper. However, if he takes any action, it’s not here noted (and if it’s mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, I apparently have not noticed). This situation is one of many soap-opera moments in this family. One may choose to be reminded of Yahweh’s grace.

The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Rachel's maidservant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Leah's maidservant Zilpah: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
(Genesis 35:23-29, NIV)

There’s yet another list of Jacob’s sons (and, hence, the tribes of Israel, depending on which list of tribes you want to use to get the twelve). The only thing I have to add about that here is that Benjamin is lumped with those born in Paddan Aram, rather than near Bethlehem. I doubt that noting that has any value.

Aside from that, Isaac dies. On a happy note, he gets to see Jacob again, and on fairly good terms with Esau. His family turned out pretty well, despite some of his efforts. The history of people whom Yahweh blesses, loves, and chooses is a sordid history. How did Ishmael not decide to one day show up at Isaac’s doorstep and challenge him to a duel? How did Isaac and Rebekah stay married despite their dueling favoritisms? How did neither Jacob nor Esau commit fatricide? How did…well, you get the picture.

That Esau and Jacob bury their father together, after he has had a full life, is one of the best illustrations of Yahweh’s mercy. The theory that there is only an angry, vengeful God in the Old Testament does not stand to examination.

And now, it’s time for the next generation to play their games. Soon enough, we’ll return to Egypt. And that’s where a family, it seems, becomes a nation.