{"id":76530,"date":"2020-06-28T12:55:11","date_gmt":"2020-06-28T09:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=76530"},"modified":"2020-06-28T12:55:49","modified_gmt":"2020-06-28T09:55:49","slug":"jacobs-freudian-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/jacobs-freudian-moment\/","title":{"rendered":"Jacob\u2019s Freudian Moment\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This chapter refers to Jacob\u2019s struggle with an angel in Gen. 32, providing extra details in the midrashic tradition of filling in narrative gaps already within the Tanach itself. Verse 4 brackets Jacob\u2019s life by two pivotal struggles, beginning in the womb where \u201che tried to supplant his brother,\u201d and ending when \u201che strove with a divine being.\u201d The root for \u201csupplant\u201d (<\/span>ekev<\/span><\/em>) relates to the name Jacob- to hold back or to deceive- while wrestling with the angel results in a name change to Israel, signifying dramatic character transformation between the two.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hosea inserts the significant detail that one of the combatants \u201cwept and implored\u201d the other. The Talmud resolves its inherent ambiguity as to which one is doing the pleading in favor of the angel (<\/span>Hullin <\/span><\/i>92a). Another rabbinic interpretation suggestively identifies the angel as a representative of Jacob\u2019s brother Esau. In light of its narrative positioning immediately before Jacob\u2019s reunion with Esau after decades of separation, combined with Maimonides\u2019 rule that all divine and angelic appearances in the Bible are dreams or visions, we are confronted with a Freudian moment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacob\u2019s consciousness is plagued by unresolved tensions related to sibling rivalry. The angel\u2019s cry to be released from Jacob\u2019s grip resonates with Esau\u2019s agonizing cry when he discovered his brother had stolen his blessing, while the angel\u2019s imploring signifies Esau\u2019s legitimate plea for its return. In the dream Jacob negotiates the angel\u2019s release in exchange for a blessing, reflecting a deep-seated guilt over his original exchange with Esau whose distress Jacob exploited to acquire Esau\u2019s birthright. The angel\u2019s crying and pleading supply the necessary ingredients that Jacob subconsciously assimilates in his dream. It evokes a moral awakening, which attuned Jacob to Esau\u2019s suffering which he ignored previously, in order to resolve his guilt over wronging his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

That resolution in Jacob\u2019s subconscious then materializes in his following encounter with Esau. Esau rushes toward Jacob, emotionally embracing, kissing, and <\/span>crying<\/span><\/em> together (Gen 33:4). Jacob then incorporates twice in his dialogue with Esau the Hebrew root for imploring (<\/span>chanan<\/span><\/em>), in the grammatical form of \u2018showing favor\u2019 (hitpa’el<\/em>), signifying an obliging response to imploring. Most importantly, he insists that Esau accept the \u2018blessing\u2019 he offers \u201cfor God has favored (<\/span>chanani<\/span><\/em>) me and I have plenty\u201d (33:11). That angelic pleading in Jacob\u2019s consciousness compelled him to admit he owed Esau compensation for his deceitful acquisition of a blessing rightfully due to Esau. He was now willing to share with Esau the divine \u2018favoring\u2019 he enjoyed from the fruit of that blessing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This elucidates Hosea\u2019s puzzling reference to this episode. The chapter begins accusing Ephraim and Israel of treachery and deceit. Hosea then reminds Israel of the moment Jacob\u2019s name was changed to Israel provoked by guilt over a deceitful past. Jacob\u2019s listening to another\u2019s cries and pleas led to reconciliation with the victim of his deceit. Recalling this incident is an appeal to return to the original ideal represented by the name Israel as overcoming a deceitful disposition.<\/span><\/p>\n

image: Jacob Steinhardt, <\/span>Jacob and Esau<\/span><\/i>, woodcut, 1950, courtesy of Yosefa Bar-On Steinhardt.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":49397,"id":49397,"title":"dt2-Jacob Steinhardt, Jacob and Esau","filename":"dt2-Jacob-Steinhardt-Jacob-and-Esau.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt2-Jacob-Steinhardt-Jacob-and-Esau.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/esau-is-not-rejected\/dt2-jacob-steinhardt-jacob-and-esau\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"dt2-jacob-steinhardt-jacob-and-esau","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":49383,"date":"2019-02-13 16:55:44","modified":"2022-04-10 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