The forsaken first-born: a study of a recurrent motif in the patriarchal narratives (JSOT Supplement Series 133)

This provocative book combines literary and historical methods to examine the phenomenon of the'forsaken firstborn'in Genesis. The dignity of the firstborn sons of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph-Ishmael, Esau, Reuben and Manasseh-is disregarded in the narrative and the rights inherent in their status are taken from them and conferred on a younger brother. One might easily compare this with the motif in many folktales of the youngest son outdoing his elder brothers in cleverness and skill. But unlike the folklore motif, in the book of Genesis the younger brother's success is not due to any courageous deed or heroic feat on his own part. Instead the displacement of the elder by the younger is usually the result of somebody else's initiative and achievement. 1. The Ishmael Texts -- Genesis 16:7-16 -- Genesis 17 -- Genesis 21 -- Genesis 25 -- 2. The Ishmael Motif Applied To A Postexilic Context -- The Roots: Ishmael In The Sources -- The Development: A Theological Appraisal Of Ishmael -- The Inner-jewish Conflict -- The Foreign Presence And National Unity -- Summary -- 3. The Esau Texts -- A Review Of Scholarly Opinions On The Jacob-esau Complex -- The Texts -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Excursus: The Birthright In The Milieu Of The Old Testament -- Genesis 27 -- Genesis 32-33 -- Esau's Marriages -- 4. The Genealogical Lists Of Ishmael And Esau -- Contexts (genesis 25 And 36) -- Types Of Genealogical Lists In Genesis -- The Ishmael And Esau Lists -- Summary -- 5. The Reuben Texts -- Reuben In Genesis -- Reuben In Other Books -- Summary -- 6. The Manasseh Texts -- Genesis 41:50-52 -- Genesis 48:5 -- Genesis 48:8-20 -- Summary -- 7. Conclusions -- The Textual Perspective -- The Thematic Perspective -- The Relevance Of The Motif -- A Historical Sitz Im Leben For The Motif. Roger Syrén. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [146]-150) And Indexes.