Jacob's name - not deceiver

Try this translation

Quote :

Two nations are in your womb, and two governments will separate from within you. One government will be mightier than the other, but the greater one will serve the smaller one.'

It was only Isaac's interpretation of the situation that Rebekkah urges Jacob to do that has put this definition of name upon him, yet Jacob listened to his mother who had, before his birth , inquired of the L-RD why she felt such a struggle within her.

Taking the second born over the first comes many times in the Bible, we know that Joseph who was not Jacobs first born was chosen to receive the double portion instead of Reuben.

Ultimately this points to Messiah, the Second Adam.

This may help

We read that Rebekah inquired of Hashem regarding her condition. The Torah mentions nothing of speaking with a doctor or with her husband, Isaac, about this matter. One might wonder, why didn't Rebekah speak with Abraham , her very spiritual father-in-law? The Torah mentions nothing of her speaking with her relatives. The Torah says, "She went to inquire of Hashem..." Genesis 25:22 Rebekah recognized the uniqueness of her situation. She had already come to the understanding that this was a spiritual matter that she didn't understand. Obviously she didn't want outside influence or even the influence of close relatives so we read, "She went to inquire of Hashem." This was between Rebekah and Hashem. Rebekah maintained some very high boundaries of privacy with regards to what she was experiencing.

Once she inquired of Hashem we read nothing about the need to maintain secrecy regarding Jacob and Esau but she did ... Had Rebekah spoken about these matters it may have affected the way her sons were raised and the way they were treated. It may have created an evil opening / access within a righteous home. It may have shut Esau out from the opportunity for righteous learning and from the opportunity to make his own choices. It may have sealed his doom before birth had his choices of learning and righteousness been eliminated.

Even though this was the situation she did not bias the development of either child by accepting the fact one would be righteous and one wouldn't. Holy reader, please keep in mind that it was Hashem Who told Rebekah the differences between Jacob and Esau. What Hashem said through Shem was impeccably reliable. Other sources would have been questionable... Rebekah could bank on what Hashem said! It was definite! Yet, even at that, she chose not to bias the development of the children.

We observe some interesting differences between Isaac and and Rebekah regarding the raising of their sons.

We read that both Isaac and Rebekah named Esau. This implies that they were in agreement ...

We read that Isaac named Jacob. This implies that Isaac and Rebekah were not in agreement ... Based upon the Torah's description of Jacob he was not the deceiver as branded from birth by his father. The Torah pronounces that Jacob, at the age of about fifteen, was "without fault." Genesis 25:27

The Torah gives a brief explanation of Esau, at about the age of fifteen, as "a skilled trapper, a man of the field" and of Jacob as "a man without fault living in tents." Genesis 25:27 The Torah states, "Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his trappings, but Rebekah loved Jacob." This is strange! The Torah states why Isaac loved Esau-- "he ate of his trappings" but the Torah says nothing as to why Rebekah loved Jacob. However if we put the Torah's statements together with the respective parent, as they are intended to be understood, then the Torah does explain why Rebekah loved Jacob. Rebekah loved Jacob because he was "a man without fault, living in tents."

I heard several years ago another meaning for the name Jacob but I can't remember what it was. Because God told Rebekah when she was pregnant that the first one born would serve the younger. So if Jacob was the chosen one of the two, why would he try to be born first?

Quote :

Gen 25:26 "And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob..."

Look again, I think you misunderstand what it's saying, it says when Esau was born, that Jacob was holding his heel.

Remember babies are usually born, head first so the last thing to come out is the foot, Jacob was holding on, showing that he was part of the 'first born' and it would rightfully be his. He gained it back because Esau, was foolish and didn't have regard for his inheritance at all, he was concerned with the here and now, the flesh, 'feed me, I'm hungry' not looking towards the future of himself or his children, let alone the spiritual.

The information you posted is extremely helpful.

Thanks!

Let me know how it turns out.