Devotional Short Note to Genesis 26
In 2100 BCE Isaac was married to
Rebecca (Genesis 25:20). Esau, one of the twins was born in 2080 when Isaac was
60 years old as Genesis 25:26 indicates. When Esau was 40 years old, in this
chapter, he and Jacob got married, Esau with Hittites and Jacob with Rebecca.
That was in 2040 BCE. Now for Isaac and Rebecca to be young
in their age, it means that they were probably just married somewhere between
2099-2081 BCE before the birth of his twins. One has to think of a time before
the birth of these sons and after they were married. The exact year we do not
know. During this time there was again a
severe draught in Canaan, that is between 2099-2081 BCE. The pharaoh apparently that ruled this
time in Egypt was Intef II. About him it is stated: “Wahankh Intef II (also
Inyotef II and Antef II) was the third ruler of the Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt
during the First Intermediate Period. He reigned for almost fifty years from
2112 BC to 2063 BC. His capital was located at Thebes. In his time, Egypt was
split between several local dynasties” (see Wikipaedia). He claimed the title
of “son of Ra” the sungod. “Tjetjy was the chief treasurer and
king’s chamberlain of Intef II and Intef III. His finely carved tomb stele, now
at the British Museum, shows that Intef II claimed the dual throne of Egypt but
also recognizes the limited extent of his rule: "The horus Wahankh, king
of Upper and Lower Egypt, son of Re, Intef, born of Nefru, he who lives
eternally like Re, [...] this land was under his rule southwards as far as Yebu
and reaching as far north as Abydos". Tjetjy then describes his career in
the typical self-laudatory manner of the Egyptian elite. Most importantly, the
text demonstrates the undisputed power of the king in the Theban kingdom of the
11th Dynasty "I was a trustworthy favorite of my lord, an official
great of heart and quiet of temper in the palace of his lord [...]. I am one
who loved good and hated evil, one who was loved in the palace of his lord, one
who performed every duty in obedience to the will of his lord. Indeed, as for
every task which he commanded me to undertake [...], I performed it rightly and
justly. Never did I disobey the orders he gave me; never did I substitute one
thing for another [...]. Moreover, as for every responsibility of the royal
palace which the majesty of my lord committed to me, and for which he caused me
to perform some task, I did it for him in accordance with everything which his
Ka desired." Notice the similarity between the
faithfulness of the worker of Abraham and Tjetjy to Intef II. They were
contemporaries and the incident was in close proximity time-wise, Abraham’s
worker 2100 BCE and Tjetjy between 2112-2069 BCE. Abraham was still alive since he died
in 2065 BCE. Abimelech and Abraham had the incident after 2140 BCE, about 59
years apart [if the lower date 2081 BCE is applicable], and the one with Isaac
was between 2099-2081 BCE. The Lord told Isaac not to go to Egypt
probably because pharaoh Intef II was a warmonger and divided Egypt actually in
many zones. He divided the country. Drought in Egypt of this time was the
study of F. Hassan and on page 358 he mentioned: “Gardiner noted that the
inscriptions from the First Intermediate Period (FlP), the term collectively
given to a span of time from c. 2185 to 2020 BCE, ‘constantly harp upon the lack
of grain, a lack which was due as much to the impossibility of undisturbed
agriculture as to a succession of low Niles. It may be here noted that the
deplorable state of Upper Egypt is clearly reflected in the clumsiness of its
artistic efforts; evidently Egyptian civilization was at its lowest ebb"
(GARDINER 1962: 11 I). It became common to refer to this period as a ‘dark age.’”
(F. A. Hassan (2007). "Droughts, Famine and the Collapse of the Old
Kingdom: Re-Reading lpuwer." In The Archaeology and Art of Ancient
Egypt. Essays in Honor of David B. O'Connor. Edited by Zahi A. Hawass and
Janet Richards ANNALES DU SERVICE DES ANTIQUITES DE L'EGYPTE. CAHIER N° 36
Volume I, PUBLICATIONS DU CONSEIL SUPREME DES ANTIQUITES DE L'EGYPTE. Online
downloaded from http://www.gizapyramids.org/pdf_library/hassan_fs_oconnor.pdf).
The inscriptions of Egypt from this
time constantly complain that there is not enough grain in the country. Do not
go to Egypt the Lord told Isaac (Genesis 26:2). Like father like son. The same problem
happened that occurred with Abimelech and Abraham. Also Isaac was trying to
hide something. Isaac was sporting with his wife. That
is what Abimelech saw and it shocked him since he thought she could be added to
his harem. The relationship between husband and wife is one of sporting. “Isaac
was sporting with his wife Rebecca” = יִצְחָק מְצַחֵק אֵת רִבְקָה אִשְׁתּוֹ
(Genesis 26:8). The same root is used as his name. Laughter, cry out. Husband
and wife should be in a playful mood with each other the whole marriage. That
is also the will of God. There is an issue with wells,
covenant, eating, and a number of things his father also did with Abimelech.
Isaac was very prosperous in the Lord. Esau’s wives with the Hittites
disturbed Isaac and Rebecca as it is said: “And they were a bitterness of
spirit unto Isaac and to Rebekah” = וַתִּהְיֶיןָ מֹרַת רוּחַ לְיִצְחָק וּלְרִבְקָה
(Genesis 26:35). The Jesus advice for marriage here: do not be in the same yoke
as the unfaithful.
Dear God So many make a mistake in their marriages by marrying an
unfaithful partner and it leads to pain and suffering. Open the eyes of the
youth to select the beauty of faithfulness instead. In Jesus Name. Amen.