Prophets & Wives
Parshah Vayetze (Genesis 28:10-32:3) is connected to Haftarah Hosea (12:13-14:10). In Genesis, Jacob served seven years for Rachel but was given Leah instead. He then served seven more years for Rachel. Leah, Rachel, and their handmaids were the mothers of all Jacob's children, the ancestors of he entire people, the children of Israel.
The Haftarah begins by stating that Jacob served for one wife, and for another wife, he guarded. The Haftarah goes on to say that with one prophet God brought Israel out of Egypt, and another prophet guarded them.
Prophets and wives seem to be described in parallel fashion. But the Haftarah seems to be comparing apples and oranges: how Jacob took wives, but not what the wives did for him is compared to what prophets did for God, but not how God acquired them. Let's compare what both the wives and prophets did:
Wives gave birth to the people. Moses the prophet helped "deliver" the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt and the other prophet "mothered" them until they developed into a nation.
Discuss how both wives and prophets were essential to the founding of the people.
How does your image of a prophet change when you consider them through the metaphors of wives to God and mothers to Israel?
Shabbat Shalom!
Robin Hoffman
Judaic Studies Director
