וַיִּשָּׂ֨א יַעֲקֹ֜ב עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה עֵשָׂ֣ו בָּ֔א וְעִמּ֕וֹ אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּ֣חַץ אֶת־הַיְלָדִ֗ים עַל־לֵאָה֙ וְעַל־רָחֵ֔ל וְעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֥י הַשְּׁפָחֽוֹת׃
Looking up, Jacob saw Esau coming, accompanied by four hundred men. He divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maids,
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת וְאֶת־יַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן רִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וְאֶת־לֵאָ֤ה וִֽילָדֶ֙יהָ֙ אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים וְאֶת־רָחֵ֥ל וְאֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף אַחֲרֹנִֽים׃
putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.
Genesis 33:1-2 (Revised JPS, 2023)
Genesis 33 starts with a looming confrontation between Jacob and Esau. In this meeting, Jacob divides his family based on Jacob’s relationship with the women, and not based on birth order: The maids, Leah, and then Rachel.
Also notable: Joseph is the only son that is mentioned.
This sets up the story of Joseph, Jacob’s favorite son. But it should also cause the reader to wonder about the implications.
Back in Genesis 25, we read that Jacob’s father did not favor him. The text plainly states that Isaac loved Esau. The consequence of favoritism lead to very obvious family division.
Now Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Genesis 25:28 (NKJV)
Here, starting in Genesis 33, we have the beginnings of another story with favoritism as a theme.