וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יָלְדָ֥ה רָחֵ֖ל אֶת־יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ אֶל־לָבָ֔ן שַׁלְּחֵ֙נִי֙ וְאֵ֣לְכָ֔ה אֶל־מְקוֹמִ֖י וּלְאַרְצִֽי׃
After Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Give me leave to go back to my own homeland.
Genesis 30:25 (The Contemporary Torah JPS 2006)
There’s a view in the Jewish writings that Esau/Edom (whom God rejected) is a symbol of wickedness, violence, and treachery.
Laben (Rachel’s father) is tied to that imagery, so when Joseph is born, it’s notable that Jacob decides that it’s time to leave.
The Jewish sage Rashi links Genesis 30:25 with Obediah 1:18.
Jacob will be a fire
and Joseph a flame;
Esau will be stubble,
and they will set him on fire and destroy him.
There will be no survivors
from Esau.”
The Lord has spoken.
Obadiah 1:18 (NIV)
If Joseph’s name in Gen 30:23-24 hints at a removal of shame and disagrace and a move towards a life of blessing, perhaps it comes with a promise: wickedness, violence, and treachery will have no part in it.