Tag: tricky

Hidden in Goat Skin

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Rebekah then took the best clothes of her older son Esau, which were there in the house, and had her younger son Jacob put them on; and she covered his hands and the hairless part of his neck with the skins of the kids.
Genesis 27:15-16 (The Contemporary Torah, JPS 2006)

In Genesis 27, Rebekah has Jacob cover himself with goat fur to make himself appear like Esau.

This word “skin” has only been used one before in Genesis. It’s back when God covered Adam and Eve in skin.

I’ve wondered if God was doing something “tricky” for us in the Garden.

More Crafty

Posted on by jovial_cynic
I always assumed that the “covering” God provides Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 is a picture of atonement. Like the pitch that covered the ark.

However, that’s not the word used here. A “covering of skin” is a phrase that shows up again later, in Genesis 27. The usage of the phrase may give us a clue.

Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.
Genesis 27:15-16 (NIV)

Perhaps God is doing something… tricky.