And Jacob Came Out
And Jacob Came Out
Parashat Vayetzei (Genesis 28:10–32:3)
This chapter focuses on Jacob's account, highlighting his queer characteristics and his journey toward Be'er Sheva. In contrast with Esau who personifies a macho older brother incline to extreme sports and adventure travel, Jacob is a mama's boy who stays close to home. He is also a marginal figure who lives on wits and subterfuge to control his stronger brother. After deceiving his brother, Jacob runs from his family home and sets out on a journey, heading toward Be'er Sheva, the ancestral home of his grandfather, Abraham. He flees without food or clothing and is wandering in the wilderness. The story of Jacob can be considered as a classic coming-out narrative that reveals truths of human experience: the yearning to uncover and realize the authentic self, and the need to find food and sustenance as one lives out the journey.
Keywords: Jacob, Esau, Be'er Sheva, coming out, Abraham
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