Examples Of Sibling Rivalry In Genesis

Sibling Rivalries in Genesis

Elder siblings always seem to pick fights with their younger brothers. In the ensuing fight, neither party emerges without a sense of regret. Simply put, siblings don’t always get along. As Genesis suggests, the idea of siblings competing for attention from a father figure is a prevalent theme found since the first humans walked the Earth. This competition brews unhealthy relationships between siblings and ultimately results in the siblings parting ways. The three stories that best demonstrate this idea are those of Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, and Cain and Abel.

Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, gives birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. Like their predecessors Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob differ greatly in their

However, in most cases, the damage dealt to the relationship is too much for reconciliation to handle. For example, in Genesis there lies between Cain and Abel one such rivalry. Having both been born from Eve, Cain became a farmer and Abel a herder. One day, both brothers bring offerings to God; Cain brings a fruit and Abel brings an animal from his flock. God acknowledges Abel’s offering but ignores Cain’s offering, leaving him angry. Then Cain, the older brother, “rose against Abel his brother and killed him” (4. 8-9). This act of violence exhibits not only Cain’s impulsiveness, but also his irrationality in assessing the situation. Cain’s motive for attacking and killing his brother is constructed purely out of frustration and desperation. In reality, God was the one who chose the offering, so Cain should have vented out his anger at Him. However, because he was God, Cain could not do anything. So, he took out his anger on the only other person in the equation, his brother. This action signifies the moment when Cain and Abel split apart. In this case, there is no way for the siblings to reunite because one of them is