Tightening the Bonds between Edom and Israel (Gen 33:1–17*): On the Further Development of Edom’s Role within the Fortschreibung of the Jacob Cycle in the Exilic and Early Persian Periods

Abstract

The article re-evaluates the role of Edom within the Jacob narrative and its formation processes. The bulk of the narrative stems from the pre-exilic period, supposedly the 8th century BCE. This article’s distinctive thesis is that Edom’s role undergoes certain developments during its Fortschreibung in the exilic and early Persian periods. The article will venture from the reconciliation scene in Gen 33:1–17*—the original ending of the earliest Jacob narrative—and describe the development of Edom’s role at different stages of its literary growth (e.g., the earliest Patriarchal narrative, the Abraham narrative, or within P). It will be observed that the strong and positive bond between Israel and Edom becomes even tightened within this process, which is remarkable because their relationship arguably worsened to a certain degree in the events accompanying the destruction of the Judahite kingdom. The article will investigate the historical realities behind this development.