Encountering the Prodigal Son in Jacob
Insights from Kenneth Bailey, Jacob and the Prodigal
Once you notice, you will begin to see numerous and interesting parallels between the parable of the prodigal son and the saga of Jacob in the book of Genesis. Jacob was the younger son of a wealthy father, he wanted what his elder brother had (the birthright), he ran away from home into a far country, etc. These are only the most obvious parallels. We will observe many more. On the other hand, in spite of the similarities, the two stories also diverge in some significant ways.
1) Read Genesis 27.1-36.8. Reflect on the plot and characters of the Jacob saga, especially the relationships among the characters. Make some notes on your reflections.
2) Read Luke 15.11-32. Reflect on the characters of the father and his sons, especially their relationships. Make notes on your reflections and on the parallels you observe between the two texts. What parallels have you observed and how do the narrative and the parable illuminate each other.
3) Read lists of similarities and differences below, comparing them to your own insights.
1) Read Genesis 27.1-36.8. Reflect on the plot and characters of the Jacob saga, especially the relationships among the characters. Make some notes on your reflections.
2) Read Luke 15.11-32. Reflect on the characters of the father and his sons, especially their relationships. Make notes on your reflections and on the parallels you observe between the two texts. What parallels have you observed and how do the narrative and the parable illuminate each other.
3) Read lists of similarities and differences below, comparing them to your own insights.
The Jacob Saga and the Prodigal Son
(Genesis 27.1-36.8 and Luke 15.11-32)
(A summary of insights found in Kenneth Bailey, in Jacob and the Prodigal)
"Jesus tells a new story, but the new story follows the outline of and interacts with the old story.” (132)
Similarities of Jacob and the Younger Son
1) Both stories feature a father and two sons (see also Abraham).
2) The older brothers do what is expected (stay at home); the younger sons act inappropriately (flee family/home).
3) Esau and Jacob represent two hostile nations – Israel and Edom; in the parable the brothers represent two hostile groups – “tax collectors and sinners” and “Pharisees and scribes.”
4) The younger sons obtain their inheritance through dishonorable means.
5) The fathers are treated as dead (directly by Isaac (I do not know the day of my death) and indirectly (and inappropriately) by the son’s request of his inheritance).
6) The fathers give something to the younger sons (the primary blessing; the inheritance).
7) The younger sons break their relationships with their fathers (Jacob by trickery; the son by his demand).
8) The younger sons are in a hurry to leave the family fold (not many days).
9) There is obvious hostility between the younger brothers and their older brothers.
10) The younger sons travel to a far country.
11) The younger sons remain in the far country for a long time (Jacob, 20 years)
12) The younger sons return not to the land but to the father/God (Is 49.5-6).
13) The older sons drop out of the picture until the very end of the story.
14) The younger sons herd animals in the far country, but…
15) The younger sons make elaborate preparations for their return.
16) The younger sons face hostility in the far country (Jacob from Laban and Laban’ sons; the son is utterly alone).
17) The younger sons return without remorse.
18) The younger sons return to an encounter with God as man/father as God.
19) The younger sons are met with someone running, falling on neck, kissing (Esau/father), someone who has gone out to meet them.
20) The greeters (Esau/father) arrive with retainers, but…
21) The younger sons try to protect themselves with a manipulative speech (33.10f).
22) The younger sons encounter their fathers upon their return, but…
23) The younger sons are given a “best robe,” but…
24) The older sons come in “from the fields,” experience "unjust" circumstances, and become angry.
25) The actions of the younger sons occasion angry speeches:
26) Kid meat is referred to in both stories.
27) The reconciliation between Esau and Jacob seems superficial at best; we don’t know if any kind of reconciliation is effected between the older and younger brothers.
Differences between Jacob and the Younger Son
1) Jacob begins life in the far country in poverty and returns home with great wealth; the younger son begins his life in wealth and returns home destitute.
2) The father acts very differently from Isaac, in fact in ways no ancient father would have:
a. Grants the unprecedented request for the inheritance
b. Permits the liquidation of family property
c. Runs to welcome his returning son home
d. Abandons his banquet guests to appeal to the older son
e. Endures insults from older son and appeals to his better nature
3) The mother in the Jacob saga is strong-willed, deceptive, manipulative; in the parables a woman joyously retrieves her coin and a father acts with all the emotional and outward compassion of a mother.
4) Isaac blesses Jacob with 1) material wealth, 2) rule over his brother and others, and 3) blessing on him and curse on his opponents; the inheritance in the parable seems to involve only material wealth, no rule/authority or blessing/cursing.
5) Isaac is deceived; the father is not deceived but he is betrayed and treated as dead.
6) Jacob leaves, hoping, planning to return; the younger son indicates no interest in a return.
7) Jacob herds and breeds clean animals (although deceptively); the younger son, unclean.
8) Jacob seeks out and lives among family in the far country; the younger son lives among Gentiles and ultimately is alone.
9) Upon his return Jacob is met by his brother, the younger son by his father.
10) Esau arrives with armed men, the father with servants.
11) Jacob’s reunion with Isaac involves no joy, celebration, reconciliation, etc. (Gen 35.27).
12) Jacob gives gifts to his greeter (Esau); the father gives gifts to the younger son.
13) Jacob is given a “best robe” taken from Esau by Rebekah; the younger son is given a “best robe” (belonging to the father?) by the servants at the request of the father.
14) Jacob returns mainly to a land, the younger son to his father/God.
15) The hero of the Jacob saga is Jacob; the hero of the Prodigal Son is the father.
16) Esau and Isaac sacrifice nothing to welcome Jacob back; the father sacrifices his honor in multiple ways.
17) After Jacob’s deception, Isaac can offer Esau only the “blessing” of living by the sword and eventually fighting his way free of Jacob’s domination; the father can offer the older son a continuation of his position in and possession of the father’s estate and his father’s unwavering presence.
18) Laban selfishly (and wrongly) says, “all that you see is mine” (=all that is yours is mine!); the father generously (even “prodigally”) says, “All that is mine is yours.”
19) There is no sacrifice or meal or celebration at Jacob’s return; the father invites the whole community to join him in eating the (sacrificed) calf and celebrate.
20) Jacob – no joy; parable – joy
21) The point of the Jacob saga is to explain the separation and enmity between Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom); the point of the parable is to (hopefully) effect reconciliation and love between the righteous (Pharisees) and the sinners (tax collectors, etc.).
Similarities of Relationships
Jacob to Laban (Genesis 31.37-42)
INNOCENCE ~ “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37 For you have felt through all
my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that
they may decide between us two.
SERVICE ~ These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I
have not eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it
myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was: by day the heat
consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your
house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock,
CRITICISM ~ and you have changed my wages ten times.
NO REWARD ~ 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side,
surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and
rebuked you last night.”
Older son to father (Luke 15.29-30)
SERVICE ~ ‘Look, these many years I have served you,
INNOCENCE ~ and I never disobeyed your command,
NO REWARD ~ yet you never gave me a young goat…
CRITICISM/COMPARISON ~ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you
killed the fattened calf for him!’
What do we learn about the parable of the Prodigal Son from these Old Testament passages?
God has often been described in terms of 1) a shepherd, 2) a mother, and 3) a father.
God loves his people like his flock of sheep and like his dear, dependent children.
God has always been compassionate toward his covenant people, in spite of their disobedience, their wandering, their abandonment.
God has always been about the business of not only welcoming his people back but bringing his people back (repentance).
God has also desired reconciliation (good shepherding) among his people just as he desires reconciliation of his people with him.
(Genesis 27.1-36.8 and Luke 15.11-32)
(A summary of insights found in Kenneth Bailey, in Jacob and the Prodigal)
"Jesus tells a new story, but the new story follows the outline of and interacts with the old story.” (132)
Similarities of Jacob and the Younger Son
1) Both stories feature a father and two sons (see also Abraham).
2) The older brothers do what is expected (stay at home); the younger sons act inappropriately (flee family/home).
3) Esau and Jacob represent two hostile nations – Israel and Edom; in the parable the brothers represent two hostile groups – “tax collectors and sinners” and “Pharisees and scribes.”
4) The younger sons obtain their inheritance through dishonorable means.
5) The fathers are treated as dead (directly by Isaac (I do not know the day of my death) and indirectly (and inappropriately) by the son’s request of his inheritance).
6) The fathers give something to the younger sons (the primary blessing; the inheritance).
7) The younger sons break their relationships with their fathers (Jacob by trickery; the son by his demand).
8) The younger sons are in a hurry to leave the family fold (not many days).
9) There is obvious hostility between the younger brothers and their older brothers.
10) The younger sons travel to a far country.
11) The younger sons remain in the far country for a long time (Jacob, 20 years)
12) The younger sons return not to the land but to the father/God (Is 49.5-6).
13) The older sons drop out of the picture until the very end of the story.
14) The younger sons herd animals in the far country, but…
15) The younger sons make elaborate preparations for their return.
16) The younger sons face hostility in the far country (Jacob from Laban and Laban’ sons; the son is utterly alone).
17) The younger sons return without remorse.
18) The younger sons return to an encounter with God as man/father as God.
19) The younger sons are met with someone running, falling on neck, kissing (Esau/father), someone who has gone out to meet them.
20) The greeters (Esau/father) arrive with retainers, but…
21) The younger sons try to protect themselves with a manipulative speech (33.10f).
22) The younger sons encounter their fathers upon their return, but…
23) The younger sons are given a “best robe,” but…
24) The older sons come in “from the fields,” experience "unjust" circumstances, and become angry.
25) The actions of the younger sons occasion angry speeches:
26) Kid meat is referred to in both stories.
27) The reconciliation between Esau and Jacob seems superficial at best; we don’t know if any kind of reconciliation is effected between the older and younger brothers.
Differences between Jacob and the Younger Son
1) Jacob begins life in the far country in poverty and returns home with great wealth; the younger son begins his life in wealth and returns home destitute.
2) The father acts very differently from Isaac, in fact in ways no ancient father would have:
a. Grants the unprecedented request for the inheritance
b. Permits the liquidation of family property
c. Runs to welcome his returning son home
d. Abandons his banquet guests to appeal to the older son
e. Endures insults from older son and appeals to his better nature
3) The mother in the Jacob saga is strong-willed, deceptive, manipulative; in the parables a woman joyously retrieves her coin and a father acts with all the emotional and outward compassion of a mother.
4) Isaac blesses Jacob with 1) material wealth, 2) rule over his brother and others, and 3) blessing on him and curse on his opponents; the inheritance in the parable seems to involve only material wealth, no rule/authority or blessing/cursing.
5) Isaac is deceived; the father is not deceived but he is betrayed and treated as dead.
6) Jacob leaves, hoping, planning to return; the younger son indicates no interest in a return.
7) Jacob herds and breeds clean animals (although deceptively); the younger son, unclean.
8) Jacob seeks out and lives among family in the far country; the younger son lives among Gentiles and ultimately is alone.
9) Upon his return Jacob is met by his brother, the younger son by his father.
10) Esau arrives with armed men, the father with servants.
11) Jacob’s reunion with Isaac involves no joy, celebration, reconciliation, etc. (Gen 35.27).
12) Jacob gives gifts to his greeter (Esau); the father gives gifts to the younger son.
13) Jacob is given a “best robe” taken from Esau by Rebekah; the younger son is given a “best robe” (belonging to the father?) by the servants at the request of the father.
14) Jacob returns mainly to a land, the younger son to his father/God.
15) The hero of the Jacob saga is Jacob; the hero of the Prodigal Son is the father.
16) Esau and Isaac sacrifice nothing to welcome Jacob back; the father sacrifices his honor in multiple ways.
17) After Jacob’s deception, Isaac can offer Esau only the “blessing” of living by the sword and eventually fighting his way free of Jacob’s domination; the father can offer the older son a continuation of his position in and possession of the father’s estate and his father’s unwavering presence.
18) Laban selfishly (and wrongly) says, “all that you see is mine” (=all that is yours is mine!); the father generously (even “prodigally”) says, “All that is mine is yours.”
19) There is no sacrifice or meal or celebration at Jacob’s return; the father invites the whole community to join him in eating the (sacrificed) calf and celebrate.
20) Jacob – no joy; parable – joy
21) The point of the Jacob saga is to explain the separation and enmity between Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom); the point of the parable is to (hopefully) effect reconciliation and love between the righteous (Pharisees) and the sinners (tax collectors, etc.).
Similarities of Relationships
Jacob to Laban (Genesis 31.37-42)
INNOCENCE ~ “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37 For you have felt through all
my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that
they may decide between us two.
SERVICE ~ These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I
have not eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it
myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was: by day the heat
consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your
house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock,
CRITICISM ~ and you have changed my wages ten times.
NO REWARD ~ 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side,
surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and
rebuked you last night.”
Older son to father (Luke 15.29-30)
SERVICE ~ ‘Look, these many years I have served you,
INNOCENCE ~ and I never disobeyed your command,
NO REWARD ~ yet you never gave me a young goat…
CRITICISM/COMPARISON ~ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you
killed the fattened calf for him!’
What do we learn about the parable of the Prodigal Son from these Old Testament passages?
God has often been described in terms of 1) a shepherd, 2) a mother, and 3) a father.
God loves his people like his flock of sheep and like his dear, dependent children.
God has always been compassionate toward his covenant people, in spite of their disobedience, their wandering, their abandonment.
God has always been about the business of not only welcoming his people back but bringing his people back (repentance).
God has also desired reconciliation (good shepherding) among his people just as he desires reconciliation of his people with him.