Genesis 25 and 26.

Picture from: http://identity33.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/genesis4.gif


In these two chapters, Chapter 25 and 26, we can see some of the lines that can indicate the beginning of the western culture. One is mentioned in Genesis 25: 10, “The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.” From this line, we can say that the custom of burying people near their beloved one has already developed. Not surprisingly, in Japan too, people prefer to be buried in the same place as their partner. This is probably because most people in Japan believe in after life and reincarnation. But in the bible, I believe it is the first time that it mentions about something that can indicate the thought about after life. I mean, if they believed that your spirit will just evaporate after you die, they wouldn’t endeavor to be buried in the same place. That means, they at least believe that there will be something after death.

Another thing I found is in Genesis 25: 23:
“And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”
This indicates, the necessity of difference. But why did the god wanted to make a difference? Not as diversity but as strong and weak? Is it to bring order in the society? To bring relationship of master and servant in the community? Later on in the Bible, it doesn’t say anything for me to be able to narrow down my answers. Also from Genesis 26: 3:
“Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;”
We can see that the tradition of inheritance has already been a tradition.

A different thing that I noticed, not about customs, is the tendency of humans. The tendency of repeating things. For example in Genesis 25: 27, “And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.” It’s like Cain and his brother, being agriculturist and hunter. Another example is in Genesis 26: 9 and 10:
“And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.”
Isaac is doing the same thing as his father, Abraham, did.