According to traditional biblical historians Jacob, spelled Ya'aqob in ancient Hebrew, is the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham and the third of the Patriarchs. With his two wives Leah and Rachael and two handmaidens Jacob fathered one daughter and 12 sons who became the "Twelve Tribes of Israel." Jacob along with his twin brother Esau displayed two different personalities. Esau, the eldest son a good hunter and also liked to farm while Jacob resided in a tent and preferred to take care of his flock. After toiling all day in the fields Esau returns home to eat and because he is so hungry he compromises to trade his birthright for a bowl of stew that Jacob just finished making. Their father Isaac, who is now blind and ill, wants to acknowledge…show more content… Jacob first sends over all of his possessions and family and ends up alone along the side of the river. God appears to Jacob and they wrestle till the next morning. God sees that he cannot beat Jacob so God touches Jacob thigh causing him pain. Jacob receives a blessing from God and his name becomes Israel, which translated means "may El persevere." Afterward Jacob along with his two wives and 12 children continue their journey to Canaan finally meeting up with his brother Esau again ending with a large family reunion. Jacob buys land and lives in Canaan for several years, but due to a drought, a famine occurs causing Jacob along his family to move to Egypt where his son Joseph, became a Viceroy. Jacob and his family live in Egypt for 17 years and after his death, Joseph returns Jacob back to Canaan to bury him along with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca. There are rwo reasons why Jacob leaves Canaan, in Genesis 27:42-45 by the Jahwist source, Jacob's mother tells him to leave and go to Haran or he will be killed by his brother Esau. Whereas, in Genesis 27:46 and continuing in Genesis 28:1-2 by the Priestly source, Jacob's father tells him to leave so that he can find a proper
