Favoritism

How Nave’s arranged it

• INSTANCES OF
• Jacob, for RachelGenesis 29:30Genesis 29:34
• Elkanah, for Hannah1 Samuel 1:41 Samuel 1:5
• Rebekah, for JacobGenesis 27:6–17
• Jacob, for JosephGenesis 37:3Genesis 37:4
• Joseph, for BenjaminGenesis 43:34
• Forbidden in parentsDeuteronomy 21:15–17
• See Partiality

The passages, in Bible order (9)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 9 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 27:6–17

   Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I overheard your father saying to your brother Esau,

   ›Commentary on Genesis 27:6–171 voice

   “Rebekah spake unto Jacob--She prized the blessing as invaluable; she knew that God intended it for the younger son [Ge 25:23]; and in her anxiety to secure its being conferred on the right object--on one who cared for religion--she acted in the sincerity of faith; but in crooked policy--with unenlightened zeal; on the false principle that the end would sanctify the means.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 27:6–17→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 29:30

   Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 29:34

   Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 29:342 voices

   “(Verse 34) And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said: Now my husband will be with me, because I have borne him three sons: therefore she called his name Levi. When we read, 'My husband will be with me,' Aquila interpreted it as, 'My husband will be attached to me,' which is the Hebrew word (), Illave.

   “Therefore was his name called Levi - לוי levi, joined; because she supposed that, in consequence of all these children, Jacob would become joined to her in as strong affection, at least, as he was to Rachel. From Levi sprang the tribe of Levites, who instead of the first-born, were joined unto the priests in the service of the sanctuary. See Num 18:2, Num 18:4.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 29:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Genesis 37:3

   Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 37:32 voices

   “But it was not surprising that the boy should be a great favorite with his aged father, for so it is wont to happen: and no just ground is here given for envy; seeing that sons of a more robust age, by the dictate of nature, might well concede such a point.

   “And so we are taught the proper nature of parental love and filial gratitude. It is pleasant to love one's children and very pleasant to love them exceedingly, but often even parental love does harm to the children unless it is practiced with restraint; for it may give the beloved child free rein out of excessive indulgence or, by preference shown to one child, may alienate the others from the spirit of brotherly love. That son gains more who gains the love of his brothers.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 37:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Genesis 37:4

   When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 37:42 voices

   “And Joseph was loved by his father a great deal. And he gave him a multicolored garment as an excellent gift and a proof of the love with which he accompanied him. And this was an incentive to envy for his brothers and a cause of hatred, as the following events will demonstrate. In fact, the Pharisees were inflamed with anger against the beloved, that is, Christ, because he had been clothed by God the Father with a multiform glory.

   “And could not speak peaceably unto him - Does not this imply, in our use of the term, that they were continually quarrelling with him? but this is no meaning of the original: ולא יכלו דברו לשלם velo yachelu dabbero leshalom, they could not speak peace to him, i. e., they would not accost him in a friendly manner. They would not even wish him well. The eastern method of salutation is, Peace be to thee! שלום לך shalom lecha, among the Hebrews, and salam, peace, or salam kebibi, peace to thee my friend, among the Arabs.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 37:4→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Genesis 43:34

   When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 43:342 voices

   “(Verse 32) And they drank, and were intoxicated with it. The idiom of the Hebrew language is to equate drunkenness with satiety, as it says there: 'He shall be satisfied with the abundance of rain, with the produce of his land he shall be intoxicated.' (Psalm 65:11) Undoubtedly, this refers to a land irrigated by rain.

   “Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs - Sir John Chardin observes that “in Persia, Arabia, and the Indies, there are several houses where they place several plates in large salvers, and set one of these before each person, or before two or three, according to the magnificence of each house. This is the method among the Hindoos; the dishes are not placed on the table, but messes are sent to each individual by the master of the feast or by his substitute.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 43:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Deuteronomy 21:15–17

   If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son,

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:15–172 voices

   “If a man have two wives,.... Which is supposed, but not approved of, though permitted because of the hardness of men's hearts; for it was not so from the beginning, when only one man and one woman were created, and joined together in marriage; but as it was connived at, and become customary, a law is made to prevent confusion, and preserve order in families: one beloved and another hated; or less loved, yet continued his wife, and not divorced.

   “Moses did not originate the rights of primogeniture (compare Gen 25:31), but recognized them, since he found them pre-existing in the general social system of the East. Paternal authority could set aside these rights on just grounds Gen 27:33, but it is forbidden here to do so from mere partiality.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 21:15–17→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. 1 Samuel 1:4

   And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:41 voice

   “He gave - portions - The sacrifices which were made were probably peace-offerings, of which the blood was poured out at the foot of the altar; the fat was burnt on the fire; the breast and right shoulder were the portion of the priest, and the rest belonged to him who made the offering; on it he and his family feasted, each receiving his portion; and to these feasts God commands them to invite the Levite, the poor, the widow, and the orphan, Deu 16:11.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:4→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 1 Samuel 1:5

   But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:51 voice

   “A worthy portion - Probably as in the margin. Naturally she would have had a single portion of the sacrifice (compare 1Sa 9:23), but because of his love to her he gave her a double portion, enough for two people (compare Gen 43:34).

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:5→

   Verse page →Original language →