by Jill Felix

Created on: July 09, 2009   Last Updated: July 14, 2009

Brothers: Love and Hatred in the Old Testament

The Bible is an indivisible entity, a document of spiritual and historical relevance. Depending upon interpretation and usage, it has been and can be an indispensable tool of liberation or a weapon of mass destruction and oppression. It is the infallible word of God as depicted by His inspired prophets and the story of a people. Divided into two sections The Old Testament and The New Testament - the fundamental theme of the Bible is an expose on God's nature and the nature of the human family via key biblical figures and their relationship to Him and with each other. Written and inspired by Moses, the Old Testament is comprised of 39 books. It conveys the Law and the Prophecies. The relationship between brothers and its negative as well as positive impact is one of many motifs explored in the Old Testament. Most importantly, through these relationships we witness God's love and mercy as well as His wrath and condemnation. Intense love/respect to abhorrent sibling rivalry epitomizes the relationship between key biblical figures who happen to be brothers.

Fratricide, the killing of one's own kin, is first introduced in the Bible via the relationship/story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16) the offsprings of Adam and Eve. Through them is our first glimpse into the struggle between the carnal and the spiritual. A mere man of the earth, Cain embodied self-will/interest/hatred and materialism. His bloody sin offering reveals his unflinching noncompliance and disrespect to God. His action is considered the precursor to false religion for he sought to worship God in the manner in which he choose as opposed to how God desired. Revered as the first Biblical martyr, Abel was a spiritual man as evidenced by his offering. His faith was unbound and pure. Cain's murder of Abel catapulted the human family into bloodshed and perpetual violence as well eternally cursed the earth.

Like Cain and Abel, the parable of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:24 33:20) also symbolizes how children despite similar parentage can be of diverse seed. The disparity between the carnal (Esau) and the spiritual (Jacob) is further explored. Paramount and inherent in their story is prophetic destiny. The essence of their character and destiny is solidified from conception. Most importantly, the impetus for their sibling rivalry is compounded by parental favoritism. The difference is that their personal flaws contribute to the strife in their relationship

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