Jacob

The Righteous Jacob, also called Israel, is the son of Isaac and Rebecca and the third patriarch of the chosen people. From his twelve sons came the twelve tribes of Israel, and the Church honours him among the Holy Forefathers of Christ. The book of Genesis tells his story, and the dates of his life cannot be established with precision.

The blessing

Jacob was born together with his twin brother Esau, holding on to his heel, and from this his name is explained. Isaac loved Esau and Rebecca loved Jacob. Esau sold his birthright for a dish of lentils, and later Jacob, on his mother's counsel, came to his blind father and received the blessing. Esau hated him and vowed to kill him, and Rebecca sent Jacob to her brother Laban in Haran.

The ladder at Bethel

On the way Jacob fell asleep with his head on a stone and dreamed of a ladder resting on the earth and touching heaven, on which the angels of God went up and down. God renewed to him the promise given to Abraham and Isaac. In the morning Jacob poured oil on the stone and named the place Bethel, "the house of God". The Orthodox Church sees in this dream a prophecy of the incarnation of the Word, and in the ladder an image of the Theotokos, who united heaven and earth in her womb. The account of the vision is read at Vespers on the great feasts of the Mother of God.

With Laban

At Haran Jacob met Rachel, the younger daughter of Laban. He served seven years for her, but Laban gave him first her elder sister Leah, and then gave him Rachel too, for another seven years of service. From Leah, Rachel and their maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah he had twelve sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin, and a daughter, Dinah. God blessed his flocks.

Israel

On the way back, Jacob learned that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. He prayed earnestly and sent gifts ahead. At night, at the ford of the Jabbok, he wrestled until daybreak with a mysterious being and received the name Israel. He called the place Peniel, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved". Next day Esau accepted the gifts, and the meeting of the brothers was an emotional one.

Rachel died near Bethlehem, giving birth to Benjamin, and Jacob set a monument over her grave. He loved Joseph, Rachel's son, more than the others. His brothers sold Joseph into slavery, and Jacob, who believed him dead, mourned him. In a time of famine Jacob went down to Egypt with his whole house, seventy souls, and found Joseph alive.

Repose and veneration

Jacob lived to the age of one hundred and forty-⁠seven. Before his death he blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, and declared them heirs as if they were his own sons. He asked to be carried to Canaan and buried with his fathers. After the Egyptians had embalmed and mourned him for seventy days, Joseph fulfilled his wish and laid him in the cave of Machpelah.

Saint Jacob is commemorated with the other patriarchs on the Sunday of the Forefathers, the second Sunday before the Nativity of the Lord. The name Israel, received from God, became the name of the chosen people.