For this paper, please focus on a small (roughly 6-10 verse) section of Genesis 30-31 and work it through in as much detail as you can. You should, at a minimum: Use ALL TEN READING TOOLS, including: *Compare translations. What words are so different ac

Laban and his daughters: an allegory of the monarchy GENESIS MONARCHY Laban, the foreign father of Rachel and Leah Monarchy itself as “foreign”

Leah the elder, mother of Judah Judah, the “elder”

Rachel the younger, mother of Benjamin and Jo- seph, grandmother of Ephraim/Manesseh

Israel, the “younger,” called “Ephraim,” 1 Kg 12.25

Jacob served seven years for Leah before Rachel, Gen 29.20

David reigned seven years over Judah before Isra- el, 2 Sam 2.11; 5.5; 1 Kg 2.11

Jacob “slaves” (Heb, `avod) for Laban, Gen 29.20, 30; 30.26, 29; 31.6, 41

Israel “slaved” (Heb, `avodah, only use in monar- chy narrative) for the Solomonic monarchy

Rachel, the barren wife, demands “sons,” envying her rival sister-wife, Gen 30.1

Hannah, the barren wife, prays for a “son”, envy- ing her rival wife, 1 Sam 1 (as itself an allegory of the monarchy)

Jacob is inspired to “return” to land of his ancestry, Gen 31.3

Israel returns to land of its ancestry, 1 Kg 12.16

Then Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father's house?” Gen 31.14

When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king, "What share do we have in David? We have no inher- itance in the son of Jesse.” 1 Kg 12.16

Jacob “takes away” Laban’s livestock and daugh- ters, Gen 31.9

David “takes away” Bathsheba and Saul’s daugh- ters, 2 Sam 12

Teraphim as expression of idolatry, Gen 31.19 (on- ly mention of teraphim in torah)

Teraphim as expression of idolatry, 1 Sam 19.13; 2 Kg 23.24 (only mention of teraphim in monarchy)