by Yair Davidiy (17 July, 2015, 29 Tammuz, 5775)
Contents:
1. Overview.
What happened with Jacob and Esau?
2. Jacob Called a "Trickster"!
3. The Name Yaakov
4. What Did Esau Mean to Say?
5. What is a Conspiracy Theory?
6. The Classical Model of Conspiracy Theory:
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
7. Why Conspiracy Theory Reflects
an Edomite Psychology!
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1. Overview.
What happened with Jacob and Esau?
Esau and Jacob were twins. Their father was Isaac and their mother Rebecca. When still in the womb their mother had been told that two different nations would emerge from her. They would be opposed to each other and struggle with each other (Genesis 25:23). Esau was born first so technically he was the first born. Jacob came out of the womb holding the heel of Esau. In Hebrew the word for heel is "AKEV" from which we have the name "Yaakov" i.e. Jacob. This name can also imply "trickery, deceit", as explained below. Esau grew up to be a 'hero of the hunt" whereas Jacob dwelt in his tents (Genesis 25:27). One day Esau returned from the hunt hungry for food.
He sold the birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red lentils.
The BIBLE testifies that Esau DESPISED the birthright (Genesis 25:34). This is important because we learn a little later that Esau deeply resented Jacob for having bought the birthright from him (Genesis 25:36).
When Isaac felt he was about to die he wished to bless Esau. The blessing was linked with Esau being considered the firstborn. Isaac was blind. Rebecca persuaded Jacob to pretend to be Esau and to take the blessing for himself.
Jacob was reticent about the matter but Rebecca prevailed.
Isaac blessed Jacob thinking he was Esau. Upon being told by Esau that Esau was not the one who had been blessed, Isaac reacted,
Genesis 27:
33 Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, 'Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.'
Note the last point, "Yes, and he shall be blessed."
Later Isaac CONFIRMED the blessings to Jacob:
Genesis 28:
3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.
4 May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham.
Isaac recognized that he was a conduit. Isaac was not the source of the blessings. God was. The blessings however came through Isaac. Objectively we see from the above that Jacob and Esau had different personalities. Jacob did not plan matters in advance. They happened that way and he acted accordingly.
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2. Jacob Called a "Trickster"!
When Esau realized that Jacob had taken the blessing in his place, he exclaimed,
Genesis 27:
36... "Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"
The key expression for our study is "Is he not rightly named Jacob [YAAKOV], for he has supplanted me [YAAKOVAINI] these two times?" (Genesis 25:36). The word translated here as "supplanted" in Hebrew, 'YAAKOVAINI', connotes trickery and deceit. Esau was implying that this was an inbuilt trait of Jacob as if he was looking out to take away from him by subterfuge that which should have been his.
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3. The Name Yaakov
Let us have a look at the name Yaakov and its connotation with deception. The name of Jacob (Yaakov) in Hebrew is from the root "AKeV". This means "heel". When Jacob was born he came out of the womb holding the heel of Esau.
Genesis 25:
26 Afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob...Hosea 12:
4 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his maturity he contended with God.
The root 'AKeV' as well as 'heel' in Hebrew can also mean consequence, or even reward.
Genesis 26:
5 because [Hebrew: Akev] Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.
It is worth noting that in American slang the word 'heel' is defined as a:
# "contemptible person," 1914 in U.S. underworld slang, originally "incompetent or worthless criminal," perhaps from a sense of "person in the lowest position" and thus from heel (n.1). # Source: Online Etymological Dictionary.
In Hebrew the word 'akev' also connotes "ambush, trickery":
Psalms 41:
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.
"heel" i,e. Akev. The Commentary of Rashi explains it to mean: 'Ambush' as in Joshua 8:13. Psalms 41: 9 is therefore saying that his closest friend tricked and betrayed him.
Similarly, note the word translated as rear in the following verses:
Joshua 8:
12 And he took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13 So they stationed the people, all the army that was on the north side of the city, and its rear guard on the west side of the city, and Joshua spent that night in the midst of the valley.
"its rear guard". Hebrew: "akevo" connoting both "its rear" (like the heel) and "ambush" and alliterative with the word "marav" in verse 8:12 also meaning "ambush". Rabbi David Kimchi ("Radak", 1160-1230, Narbonne, Southern France, in "Safer HaShorashim") sums it up very nicely:
Genesis 27:
36 Then he said, "is he not rightly named Jacob [Yaakov], for he has supplanted me [Yaakovaini] these two times? ..".
Radak: AKEV ... trickery and deceit. crookedness,
cf.
Isaiah 40: 4 ....And the rugged terrain [ha-Okav from the same "AKEV" root and here meaning "crooked"] shall become a broad valley...
Literally from the Hebrew this expression (Isaiah 40:4) should be translated as,
#The crooked [ha-Okav] will be made straight #
Kimchi brings more examples and further explanation.
In short the name 'Yaakov' is derived from the name for heel [AKEV] BUT it uses the same word root that connotes "deceit, trickery, crookedness".
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4. What Did Esau Mean to Say?
Upon learning that Jacob had tricked their father, Esau exclaimed:
Genesis 27:
36... "Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"
The first part of the above quote could be translated from the Hebrew thusly:
Instead of,
"Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times?
Read,
# Is it not correct that his name was called Yaakov for he has replaced me by trickery two times. #
The Bible tells us that Jacob took the firstborn right and the blessing because it had been prophesied in advance that he would. Rebecca possessed a level of prophecy and she directed Jacob to pretend to be Esau. Jacob did not plan it that way. It was the way God wanted it. Esau however blamed Jacob for it and planned to kill Jacob. Esau believed that Jacob had conspired against him.
Genesis 27:
41 So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob."
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5. What is a Conspiracy Theory?
Conspiracy Theory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
# A conspiracy theory is an explanatory hypothesis that accuses two or more persons, a group, or an organization of having caused or covered up, through secret planning and deliberate action, an event or situation which is typically taken to be illegal or harmful.... The term is often used to dismiss claims that the critic deems ridiculous, misconceived, paranoid, unfounded, outlandish, or irrational.[18] A conspiracy theory that is proven to be correct.... is usually referred to as something else, such as investigative journalism or historical analysis.[19] #
What is Conspiracy theory in practice? Interest groups connive together. Cliques with specific agendas and out looks take control of the Media or of employment placements. Not all co-ordinated activity however fits the concept of Conspiracy Theory as popularly understood. For instance, consider the following example of phenomena that is similar to Conspiracy but does not really fit: (a) Homosexuals today openly declare their intention to spread the practice of their deviation, to openly display it, and to persecute anyone who opposes it or even expresses disapproval of it. This is Connivance and Collusion but it could not be called Conspiracy Theory.
(b) President Obama was chosen to run for President by elements with a specific agenda. His goals were those of a coterie of homosexual - loving, Third World Identifying, radical American type left wingers. He received more than 95% of the Afro-American vote. He has more or less fulfilled the tasks he was set up to do. This is not really Conspiracy however.
In practice Obama derived his power by giving expression to the wants of a certain section of the population and intelligentsia.
We may use this example to illustrate an additional point:
Conspiracy Theories Reflect Edomite Type Psychology but Adherents of Such Fancies are Not Necessarily Edomites!
The Afro-Americans who voted for Obama were not conspiring. They were merely expressing their priorities. Someone who is not Afro-American but always votes as they do because they live with them could be defined as under Afro-American influence. So too, people can be under Edomite influence but not necessarily be Edomites. We are suggesting that due to social conditioning, psychological disposition, possibly inheritance, and other factors Proponents of Conspiracy Theories statistically share certain attitudes beyond that ascribable to chance. This enables us to define their attitude as being Edomite in tendency. This is statistical observation. Why Conspiracy Theory should be considered more 'Edomite' than other behavioral patterns is explained below but first a fewc more observations should be made.
Conspiracy Theory as commonly understood is in the category of, "We know it when we see it!"
Conspiracy Theory, as the public perceives it, encompasses the notion that a group with exclusive minority interests agree together to act in such a way, in co-ordination with each other, as to further their own aims even though these harm others. By "others" the majority of the population is usually intended. The mutual agreement is conscious and formal, e.g. they get together and commit themselves to act as a Conspiracy.
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6. The Classical Model of Conspiracy Theory:
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
The 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion' may be considered the Prototype for all Conspiracy Theories as the term is understood today. We discussed the Protocols in chapter 9, above. An example of the damage possibly caused by the Protocols was given in a work by Francis R. Nicosia. The author shows how prominent anti-Semites in Germany favored sending the Jews to Palestine in order to get rid of them. As far as they were concerned the Jews should be removed from Germany but it did not matter if they were sent some where else. In fact all the better.
[This approach was to deceive many Jews right up to the end. They were certain the Germans would re-settle them elsewhere, perhaps somewhere in the east. They could not believe they were all marked for elimination.]
The possibility of sending Jews out of the country for settlement elsewhere, instead of killing them, was undone when the Judeophobes Houston Stewart Chamberlain (1825-1927) and Eugen Duehring (1833-1921) declared the existence of a Jewish conspiracy to be self-evident.
# The conspiracy theory became one of the central concepts upon which National Socialist Jewish policy was based, making the idea of an independent Jewish State in Palestine objectionable because of fear that it would become a base for such a conspiracy.1 #
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7. Why Conspiracy Theory Reflects an Edomite Psychology!
(1) Belief in Malevolent Design.
Conspiracy Theory attributes events as usually caused by malevolent agencies plotting behind the scenes.
Other factors such as Divine Providence, historical developments, moral consequences of good and bad behavior, etc, are relegated to the background or not considered at all.
This is similar to the attitude of Esau in accusing Jacob of being intrinsically inimical towards him (Genesis 27:36).
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(2) Resentment
Conspiracy Theories Breed on and Cause Resentment against others.
This is a quality of Esau.
Genesis 27:
41 So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob."
Amos 1:
11 Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever (AKJV).
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(3) Conspiracy Theories Usually Avoid Speaking Against Edomites!
We have identified Edomites as having been especially dominant in certain countries. The most powerful and the richest nations in the world today are China, Japan, and Germany. These nations got where they are through the intelligence and hard work of their citizens along with geographical advantages AND less admirable behavior patterns: The latter include theft of intellectual rights AND the Threat of Aggression AND exploitation. They are daily engaged in such nefarious activities. A lot of information indicates systematic machinations aimed at self- aggrandizement to the detriment of others by the governments and business concerns of these nations.
Why do Conspiracy Theories leave them alone?
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(4) Conspiracy Theories are Usually Anti-Jewish and often anti-British and anti-American!
Check it out.
Nearly ALL Conspiracy Theories are against the Jews, against the USA, and against Britain. The Jews are Judah. The USA and UK are Joseph. They are both Houses of Israel.
Esau hates Israel.
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(5) Conspiracy Theories are Weapons of the Enemy
Arab nut-cases, Nazi type maniacs, and extreme communist derelicts all feed on Conspiracy Theories.
Why is that?
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(6) Conspiracy Theories are Mendacious
Conspiracy Theories invariably contain much that is not true. Even when they could build a case based on facts alone they seem compelled to turn to fiction. Falsehood is evil and may be associated with elements of Esau.
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(7) Conspiracy Theories Breed Mental Sickness and Hatred of Jews.
Observation indicates that obsession with Conspiracy Theories is symptomatic, or a cause, of pathological mental states.
A pre-occupation with Conspiracy Theories often serves as a catalyst changing otherwise positive individuals into enemies of the Jewish people.
An offshoot of Esau was Amalek.
Deuteronomy 25:
17 Remember what Amalek did to you by the way, when you were come forth out of Egypt; 18 How he met you by the way, and smote the hindmost of you, even all that were feeble behind you, when you were faint and weary; and he feared not God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about, in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget it.
Amalek took the attitude of denying Divine Providence, and victimizing the vulnerable. This is placing man before God. That is what Conspiracy Theory does.
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See Also:
Esau. Edomites Today
