Ebed-melech is the Hebrew for “servant (ebed) of the king (melech)”. It seems that we don’t know his real name, and that being of no real significance or importance—perhaps he was a runaway slave or captive of war—he was pressed into service in Judah’s royal household and named according to his function.

Jacob had spent his whole life, even from the womb, grasping, scheming and striving. After having finally escaped from Laban, after twenty years of toil (Gen 31:38, 41) and mutual trickery in exile, he prepares himself for re-entering the promised land.

What God had said to Abraham (15:1), he says to his son Isaac. The life of faith involves fearing God rather than people, recognising that he is powerful enough to overcome every obstacle to the fulfilment of his promises.