Previously, we are told that Rebecca was barren for 20 yrs (25:21), then she was pregnant with twins, and it was such a painful time, she walked to visit Yahweh to get some advice.
But then we have a story copying that of Abraham - a childless couple going to Gerar because of a famine, where she is so gorgeous, that everyone wants her.
There's also some wordplay going on in here too. (Gerar, the town, means "dispute" or "sojourn")
Obviously, this story should have been inserted before the boys were born. And the typical apologetic as to why Abimelech was still around as much as 75 years later is, "It was a different one" or "It's a kingly title".
Some see the stories in Genesis 26 (Isaac) as simply copies from Genesis 21 (Abraham).
Others hold the Abrahamic stories were borrowed from Isaac. Although, based on the poor timeline insert and Abrahamic references, I lean towards to former opinion.
The #Torah also calls Potiphar a eunuch. Again, many commentators are uncomfortable with this. After all, he was married. And the other Poti-phera had a daughter.
So some claim it just means that he was an important official, with his genitals intact!
First up, we have Lilith. Because Gen-1 says man and woman were created at the same time, and Gen-2 changed that, we get a story about a mate who declared she was equal, wanted to be on top during coitus, so Adam hated her, and God disposed of her:
Next, to answer why Adam had to sleep while God made a women, we have the story of Adam being grossed out when he watched God making one, all that blood and organs, and wouldn't touch her
There are two different styles of writing between the Gen1 and Gen2-3 myths.
While the first is from a song writer who was more concerned with rhyming than grammar, the second is from a humorist who was more interested in puns and sexual imagery.
In ANE religions lie the OT, death was dreary and undesirable. It is a lonely existence unless you were deserving in life, meaning, a great hero or leader. In such a case you could serve the Gods, interact with the living, making you one of the Rephaim.
This week begins the Book of Deuteronomy. It's a collection of narratives with views/legends that are distinct from the others, and are often are at odds with Gen-Num.
Deuteronomy also has several anachronisms that could only have been written much later.
The opening verses of Deut. provides us with a list of places that the other books didn't mention,, but where the Hebrews apparently traveled, but the point of view is from someone in the future living in Israel.
Ibn Ezra, one of the more honest classical Jewish commentators, notes that these anachronisms could not have been written by Moses, but won't cross the line into true heresy!
Here's a short thread about Hagar who appears in Genesis 16 and 25.
As with Sarai, we don't have any background information in the text. Legends say she was a princess, an Egyptian. And another says that she became Abraham's wife after Sarah died.
Sarai cannot get pregnant, and has Hagar fulfill her duties as an intermediary birther, which she immediately regrets and hates the haughty pregnant slave: