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The illustration (fig. 1) refers to the biblical text (Gen. 27:30) in which the return of Esau from hunting was immediately followed by Jacob's departure from his father. The connection between the two acts יָצֹא יָצָא)) gave rise to Rashi's commentary (זה יוצא וזה בא, this one was leaving and that one was coming in) which follows Genesis Rabbah (66:5).

Fig. 1: Esau asking for a blessing; Jacob leaving, Munich Rashi's Commentary on the Bible, Munich, BSB Cod. hebr. 5, I:21v 

 

Fig. 2: Above: Isaac blessing Jacob; Below: Esau asking his father Isaac for a blessing, Mosan Miniature Cycle, Liège or Stavelot, c.1150, Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett inv. no. 78 A 6, fol. 4 (Nordenfalk 1973, fig. 10)

A close parallel to our illustration is found in the 12th-century Mosan Miniature Cycle from Liège or Stavelot of c.1150 (fig. 2; Klemm 1973; Scheller 1995, pp. 123-131). In the upper register Isaac is blessing Jacob and in the lower one Esau is asking for Isaac's blessing while Jacob is fleeing, similar to our illustration.

Fig. 3: Esau returns from hunting; Isaac blessing Jacob (left), Jacob leaving (right) Monreale Cathedral, c.1186 on (Kitzinger 1960, pls. 43-45)

In the mosaic of Monreale of c.1186 (fig. 3), the story is likewise depicted in two separate scenes though slightly diffrently: on the left Isaac is blessing Jacob while Esau is hurrying home, followed on the right by Jacob fleeing while Rebecca stands at the city gate. Apparently our artist chose the last scene from a larger story cycle with an emphasis on Jacob's flight which is followed by his dream at Bethel, as it appears in Monreale and in our Rashi commentary (fol. I:25v).

The faces and hands of Esau and Jacob as well as Jacob's stick and Isaac's scroll have turned grey. The eyes are scratched out. The gold leaf of the letters and Isaac's collar have flaked off.