按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
seventy and five years； and he was buried in Hebron； with his
wife Sarah； by their sons Isaac and Ismael。
CHAPTER 18。
Concerning The Sons Of Isaac； Esau And Jacob； Of Their Nativity
And Education。
1。 Now Isaac's wife proved with child； after the death of
Abraham； （30） and when her belly was greatly burdened； Isaac was
very anxious； and inquired of God； who answered； that Rebeka
should bear twins； and that two nations should take the names of
those sons； and that he who appeared the second should excel the
elder。 Accordingly she； in a little time； as God had foretold；
bare twins； the elder of whom； from his head to his feet； was
very rough and hairy； but the younger took hold of his heel as
they were in the birth。 Now the father loved the elder； who was
called Esau； a name agreeable to his roughness； for the Hebrews
call such a hairy roughness ＇Esau； （31） or＇ Seir； but Jacob the
younger was best beloved by his mother。
2。 When there was a famine in the land； Isaac resolved to go into
Egypt； the land there being good； but he went to Gerar； as God
commanded him。 Here Abimelech the king received him； because
Abraham had formerly lived with him； and had been his friend。 And
as in the beginning he treated him exceeding kindly； so he was
hindered from continuing in the same disposition to the end； by
his envy at him； for when he saw that God was with Isaac； and
took such great care of him； he drove him away from him。 But
Isaac； when he saw how envy had changed the temper of Abimelech
retired to a place called the Valley； not far from Gerar： and as
he was digging a well； the shepherds fell upon him； and began to
fight； in order to hinder the work； and because he did not desire
to contend； the shepherds seemed to get the him； so he still
retired； and dug another and when certain other shepherds of
Abimelech began to offer him violence； he left that also； still
retired； thus purchasing security to himself a rational and
prudent conduct。 At length the gave him leave to dig a well
without disturbance。 He named this well Rehoboth； which denotes a
large space； but of the former wells； one was called Escon； which
denotes strife； the other Sitenna； name signifies enmity。
3。 It was now that Isaac's affairs increased； and in a
flourishing condition； and this his great riches。 But Abimelech；
thinking in opposition to him； while their living made them
suspicious of each other； and retiring showing a secret enmity
also； he
afraid that his former friendship with Isaac would not secure
him； if Isaac should endeavor the injuries he had formerly
offered him； he therefore renewed his friendship with him；
Philoc； one of his generals。 And when he had obtained every thing
he desired； by reason of Isaac's good nature； who preferred the
earlier friendship Abimelech had shown to himself and his father
to his later wrath against him； he returned home。
4。 Now when Esau； one of the sons of Isaac； whom the father
principally loved； was now come to the age of forty years； he
married Adah； the daughter of Helon； and Aholibamah； the daughter
of Esebeon； which Helon and Esebeon were great lords among the
Canaanites： thereby taking upon himself the authority； and
pretending to have dominion over his own marriages； without so
much as asking the advice of his father； for had Isaac been the
arbitrator； he had not given him leave to marry thus； for he was
not pleased with contracting any alliance with the people of that
country； but not caring to be uneasy to his son by commanding him
to put away these wives； he resolved to be silent。
5。 But when he was old； and could not see at all； he called Esau
to him； and told him； that besides his blindness； and the
disorder of his eyes； his very old age hindered him from his
worship of God ＇by sacrifice＇； he bid him therefore to go out a
hunting； and when he had caught as much venison as he could； to
prepare him a supper （32） that after this he might make
supplication to God； to be to him a supporter and an assister
during the whole time of his life； saying； that it was uncertain
when he should die； and that he was desirous； by prayers for him；
to procure； beforehand； God to be merciful to him。
6。 Accordingly； Esau went out a hunting。 But Rebeka （33） thinking
it proper to have the supplication made for obtaining the favor
of God to Jacob； and that without the consent of Isaac； bid him
kill kids of the goats； and prepare a supper。 So Jacob obeyed his
mother； according to all her instructions。 Now when the supper
was got ready； he took a goat's skin； and put it about his arm；
that by reason of its hairy roughness； he might by his father be
believed to be Esau； for they being twins； and in all things else
alike； differed only in this thing。 This was done out of his
fear； that before his father had made his supplications； he
should be caught in his evil practice； and lest he should； on the
contrary； provoke his father to curse him。 So he brought in the
supper to his father。 Isaac perceivest to be Esau。〃 So suspecting
no deceit； he ate the supper； and betook himself to his prayers
and intercessions with God； and said； 〃O Lord of all ages； and
Creator of all substance； for it was thou that didst propose to
my father great plenty of good things； and hast vouchsafed to
bestow on me what I have； and hast promised to my posterity to be
their kind supporter； and to bestow on them still greater
blessings； do thou therefore confirm these thy promises； and do
not overlook me； because of my present weak condition； on account
of which I most earnestly pray to thee。 Be gracious to this my
son； and preserve him and keep him from every thing that is evil。
Give him a happy life； and the possession of as many good things
as thy power is able to bestow。 Make him terrible to his enemies；
and honorable and beloved among his friends。〃
7。 Thus did Isaac pray to God； thinking his prayers had been made
for Esau。 He had but just finished them； when Esau came in from
hunting。 And when Isaac perceived his mistake； he was silent： but
Esau required that he might be made partaker of the like blessing
from his father that his brother had partook of； but his father
refused it； because all his prayers had been spent upon Jacob： so
Esau lamented the mistake。 However； his father being grieved at
his weeping； said； that 〃he should excel in hunting and strength
of body； in arms； and all such sorts of work； and should obtain
glory for ever on those accounts； he and his posterity after him；
but still should serve his brother。〃
8。 Now the mother delivered Jacob； when she was afraid that his
brother would inflict some punishment upon him because of the
mistake about the prayers of Isaac； for she persuaded her husband
to take a wife for Jacob out of Mesopotamia； of her own kindred；
Esau having married already Basemmath； the daughter of Ismael；
without his father's consent； for Isaac did not like the
Canaanites； so that he disapproved of Esau's former marriages；
which made him take Basemmath to wife； in order to please him；
and indeed he had a great affection for her。
CHAPTER 19。
Concerning Jacob's Flight Into Mesopotamia； By Reason Of The Fear
He Was In Of His Brother。
1。 Now Jacob was sent by his mother to Mesopotamia； in order to
marry Laban her brother's daughter （which marriage was permitted
by Isaac； on account of his obsequiousness to the desires of his
wife）； and he accordingly journeyed through the land of Canaan；
and because he hated the people of that country； he would not
lodge with any of them； but took up his lodging in the open air；
and laid his head on a heap of stones that he had gathered
together。 At which time he saw in his sleep such a vision
standing by him： … he seemed to see a ladder that reached from
the earth unto heaven； and persons descending upon the ladder
that seemed more excellent than human； and at last God himself
stood above it； and was plainly visible to him； who； calling him
by his name； spake to him in these words： …
2。 〃O Jacob； it is not fit for thee； who art the son of a good
father； and grandson of one who had obtained a great reputation
for his eminent virtue； to be dejected at thy present
circumstances； but to hope for better times； for thou shalt have
great abundance of all good things； by my assistance： for I
brought Abraham hither； out of Mesopotamia； when he was driven
away by his kinsmen； and I made thy father a happy man； nor will
I bestow a lesser degree of happiness on thyself： be of good
courage； therefore； and under my conduct proceed on this thy
journey； for the marriage thou goest so zealously about shall be
consummated。 And thou shalt have children of good characters； but
their multitude shall be innumerable； and they shall leave what
they have to a still more numerous posterity； to whom； and to
whose posterity； I give the dominion of all the land； and their
posterity shall fill the entire earth and sea； so far as the sun
beholds them： but do not thou fear any danger； nor be afraid of
the many labors thou must undergo； for by my providence I will
direct thee what thou art to do in the time present； and still
much more in the time to come。〃
3。 Such were the