THE DEATH OF SARA AND MARRIAGE OF ISAAC, 29

And they have always been disapproved of by good and holy men.

Whence did Abraham wish his steward to get a wife for Isaac ?

From his own relatives who dwelt in Mesopotamia.

How did the Steward proceed about this affair?

He first of all collected costly presents, and set forth, with ten camels of his master's herd, and went on to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nachor.

What next did he do?

When he came to Nachor, the city where Abraham's relatives dwelt, he made the camels lie down at a well without the town, "at the time when women were wont to come out to draw water," and he prayed to God.

Mention the substance of his prayer.

He besought God in these words "Now therefore the maid to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher until I shall drink, and she shall answer, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also let it be the same whom Thou hast provided for Thy servant Isaac, and by this I shall understand that Thou hast shewn kind. ness to my master."-Gen. xxiv. 14.

Did it happen according to the prayer of the steward?

Yes. Rebecca, the daughter of Bathuel, came out, and offered to draw water both for the servant and for his camels. By this he knew that she was intended by God to be the wife of Isaac.

30 THE DEATH OF SARA AND MARRIAGE OF ISAAC.

Did he not ask her parents' consent?

Yes. He first gave Rebecca a present of golden ear-rings weighing two sicles, and as many bracelets of ten sicles weight. Laban her brother invited him into their house, and when provisions were laid before him, he refused to taste any thing until he had delivered the message of Abraham his master, and had formally asked Rebecca in marriage for Isaac.

Was the consent of her relatives easily granted?

Bathuel the father and Laban the brother immediately answered, "The word hath proceeded from the Lord, we cannot speak any other thing to thee but His pleasure."

Did Rebecca depart immediately with Abraham's steward?

The mother of Rebecca wished her to remain with the family for ten days, but the steward, seeing that God had prospered his journey, wished to return immediately, and as Rebecca herself was willing to go, they set forth the following morning: "So they sent her away and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his company, wishing prosperity to their sister."

Where did Rebecca first meet with Isaac? He was in the field, at even-tide, walking and meditating. And when Rebecca inquired who he was, and was told by the steward that he was his master, she took a cloak and covered herself. Isaac afterwards brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her to wife: "and he loved her so much, that it

moderated the sorrow which was occasioned by his mother's death."

CHAPTER XIII.

ESAU AND JACOB.

How many sons had Isaac ?

He had two sons, who were twins, and their names were Esau and Jacob.

As they grew up what different occupations did they pursue?

Esau was a wild man, a hunter and a husbandman, but Jacob was a plain, i. e. a quiet, simple man, and dwelt in tents. How did Esau grieve his parents?

By marrying among the heathen people in the midst of whom they dwelt.

What was it that Esau sold to Jacob? He sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. -Gen. xxv. 30, 31.

What was this birthright?

The rights of the first-born son, and in particular, the promise that in his seed all the families of the earth should be blest by the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Was it not a great sin in Esau thus to part with his birthright?

In selling his birthright Esau was guilty of a very grave sin; involving a want of true faith, a contempt for holy things, and a sordid

willingness to give up spiritual blessings for the sake of sensual satisfaction.

What is Esau called by St. Paul in consequence of this sin?

He calls him "a profane person." "Lest there be among you any profane person as Esau, who for one mess sold his birthright.”— (Heb. xii. 16.)

But after having sold his birthright, did not Esau try to get it back again?

He expected his father's blessing as his firstborn son, and because Jacob got it, Esau swore, that after his father's death, he would slay him.

How did Jacob get it?

Isaac being very old and almost blind, wished for some venison. And he desired Esau to go and get him some by hunting, that he may eat and that his soul might bless him before he died. Now Rebecca. hearing this told it to Jacob, and by her advice Jacob pretended to be Esau, covered himself with the skin of a goat, and brought Isaac some venison cooked by Rebecca. Isaac was for some time doubtful as to whether the person who brought the venison was really Esau or not. "The hands," he said, 66 are the hands of Esau, but the voice is the voice of Jacob." However at last his doubts were removed and he gave Jacob the blessing of the first-born.-Gen. xxvii.

What was this blessing?

It was given in these words "God give thee the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth abundance of corn and wine. And

let peoples serve thee and tribes worship thee; be thou lord of thy brethren, and let thy mother's children bow down before thee. Cursed be he that curseth thee, and let him that blesseth thee be filled with blessings."Gen. xxvii. 26, 29.

Did Jacob do wrong in getting his father's blessing in this way?

Under the circumstances he did not. The blessing of the first-born belonged to him, having been despised and sold by Esau. Jacob therefore in reality stood in the place of Esau: he was, by purchase, the first-born son, and as such, alone had a right to this blessing. When therefore he came before Isaac, he came, as representing and as being, the first-born

son.

How did Esau behave when he heard that Jacob had received the blessing of the firstborn?

He cried with a great cry, and besought his father to give him also a blessing.

How did Isaac answer?

"I have appointed him thy lord and have made all his brethren his servants, I have established him with corn and wine, and after this, what shall I do more for thee my son ?". Gen. xxvii. 37.

Was Esau satisfied with this answer?

No. He said to his father, "Hast thou only one blessing, father? I beseech thee, bless me also."

Did Isaac bless him?

When he wept with a loud cry, "Isaac being