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become great: and He hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath. And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house: then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, if now Thou do prosper my way which I go: behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; and she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my master's son. And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. And I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter art thou?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah. bare unto him;' and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands. And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said: “The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken." And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servants heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah. He gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night.

And they rose up in the morning, and he said:"Send me away unto my master." And her brother and her mother said: "Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go." And he said unto them :-"Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master." And they said: "We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth."

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her :"Wilt thou go with this man?" And she said: "I will go."

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her :-"Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them."

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country.5

And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel for she had said unto the servant:-"What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?" And the servant had said: "It is my master:" therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

5. The southern portion of Palestine.

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; ar he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after h mother's death.

6. Sarah had died a little while before the opening of th scene of this story.

Study Outline Study. Note 12.

V

THE STORY OF JACOB AND ESAU

(Genesis xxvii, 1-41)

Introductory Note.-Isaac and Rebekah had two sons. Esau, the elder, offended his parents by his preference for the wild life of the wilderness over the pastoral pursuits of his family and by connecting himself, through marriage, with the Canaanites. Jacob was more prudent and tractable.

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him:-"My son." And he1 said unto him :-“Behold, here I am."

And he said: "Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field and take me some venison; and make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die." And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison,

son.

and to bring it.

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying:"Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me sa

1. Esau.

2. Savoury meat-dainties of any kind; but the ordinary food of the patriarchs, who were pastoral nomads, must have been mainly flesh.

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