Abraham's brother resided, and partly by rich presents, and partly by the favourable account he gave of Abraham's wealth and grandeur, early obtained the beautiful Rebecca for his young master. Having thus acquitted himself of his commission, he hastened back to Abraham; and Rebecca was received by Isaac with every mark of affectionate respect.

1853.

Abraham, though greatly delighted B. C. with the marriage of his son, deemed it advisable to console himself for the loss of his beloved Sarah by espousing Keturah, after he had continued a widower for several years. By this union he had six sons, whom he afterward portioned, that they might not interfere with Isaac's inheritance. They, accordingly, went to the eastward of Beersheba and the land of Canaan, and settled in both Arabias, where some traces of their name may still be found.

Nothing more is recorded of this famous patriarch but that he died in the hundred and seventy-fifth year of his age, and was buried by his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, in the sepulchral cave of Machpelah.

1833.

Rebecca, who had continued barren B. C. for upward of nineteen years, was at length delivered of two sons, whom she called Esau and Jacob. Esau became a great hunter, and the darling of his father, who was very fond of venison; but Jacob was the especial favourite of his mother, who knew, by revelation, that he should inherit the blessing. This knowledge she probably communicated to the object of her maternal love, as he was not above twenty years old when he contrived to make his brother swear away his birthright,

G 3

Isaac

Isaac, having removed to Gerar, in conse quence of a famine, and formed an amicable treaty with king Abimelech, resolved to confer a solemn benediction on his first-born Esau, before he died. He therefore commanded him to go in quest of some venison, and dress it to kis palate; expressing a wish to put his design in execution immediately. Esau cheerfully obeyed these injunctions; but Rebecca, having overheard the discourse, caused Jacob to personate his brother, and executed her plan with such admirable prudence that Isaac had pronounced the irrevocable blessing before his eldest son returned from the chace Jacob hastened to acquaint his mother with their brilliant success, and Esau was soon convinced that he had been circumvented in his absence. A pathetic scene ensued between the venerable patriarch and his afflicted son; but the former strenuously insisted that his blessing should remain with Jacob. However, to assauge Esau's excessive grief, he blessed him also, in these words, "Thy. dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of Heaven from above: by thy sword and thy bow shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass that, when thou shalt have the dominion, thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck." This benediction was, however, so far from composing the mind of Esau that he is said to have resolved on Jacob's assassination, and dropped such hints of his dark design that Rebecca found a pretence for sending the object of his resentment beyond his reach, to Padan Aram.

Jacob, being greatly encouraged by a singu lar dream, in the vicinage of Luz, proceeded

cheer

cheerfully on his journey, till he arrived at the house of his uncle Laban. Here he was received with every demonstration of joy; and an agreement was soon made, by virtue of which he was to serve his relative seven years, on condition of being rewarded with the hand of the beauteous Rachael. At the expiration of the stated time, Jacob deinanded the dear remuneration of his labour, but Laban contrived to deceive him, by introducing him to the apartment of Leah. The bridegroom, finding at the return of day that instead of his beloved Rachael he was united to her homely sister, expressed his resentment of his uncle's duplicity in the strongest terms. Laban apologised for his behaviour, by observing that it was an unprecedented thing in that coun. try to marry the youngest sister before the eldest; and pacified his nephew, by offering to give him Rachael also, at the expiration of the nuptial week, for the benefit of seven other years of faithful service.

1757.

Jacob's behaviour was extremely dif B. C. ferent toward his two wives. Rachael had the entire possession of his heart, while Leah was obliged to content herself with mere civility. Yet the latter was made the happy mother of many children, while her sister was, for a considerable length of time, supposed to be barren. Leah was soon delivered of a son, whom she named Reuben, intimating that God had seen her affliction, and given her a child, which might, probably, endear her to her husband. She afterward bore another, whom she called Simeon, because she said the Almighty had listened to her complaint; her third she distinguished by the name of Levi, hoping

her

her husband would be now cordially joined to her; and the fourth she called Judah, thinking herself bound to praise God for his repeated

mercies.

Rachael was by this time so extremely mortified at her sister's fruitfulness that she began to murmur against the dispensations of Providence, and peevishly told her husband that, unless he gave her children also, she should assuredly die with grief. Jacob replied that he was not possessed of the power of working miracles; and exhorted her to look up to God for the fulfilment of her desire, instead of provoking the divine anger by her unavailing discontent. This answer silenced her upbraidings, and she gave her maid Bilhah to Jacob, by whom he had two sons; the first of which Rachael called Dan, to imply that God had judged in her favour; and the other she called Naphtali, to express the struggles she had with her sister.

Leah, supposing that she had left off bearing, gave her maid Zilpah to Jacob, whose first son she named Gad (a troop), expecting more to follow; and the next she called Asher, on account of the felicity which she now enjoyed. She was, herself, delivered of two more sons, whom she called Issachar and Zebulun; and had likewise a daughter, whom she named Dinah. Rachael's inquietude was also at length appeased, as God youchsafed to grant her a son, whom she called Joseph.

Jacob, having now completed his fourteen years of servitude, requested Laban's permission to remove, with his family, to the residence of his venerable parents. But the great advantages, which had resulted from his fidelity and atten

tion rendered his uncle extremely averse to the proposal, and induced him to offer higher rewards, upon condition that he should relinquish his design. An agreement was soon executed; but Laban's avarice invented so many stratagems to defraud his son-in-law that the latter was compelled to use others in his own defence, which were attended with such signal success that he became exceedingly rich, while Laban's property gradually diminished.

B. C.

1739.

That peculiar blessing, which was evidently stamped by Heaven itself on all the concerns of Jacob, gave such umbrage to Laban and his sons that they began to abate of their former respectful behaviour, and to regard him with the jaundiced eye of jealousy. Jacob, accordingly, resolved to quit a place which no longer afforded him the blessings of content; and, having imparted his design to his wives, commenced his journey, with all his household, to the Land of Canaan, while his uncle was engaged, at some distance, in sheepshearing. Laban received intelligence of this transaction on the third day, and went immediately in pursuit of the fugitives; but seven days elapsed before he overtook them, by which time they had crossed the Euphrates, and formed a temporary encampment on the mountains of Gilead.

Laban had, in all probability, formed some evil design against Jacob; but, being intimidated by a vision from God in his sleep, he contented himself with upbraiding his relative with a precipitate flight, which deprived him of the satisfaction of caressing his daughters and children, and of dismissing them with the customary ce remonies