ceed; but desiring still to know the truth, he commended her for her generosity and good nature, that she did not scruple to afford a sufficiency of water to those that wanted it, though it cost her some pains to draw it; and asked who were her parents, and wished them joy of such a daughter; and mayest thou be espoused, said he, to their satisfaction, into the family of an agreeable husband, and bring him legitimate children. Nor did she disdain to satisfy his inquiries, but told him her family. They, says she, call me Rebeka; my father was Bethuel, but he is dead; and Laban is my brother, and, together with my mother, takes care of all our family affairs, and is the guardian of my virginity. When the servant heard this, he was very glad at what had happened, and at what was told him, as perceiving that God had thus plainly directed his journey; and producing his bracelets and some other ornaments which it was esteemed decent for virgins to wear, he gave them to the damsel, by way of acknowledgment, and as a reward for her kindness in giving him water to drink; saying, It was but just that she should have them, because she was so much more obliging than any of the rest. She desired also that he would come and lodge with them, since the approach of the night gave him not time to proceed farther. And producing his precious ornaments for women, he said, he desired to trust them to none more safely, than to such as she had shewed herself to be; and that he believed he might guess at the humanity of her mother and brother, that they would not be displeased, from the virtue he found in her, for he would not be burdensome, but would pay the hire for his entertainment, and spend his own money. To which she replied, that he guessed right as to the humanity of her parents; but complained, that he should think them so parsimonious as to take money, for that he should have all on free cost. But she said, she would first inform her brother Laban, and, if he gave her leave, she would conduct him in. 3. As soon then as this was over, she introduced the stranger; and for the camels, the servants of Laban brought them in, and took care of them, and he was himself brought in to supper by Laban. And, after supper, he says to him, and to the mother of the damsel, addressing himself to her, "Abra"ham is the son of Terah, and a kinsman of your's, for Na"hor, the grand-father of these children, was the brother of "Abraham, by both father and mother; upon which ac count he hath sent me to you, being desirous to take this "damsel for his son to wife. He is his legitimate son; and "is brought up as his only heir. He could indeed have 66 "had the most happy of all the women in that country for "him, but he would not have his son marry any of them; "but out of regard to his own relations, he desired to match "him here, whose affection and inclination I would not have you despise; for it was by the good pleasure of God, that "other accidents fell out in my journey, and that thereby I light upon your daughter, and your house; for when I was near to the city I saw a great many maidens coming to a "well, and I prayed that I might meet with this damsel, which "has come to pass accordingly. Do you therefore confirm "that marriage, whose espousals have been already made "by a divine appearance; and shew the respect you have for "Abraham, who has sent me with so much solicitude, in "giving your consent to the marriage of this damsel." Upon this they understood it to be the will of God, and greatly approved of the offer, and sent their daughter, as was desired. Accordingly Isaac married her, the inheritance being now come to him; for the children by Keturah were gone to their own remote habitations. CHAP. XVII. Concerning the death of Abraham. § 1. A LITTLE while after this Abraham died. He was a man of incomparable virtue, and honoured by God in a manner agreeable to his piety towards him. The whole time. of his life was one hundred seventy and five years; and he was buried in Hebron, with his wife Sarah, by their sons Isaac and Ismael. CHAP. XVIII. 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; 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 *The birth of Jacob and Esau is here said to be after Abraham's death; it should have been after Sarah's death. The order of the narration in Genesis not always exactly according to the order of time, seems to have led Josephus into it, as Dr. Bernard observes here. ceed; but desiring still to know the truth, he commended her for her generosity and good nature, that she did not scruple to afford a sufficiency of water to those that wanted it, though it cost her some pains to draw it; and asked who were her parents, and wished them joy of such a daughter; and mayest thou be espoused, said he, to their satisfaction, into the family of an agreeable husband, and bring him legitimate children. Nor did she disdain to satisfy his inquiries, but told him her family. They, says she, call me Rebeka; my father was Bethuel, but he is dead; and Laban is my brother, and, together with my mother, takes care of all our family affairs, and is the guardian of my virginity. When the servant heard this, he was very glad at what had happened, and at what was told him, as perceiving that God had thus plainly directed his journey; and producing his bracelets and some other ornaments which it was esteemed decent for virgins to wear, he gave them to the damsel, by way of acknowledgment, and as a reward for her kindness in giving him water to drink; saying, It was but just that she should have them, because she was so much more obliging than any of the rest. She desired also that he would come and lodge with them, since the approach of the night gave him not time to proceed farther. And producing his precious ornaments for women, he said, he desired to trust them to none more safely, than to such as she had shewed herself to be; and that he believed he might guess at the humanity of her mother and brother, that they would not be displeased, from the virtue he found in her, for he would not be burdensome, but would pay the hire for his entertainment, and spend his own money. To which she replied, that he guessed right as to the humanity of her parents; but complained, that he should think them so parsimonious as to take money, for that he should have all on free cost. But she said, she would first inform her brother Laban, and, if he gave her leave, she would conduct him in. 3. As soon then as this was over, she introduced the stranger; and for the camels, the servants of Laban brought them in, and took care of them, and he was himself brought in to supper by Laban. And, after supper, he says to him, and to the mother of the damsel, addressing himself to her, " Abra"ham is the son of Terah, and a kinsman of your's, for Na"hor, the grand-father of these children, was the brother of "Abraham, by both father and mother; upon which ac count he hath sent me to you, being desirous to take this "damsel for his son to wife. He is his legitimate son; and "is brought up as his only heir. He could indeed have "had the most happy of all the women in that country for "him, but he would not have his son marry any of them; "but out of regard to his own relations, he desired to match "him here, whose affection and inclination I would not have "you despise; for it was by the good pleasure of God, that "other accidents fell out in my journey, and that thereby I "light upon your daughter, and your house; for when I was near to the city I saw a great many maidens coming to a "well, and I prayed that I might meet with this damsel, which "has come to pass accordingly. Do you therefore confirm "that marriage, whose espousals have been already made "by a divine appearance; and shew the respect you have for "Abraham, who has sent me with so much solicitude, in 66 giving your consent to the marriage of this damsel." Upon this they understood it to be the will of God, and greatly approved of the offer, and sent their daughter, as was desired. Accordingly Isaac married her, the inheritance being now come to him; for the children by Keturah were gone to their own remote habitations. CHAP. XVII. Concerning the death of Abraham. § 1. A LITTLE while after this Abraham died. He was a man of incomparable virtue, and honoured by God in a manner agreeable to his piety towards him. The whole time of his life was one hundred seventy and five years; and he was buried in Hebron, with his wife Sarah, by their sons Isaac and Ismael. CHAP. XVIII. Concerning the Sons of Isaac, Esau and Jacob. Of their na tivity and education § 1. Now Isaac's wife proved with child, * after the death of Abraham; 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 The birth of Jacob and Esau is here said to be after Abraham's death; it should have been after Sarah's death. The order of the narration in Genesis not always exactly according to the order of time, seems to have led Josephus into it, as Dr. Bernard observes here. 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 an hairy roughness (Esau, or) Seir; but Jacob the younger, was best beloved by his mother. 米 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 h's 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 better of him, so he still retired, and dug another well; and when certain other shepherds of Abimelech's began to offer him violence, he left that also, and still retired, thus purchasing security to himself by a rational and prudent conduct. At length the king gave him leave to dig a well without disturbance. He named this well Rehoboth, which denotes a large space; but of the former well, one was called Escon, which denotes strife, the other Sitenna, which name signifies enmity. 3. It was now that Isaac's affairs increased, and his power was in a flourishing condition; and this from his great riches. But Abimelech thinking Isaac throve in opposition to him, while their living together made them suspicious of each other, and Isaac's retiring, shewing a secret enmity also, he was afraid that his former friendship with Isaac did not secure him, if Isaac should endeavour to revenge the injuries he had formerly offered him; he therefore renewed his friendship with him, and brought 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 shewed to himself and his father, to his latter wrath against him, he returned home. 4. Now when Esau, one of the sons of Isaac, whom the fa *For Seir in Josephus, the coherence requires that we read Esau or Seir, which signify the same thing, |