and she hasted and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink."

"And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. And she hasted and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not."

When the camels had finished drinking, the steward presented Rebekah with an ear-ring, and two bracelets of gold. It is still the custom in the East to offer presents to every person to whom it is wished to show respect; in some cases it is considered an insult not to bring a present, and if a person is too poor to give anything else, a handful of meal or barley, or the commonest fruit, will be offered and accepted. The servant then asked Rebekah, whose daughter she was, "and whether there was room in her father's house for him to lodge." She answered that she was the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, and that they had straw and provender enough, and room to lodge him.

"And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and of his truth; I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren."

Rebekah hastened and told those of her mo

ther's house these things; and her brother, whose name was Laban, came out and invited Abraham's servant in. "And the man came into the house and he ungirded the camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the men's feet that were with him. And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat until I have told mine errand."

Abraham's servant then related who he was, why his master had sent him, and in what manner he had prayed to God to direct him to choose a fitting wife for his master's son. Then Rebekah's mother and brother answered, "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 servant 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." Then they called Rebekah and asked her if she would go; and she consented, and departed with her nurse, under the care of Abraham's servant.

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. When Rebekah saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel, and took a vail and covered herself. Then the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac took Rebekah to the tent which had been Sarah's; and Isaac loved her, and was comforted after his mother's death.

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After the marriage of Isaac, there are no events that require to be particularly related in the life of Abraham. He died at the advanced age of one hundred and seventy-five, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his fathers:" he was buried in the cave of Machpelah, by his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael; the brothers meeting in peace, though in sorrow, to perform the last rites to their common parent.

The character of Abraham excites our highest admiration and respect. He is distinguished in Scripture as the "friend of God," because he believed in His promises at all times, and in all circumstances, and obeyed his commands. In the present day, we can hardly appreciate fully the merit of this firm faith and unhesitating obe

dience, because we enjoy the blessing of knowing for certain that God exists, "and is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." But in the time of Abraham, this great truth was not so clearly known; and as it is easier, in the hour of temptation, to yield to our evil dispositions than to resist and conquer them, the people of that age who lived without the fear of God, were often guilty of great crimes. Idolatry, too, was beginning to prevail, which led the way to many vices, and to dreadful acts of superstitious cruelty. Yet, whilst living in the midst of so much evil, Abraham's faith and virtue remained true, and unchanged. "Against hope he believed in hope," and was ready to obey God even at the sacrifice (if required) of all that made life dear to him.

Two of the oldest and most remarkable nations in the world, the Jews and the Arabs, are descended from Abraham: his memory is superstitiously venerated to this day, in the East; and the Arabs have adorned his history with many fanciful traditions.*

Rom. iv. 18.

* Amongst others, they pretend that the temple of Mecca, called the Kaaba, whither Musselmen from all countries resort in pilgrimage, was rebuilt by Abraham, after the flood; and the sacred well "Zemzem," within its court, they believe to be the spring which supplied Hagar and Ishmael in the desert of Beersheba!-See Burckhardt's Travels in Arabia, pages 98 and 163, quarto edition.

CHAPTER V.

ESAU SELLS HIS BIRTHRIGHT. JACOB DECEIVES

HIS FATHER.

THERE are no remarkable events recorded in the life of the patriarch Isaac after the death of his father; the promises made to Abraham were renewed to him, and he continued to live in the fear and worship of the One True God.

Esau

Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. the elder was red, and his skin was rough and hairy he was "a cunning hunter," "a man of the field," while Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents.* One day when Esau came in from hunting, weary and faint with hunger, he saw his brother Jacob preparing a mess of pottage: the pottage was made with lentiles,† and looked

The epithet" plain" is pre-eminently applicable to a man dwelling in tents, whatever be his rank or wealth. Speaking of the Bedouins, Burckhardt says, "the richest shiek lives like the meanest of his Arabs; they both eat every day of the same dishes, and in the same quantity, and never partake of any luxury except on the arrival of a stranger, when the host's tent is open to all his friends." Notes to the Pictorial Bible. The epithet here, however, more properly relates to the occupation of Jacob, than to his character, which was simple and uniform, unlike that of Esau which was more active and diversified.

+ Lentiles, a kind of pulse resembling peas.

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