preserve him, and keep him from every thing that is evil. Give him a happy life, and the possession of as many good things as thy power is able to bestow. Make him terrible to his enemies, and honourable and beloved among his enemies."

-Thus did Isaac pray to God, thinking his prayers had been made for Esan. He had but just finished them, however, when Esau came in from hunting; and when Isaac perceived his mistake, he was silent. Esau earnestly requested that he might be made partaker of the blessing which his brother had received, but his father refused, because all his prayers had been spent upon Jacob. So Esan lamented the mistake; however, his father being grieved at his weeping, said that "He should excel in hunting, in arms, in strength of body; and should obtain glory for ever on those accounts, he and his posterity after him; but still should serve his brother."

Now the mother delivered Jacob, when he was afraid that his brother would inflict some punishment upon him because of the mistake about the prayers of Isaac: for she persuaded her husband to take a wife for Jacob out of Mesopotamia,* of her own kindred. Esau having already married Basemmath, the daughter of Ishmael, without his father's consent: for Isaac, not liking the Canaanites, disapproved of Esau's former marriages, which made him take Basem mah to wife, in order to please him; and indeed he had a great affection for her.

CHAP. XIX.

Of Jacob's flight into Mesopotamia.

NOW Jacob was sent by his mother into Me

sopotamia, in order to marry her brother Laban's daughter, (which marriage was permitted by Isaac, on account of his obsequiousness to the desires of his wife,) and he accordingly journeyed through the land of Canaan; and because he hated the people of that country, he would not lodge with any of them, but took up his lodging the open air, and laid his head on a heap of stones that he had gathered together. + Having fallen asleep, he dreamed that he saw a ladder which reached from the earth unto heaven, and persons descending down the ladder that seemed more excellent than human; and at last God himself, stood above it, and calling him by his name, said, " O Jacob, it is not fit for thee, who art the son of a good father, and grandson to one who had obtained a great reputation for his eminent virtue, to be dejected at thy present circumstances, but to

hope for better times. For thou shalt have great abundance of all good things, by my assistance, For I brought Abraham hither, out of Mesopotamia, when he was driven away by his kinsmen; and I made thy father a happy man. Nor will 1 bestow an inferior degree of happiness on thyself. Be of good courage therefore; and under my conduct proceed on thy journey; for the marriage thou goest so zealously about shall be consummated. And thou shalt have children of good characters; whose multitude shall be innumerable. And they shall leave what they have to a still more numerous posterity to whom and to whose posterity I give the dominion of all the land, and their posterity shall fill the earth, so far as the sun beholds them. But do not thou fear any danger, nor be afraid of the many labours thou must undergo, for by my providence I will direct thee what thou art to do in the time present, and still more in the time to come."

Such were the predictions which God made to Jacob. Whereupon he became very joyful at what he had seen and heard; and he poured oil upon the stones, because on them the prediction of such great benefits was made. He also vowed a vow that he would offer sacrifice upon them, if he lived and returned safe: and if he cane again in such a condition he would give the tithe of what he had gotten to God. He also judged the place to be honourable, and gave it the name of Bethel; which if explained in the Greek tongue, is the house of God.

He then proceeded on his journey to Mesopotamia, and at length came to Haran, and meeting with Shepherds in the suburbs, with boys grown up and maidens sitting round a certain well, he stayed with them, as wanting water to drink; and beginning to discourse with them, he asked them whether they knew such an one as Laban? and whether he were still alive? they all said they knew him for he was not so inconsiderable a person as to be unknown to any of them; and that his daughter fed her father's flock together with them; and that indeed they wondered she was not yet come, for by her means, said they, thou mightest learn more exactly whatever thou desiredst to know about that family. While they were speaking, the damsel came, and the other shepherds that came with her. Then they shewed her Jacob, and told her, that he' was a stranger who came to enquire about her father's affairs. But she, being pleased, after the custom of children, with Jacob's coming, asked him who he was? and whence he came? and what it was he wanted, that he came thither? She also wished it might be in their power to supply his

wants.

Jacob was quite overcome, not so much by their kindred, nor by that affection which might arise thence, as by his love to the damsel, and his surprise at her beauty, which was such as few of the women of that age could vie with. He then said, "There is a relation between thee and me, elder than either of our births, if thou be the daughter of Laban. For Abrahain was the son of Terah, as well as Haran and Nahor. Of the last of whom, Nahor, Bethuel thy grandfather was the son: Isaac my father was the son of Abraham and of Sarah, who was the daughter of Haran. But there is a nearer and later cement of mutual kindred which we bear to one another. For my mother Rebeka was sister to Laban, thy father, both by the same father and mother. I, therefore, and thou, are cousin germans, and I am now come to salute thee, and to renew that affinity which is proper between us. At the mention of Rebeka, the damsel wept, and that out of the kindness she had for her father, and embraced Jacob; she having learned on account of Rebeka from her father, and knew that her parents loved to hear her named, and when she had saluted him, she said, that he brought the most desirable and greatest pleasure to her father, with all their family, who was always mentioning his mother, and always thinking of her, and her alone; " and this," said she," will make thee equal in his eyes to any advantageous circumstance whatsoever." Then she bid him follow her, while she conducted him to her father not wishing to deprive Laban of such a pleasure, by staying any longer away from him.

When she had said thus, she brought him to Laban; and being owned by his uncle, he was secure himself, as being among his friends; to whom his unexpected arrival gave great pleasure. But a little while afterward, Laban told him that he could not express in words the joy he had at his coming, but still he enquired why he left his aged mother and father, when they wanted to be taken care of by him; and that he would afford him all the assistance he wanted. Then Jacob gave him an account of the whole occasion of his journey, and told him that Isaac had twin sons, himself and Esau; and that his brother having failed of his father's prayers, which by his mother's wisdom were put up for him, sought to kill him, as deprived of the kingdom which was to be given him of God; and of the blessings for which their father prayed; and that this was the occasion of his coming hither, as his mother had commanded him. "For," said

*By this deprivation of the kingdom that was to be given Esau of God, as the first born; it appears that Josephus thought a kingdom to be derived from God, was due to him whom Isaac should bless as his first-born: which I take to be that kingdom which was expected under the Messiah;

he, " we are all brethren one to another; but our mother esteems an alliance with your family more than she does one with the families of the country; so I look upon yourself and God to be the supporters of my travels, and think myself safe in my present circumstances."

Laban now promised to treat him with great humanity, both on account of his ancestors, and particularly for the sake of his mother; towards whom he said he would shew his kindness, even though she were absent, by taking care of him. For he assured him he would make him the head shepherd of his flock, and gave him authority sufficient for that purpose; and when he should be inclined to return to his parents, he would send him back with presents, and this in as honorable a manner as their consanguinity should require. Jacob heard these, promises gladly; and said he would willingly undergo any sort of pains while he tarried with him; but desired as the reward of those pains that he might be permitted to marry Rachael, who was not only on other accounts esteemed by him; but also because she was the means of his coming to him, for he said he was forced by the love of the damsel to make this proposal. Laban was pleased with this agreement, and consented to give the damsel to. him, if he would stay with him some time; for he was not willing to send his daughter to be among the Canaanites; for he repented of the alliance he had made already by marrying his sister there. And, when Jacob had given his consent to this, he agreed to serve his father-in-law seven years, that by giving a specimen of his virtue, it might be better known what sort of a man he was. When the stated time was expired, Laban made the wedding. feast, but when it was night, without Jacobs pe rceiving it, he put his other daughter into bed to him; who was both elder than Rachael, and of no come ly countenance. Jacob slept with her that night, but when it was day, he knew what had been done to him; and complained of this unfair proceeding. Laban asked pardon for that necessity whichforced him to do what he did; for he said he did not give him Lea out of any ill design, but as overcome by another greater necessity; that, notwithstanding this, nothing should hinder him from marrying Rachael; but that when he had served another seven years he would give him her whom he loved. Jubob submitted to this condition; for. his love to the damsel did not permit him to do otherwise; and when seven years more were expired, he took Rachael to wife.*

Now each of these had handmaids, by their father's donation. Zilpha was handmaid to Lea, and Bilba to Rachael? by no means slaves, but subject to their mistresses. Now Lea was sorely troubled at her husband's love to her sister, and she expected she should be better esteemed if she bare him children. She therefore intreated God perpetu-. ally, and when she had borne a son, and her husband was on that account better reconciled to her, she named her son Reubel, because God had had mercy upon her in giving her a son, for that is the signification of this name. After some time she bare three more sons; Simeon, which name signifies that God had bearkened to her prayer; Levi, the confirmer of their friendship; and Judah, which denotes thanksgiving. But Rachael, fearing lest the fruitfulness of her sister should estrange Jacob's affection from herself, gave him her handmaid Bilba, by whom Jacob had Dan: one may interpret that name into the Greek tongue, a divine judgment; and after him Nepthalim, as it were inconquerable in stratagems; since Rachael tried to conquer the fruitfulness of her sister by this stratagem. Accordingly Lea took the same method, and used a counter stratage in to that of her sister's, for she gave Jacob her own handmaid Zilpha, by whom he had a son, whose name was Gad, which may be interpreted fortune: and after him Asher, which may be called a happy man, because he added glory to Lea.

Now Reubel, the eldest son of Lea, brought apples of mandrakes to his mother. When Rachael saw them, she desired that she would give her the apples, for she longed to eat them; but when she refused, and bid her be content that she had deprived her of the benevolence she ought to have had from her husband, Rachael, in order to mitigate her sister's anger, said, she would yield her husband to her that evening. She accepted of the favor, and Jacob slept with Lea, who bare then these sons; Issachar, denoting one born by hire; and Zebulon, one born as a pledge of benevolence towards her; and a daughter, Dina. After some time Rachael had a son, named Jos ph, which signified there should be another added to him.

Now Jacob fed the flocks of Laban all this time, being twenty years,† after which he desired permission to take his wives, and go home; but when his father-in-law would not give him leave, he contrived to do it secretly. He made trial, therefore, of the disposition of his wives, what they thought of this journey. When they appeared glad, and approved of it, Rachael took along with her the images of the gods, which, according to their laws, they used to worship in their own country, and ran away,

Here we have the difference between slaves for life, and servants, such as we now h're for a time agreed upon on both sides, and dismiss again after the time contracted

together with her sister. Their children also, and their handmaids, and what possessions they had went along with them. Jacob also drove away half the cattle, without letting Laban know of it beforehand; but the reason why Rachael took the images of the gods, although Jacob had taught her to despise such worship, was this, that in case they were pursued and taken by her father, she might have recourse to these images, in order to obtain his pardon.

Laban, after one day, being acquainted with Jacob's and his daughter's departure, was much troubled, and pursued after them, leading a band of men with him; and on the seventh day overtook them, and found them resting on a certain hill; but he did not then meddle with them, for it was even tide. God stood by him in a dream the same night, and warned him to receive his son-in-law and his daughters in a peaceable manner, and not to venture upon any thing rashly, or in wrath to them, but to make a league with Jacob; assuring him that if he despised their small number, and attacked them in an hostile manner, he would himself assist them.

Laban having been thus forewarned by God, called Jacob to him the next day, in order to treat with him, and shewed him what dream he bad; in dependence whereon he came confidently to him, and began to accuse him, alledging that he had entertained him when he was poor, and in want, and had given him plenty of all things which he had "For," said he, "I have joined my daughters to theein marriage, and supposed that thy kindness to me would be greater than before; but thou hast had no regard to either thy own mother's relation to me, nor to the affinity more recently contradicted between us, nor to those wives whom thou hast married; nor to those children of whom I am the grandfather: thou hast treated me as an enemy, by driving. away my cattle, and by persuading my daughters to run away from their father; and by carrying home those sacred paternal images which were worshipped by my forefathers, and which have been honored with worship by myself. In short, thou hast done this whilst thou wert my kinsman, and my sister's son, and the husband of my daughters, and wast hospitably treated by me, and didst eat at my table."

When Laban had said this, Jacob replied in his defence, that he was not the only person in whom God had implanted the love of his native country, but that he had made it natural to all men, and therefore it was but reasonable that, after so long a time, he should go back to it." But as to the prey," said. he, "of whose driving away thou accusest me, if any other person were the arbitrator, thou wouldst

be found in the wrong, for instead of those thanks I ought to have had from thee, for both keeping thy cattle, and increasing them, how it is that thou art unjustly angry because I have taken a small portion of them; But then, as to thy daughters, it is not through any evil practices of mine that they follow me in my return home, but from that just affection which wives naturally have for their husbands; they follow, therefore, not so properly myself, as their own children." Thus far his apology was made in order to clear himself from the charge of injustice; to which he added his own complaint and accusation of Laban, saying, "While I was thy sister's son, and thou hadst given me thy daughters in marriage, thou hast worn me out with thy harsh commands, and detained me twenty years under them; that indeed which was required in order to my marrying thy daughters, hard as it was, I own to have been tolerable; but as to those that were put upon me after those marriages, they were worse, and such indeed as an enemy would have avoided." For certainly Laban had used Jacob very ill; for when he saw that God was assisting to Jacob in all that he desired, he promised him, that of the young cattle which should be born, be should have sometimes what was of a white color, and sometimes what should be of a black color; but when those that came to Jacob's share proved numerous, he did not keep his faith with him, but said he would give them to him the next year, because of his envying him the multitude of his possessions. He promised him as before, because he thought such an increase was not to be expected: but when it appeared to be fact, he again deceived him.

But with regard to the sacred images, Jacob bid them search for them; and when Laban accepted of the offer, Rachael being informed of it, put those images into that camel's saddle on which she rode, and sat upon it; and by a well-timed excuse evaded the necessity of rising up; so Laban left off searching any farther, not supposing that his daughter would conceal his images. He then made a league with Jacob, that he would not bear him any malice on account of what had happened; and Jacob made the like league, and promised to love Laban's daughter's; and these leagues they confirmed with oaths upon certain mountains, whereon they erected a pillar, in the form of an altar; whence that hill is called Gilead, and from thence they call that land the land of Gilead at this day. Now when they had feasted, after making the league, Laban returned home.+

*Gen. xxxi. 35.

CHAP. XX.

Of Jacob's interview with his Brother Esau.

Now

as Jacob was proceeding on his journey to the land of Canaan, angels appeared to him, and suggested to him good hope of his future condition; and that place he named the camp of God; and being desirous of knowing his brother's intentions, he sent messengers to give him an exact account of every thing, being afraid, on account of the enmities between them. He charged those that were sent to say to Esau, that " Jacob had thought it wrong to live together with him, while he was incensed against him, and so had gone out of the country; but now, thinking the time of his absence must have made up their differences, was returning; that he brought with him his wives and his children, with what possessions he had gotten, and delivered himself, and what was most dear to him, into his hands; and should think it his greatest happiness to partake, together with his brother, of what God had bestowed on hin." Esau was

When this message was delivered. very glad, and met his brother with four hundred men: but when Jacob heard that he was coming to meet him with such a number, he was greatly afraid. However he committed his hope of deliverance to God; and considered how in his present circumstances he might preserve himself, and those that were with him, and overcome his enemies, if they attacked him injuriously. He therefore distributed his company into parts; some he sent before the rest, and the others he ordered to come close behind that if the first were overpowered, when his brother attacked them, they might have those that followed as a refuge to flee unto; and when he had put his company in this order, he sent some of them to his brother, with presents of cattle, and a great number of four-footed beasts, of many kinds, such as would be very acceptable to those that received then, on account of their rarity. Those who were sent proceeded at certain intervals of space. asunder, that by following thick one after another, they might appear to be the more numerous, that Esau might remit of his auger on account of these presents, if he were still unappeased. Instructions. were also given to those that were sent, to speak submissively to him.

When Jacob had made, these appointments, aud night came on, he began to move with his company: and as they were gone over a certain river, called Jabboc, Jacob was left behind; and meeting with an angel, he wrestled with him, the angel beginning the struggle, but he prevailed over the angel, who used a voice, and spake to him in words, exhorting

+ Gen. xxxi 55.

him