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and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and be dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

31 And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:

32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

37 And the first-born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

38 And the younger, she also hare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

CHAPTER XX.

8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

9

Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds. unto me that ought not to be done. 10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

12 And yet indeed she is my sister: she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and men-servants, and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee; dwell where it pleaseth thee.

16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other. Thus she was reproved.

17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants; and they bare children.

18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house

Hagar the Egyptian, which she ha born unto Abraham, mocking.

10 Wherefore she said unto Abra ham, Cast out this bond-woman and her son: for the son of this bond-woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

11 And the thing was very grie vous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bond-wonan; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

13 And also of the son of bond-woman will I make a tlación, because he is thy seed.

14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it t Hagar, (putting it on hers! der,) and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wan dered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 And the water was spent the bottle, and she cast the chi under one of the shrubs.

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16 And she went, and sat hel down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow-shot; for said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

17 And God heard the voice of the lad: and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water: and she went and filled the bottle with

AND Abraham journeyed from of Abimelech because of Sarah, water, and gave the lad drink.

thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah

his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, LORD, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she her self said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart, and iunocency of my hands, have I done

this.

6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sin ning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

action of the elements. - Ver. 37. The Moabites and Ammonites were both remarkable for their fagrant wickedness.

Ver. 1. Toward the south: that is, from the valley of Mamre toward

Abraham's wife.

CHAPTER XXI.

20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wil derness, and became an archer. 21 And he dwelt in the wilder. he had said, and the LORD did ness of Paran: and his mother took unto Sarah as he had spoken. him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

AND the Load visited Sarah as

2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

5 And Abraham was an hundred years old when his son Isaac was born unto him.

6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

9 And Sarah saw the son of

the south. See chap. xiii. 17.Ver. 6. By this we learn that the fear of God was still preserved in some parts of the land.

Ver. 9. St Paul teaches us that this enmity of the son of the bondwoman towards the heir of the promises, was typical of the hatred

22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest.

23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

24 And Abraham said, I will swear.

25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to-day.

27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech: and both of them made a covenant.

which the world hath ever shewn against the church and its members. See Gal. iv. 30. Ver. 12. Rom, ix. 7; Heb. xi. 18.-Ver. 21. This wilderness was in Arabia Petrez.Ver. 25. Wells were among the most valuable of possessions with

28 And Abraham set seven ewelambs of the flock by themselves.

29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe-lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

30 And he said, For these seven ewe-lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me that I have digged this well.

31 Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.

32 Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba then Abimelech Tose up, and Phichol the chief capof his host, and they returned I be land of the Philistines.

"And Abraham planted a Etove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LouD, the erlasting God.

Aud Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.

.1

CHAPTER XXII.

ND it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt braham, and said unto him, Ab ham. And he said, Behold, here

And he said, Take now thy thine only son Isaac, whom thu lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them to gether.

7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt-offering: so they went both of them together.

the ancient inhabitants of the East. -Ver. 31. Beer-sheba: that is, the well of the oath.

9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and

Abraham built an altar there, and

laid the wood in order, and bound
Isaac his son, and laid him on the
altar upon the wood.

10 And Abraham stretched forth
his hand, and took the knife to
slay his son.

11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here am I.

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.

CHAPTER XXIII.

AND Sarah was an hundred and

seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of

Sarah.

2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

3And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

41 am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

13 And Abraham lifted up his 5 And the children of Heth aneyes, and looked, and, behold, be-swered Abraham, saying unto him, hind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jirch: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16 And said, By myself have L sworn, saith the LORD; for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son;

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies :

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

19 So Abraham returned unto his young men; and they rose up, and went together to Beer-sheba: and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.

20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;

21 Huz his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,

22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah : these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.

24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

6 Hear us, my lord: Thou art a mighty prince among us; in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead: none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me. to Ephron the son of Zohar,

9 That he may give me the care of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field: for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me, for a possession of a burying-place amongst you.

10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,

Nay, my lord, hear me: The field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.

12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

13 And he spake unto Ephron. in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou will give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,

15 My lord, hearken unto me: The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

ham had in reality no sacrifice to offer, and the Christian has no penalty to pay. God, in both cases, has himself provided the lamb for the burnt-offering.-Ver. 16. Heb. vi. 13; Ps. ev. 9.

that signal instance of the Almighty's favour, whereby he confirmed his promises with an oath, "By myself have I sworn, Ver. 1. This temptation of saith the Lord." In Isaac, the Abraham was a great trial of faith, sacrifice which faith so readily aud throughout the whole transac- offered, the Christian beholds the Ver. 2. Hebron: this was the tion we may perceive the most representative of his Redeemer. name subsequently given to Kirstriking representation of evange- His faith it is which makes Christ jath-arba; and in this, as in other lical mysteries. His faith was a true sacrifice for his sins: in him instances respecting the names of counted to him for righteousness, through faith he looks for the fulfil- places given after the time of and it was fitting that this his ment of the heavenly promises; Moses, but mentioned in Sovereign grace should be tried. and for this manifestation of faith Pentateuch, it may be observed, By the mode in which it was put the Lord gives perpetually fresh that the person who was called to to the test, every circumstance and increased assurances of his the sacred office of transcribing his connected with his call, and with presence and favour.-Ver. 8. This records, most probably added the the blessings which had been pro-was spoken prophetically. In the latter name to make the narrative mised him, were brought into close instance, both of Abraham and the more intelligible to the people, and distinct view; and while the believer in Christ, the blessing Ver. 6. Thus greatly had Abraham, triumph of his confidence in God which God promised to faith is who had left his country not was of the highest kind, it threw a given without the exaction of any knowing whither he was going, new brightness over the thing farther than a true proof of but obeying the call of God, pros

scene

presented to his eyes, and led to the liveliness of the grace. Abra-pered under the divine blessing.

13

B

the

16 And Abraham hearkened un- | evening, even the time that women Laban ran out unto the man unto to Ephron; and Abraham weighed go out to draw water. the well. to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

12 And he said, O LORD Go of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

17 And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, 14 And let it come to pass, that that were in all the borders round the damsel to whom I shall say, Let about, were made sure down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that 18 Unto Abraham for a posses-1 may drink; and she shall say, sion, in the presence of the children Drink; and I will give thy camels of Heth, before all that went in at drink also: let the same be she that the gate of his city. thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre the same is Hebron the land of Canaan.

20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham, for a possession of a burying-place, by the sons of Heth.

CHAPTER XXIV.

AND Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh;

3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land froin whence thou camest?

6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

10 And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed; (for all the goods of his master were in his hand :) and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

II And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the

Ver. 2. This mode of swearing has remained common in the East to the present times.- Ver. 4. By his country Abraham meant Haran, or Mesopotamia, where his family had been long settled. See chap. xi. 31. It would appear strange, that, having been himself separated from his kindred, he should desire to choose a wife for his son from

15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin; neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

20 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.

21 And the man, wondering at her, held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ear-ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,

Is

23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?

24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

25 She said, moreover, unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his merey and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.

29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and

among them, were it not plain that vice and idolatry had made a far greater progress among the Canaanites than it had in the land of Haran, or among the relatives of the patriarch. That the latter were by no means free from the guilt of worshipping idols will be seen in chap. xxxi; but they still had some knowledge of the true

30 And it came to pass, when he saw the ear-ring, and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me, that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

32And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.

33 And there was set meal before

him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand And he sai !, Speak on.

34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.

35 And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men-servants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

36 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.

37 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:

38 Pat thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

40 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.

41 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.

42 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:

43 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 piteher to drink;

44 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.

45 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 said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

was no

46 And she made haste, and God, and were not sunk into the loathsome sensuality of confirmed idolaters. Ver. 15. It degradation for the daughters of princes even, in ancient days, to tend upon the flocks and herds, and perform most of the offices which are now regarded as menial.-Ver. 23. Primitive hospitality rendered this a natural and proper question.

let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink; and I will give thy camels drink also: so 1 I drank, and she made the camels be drink also.

47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare be unto him: and I put the ear-ring upon her face, and the bracelets anpon her hands.

48 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. 49 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.

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing procredeth from the LORD: we cannot, speak unto thee bad or good.

51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Loup hath spoken.

52 And it came to pass, that, fe when Abraham's servant heart their words, he worshipped the Loss, boring himself to the earth. 53 And the servant brought forth Jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, ake and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

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54 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.

55 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.

56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD bath prospered my way; send me away, that I may go to my inaster. 57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.

58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. 59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.

60 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.

61 And Rebekah arose, and herdamsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man; and the servant took Rebekah, and went

his way.

62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi: for he dwelt in the south country.

63 And Isaac went out to medi

saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes; and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

65 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.

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

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

CHAPTER XXV.

THEN again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Ke

turah.

2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

3 And Jokshan begat Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummins.

4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham hat, Abraham gave gifts, and seat them away from Isaac his son, (while he yet lived,) eastward, unto the east country.

7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre ;

10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac: and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.

12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham.

13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The first-born of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

16 These are the sous of Ishmael,

towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and, thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people.

18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt. as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

19 And these are the genera tions of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac.

20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren and the LORD was entrented of him, and Rebekah his wife, conceived.

22 And the children struggled together within her: and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be se parated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold," there were twins in her womb.

25 And the first canie out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

27 And the boys grew and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

28 And Isaac loved Esau, be cause he did eat of his venison; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint.

30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therofore was his name called Edom.

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

CHAPTER XXVI.

tate in the field at the even-tide; and these are their names, by their A ND there was a famine in the

and he lifted up his eyes, and

Jacob, having rendered himself his Ver. 23. See the application inferior by the loss of his birthwhich St Paul makes of this cir- right. Ver. 30. Esau and Edom cumstance, Rom. ix. 12. Esau have both the signification of red: himself was never in subjection to the first name being given on Jacob; but the prophecy was ful-account of his personal appearance, filled in his posterity, the Edomites, the second from the circumstance who became David's servants. See 2 Sam. viii. 14. This shews that the election on which the apostle argues refers to nations, not to individuals. Esan, however, may in one senso be said to have served

here mentioned. Ver. 34. Esau, by despising his birthright, was guilty of an offence which obviously merited a heavy punishment. The paterual blessing, the inheritance of God's promises, the rank and

land, besides the first famine

dignity which pertained to the head of a chosen family, were involved in the birthright of the first-born. When privileges of such a kind were treated with contempt, an affront was committed against the majesty of Divine Providence, and a carelessness shewn respecting what ought to hold the highest place in the human affections, which indicated a most debased and sensual state of mind.

Ver. 1. See chap. xii. 10; xx. 2.

that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of.

3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee: for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries; and I will perform the oath which I sware anto Abraham thy father:

4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.

8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.

11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man, or his wife, shall surely be put to death.

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundred-fold; and the LORD blessed him.

13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew, until he became very great:

14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of

Ver. 2. The circumstances of Isaac were different from those under which Abraham had gone down into Egypt. God was beginning the fulfilment of his promises, and Isaac was to feel himself safe in the land which had been given him. Ver. 20. Esek: that is, contention. -Ver. 21. Sitnah: that is, hatred. -Ver. 22. Rehoboth that is, room. Ver. 23. Shebah: that is, an oath.-Beer-sheba: that is, the well of the oath.

Abraham and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.

22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

23 And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba.

24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed, for my servant Abraham's sake.

25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

28 And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, enen betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.

30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

32 Aud it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.

33 And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.

34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite;

35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

CHAPTER XXVII.

AND it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were

Ver. 4. Isaac mentioned his old age as furnishing a claim on the tenderness and attention of his son, His request also for the savoury meat was probably made rather for the purpose of affording him an additional occasion for blessing his favourite Esau, than for that of gratifying his appetite, Ver. 19. It should be remembered, when such circumstances as that now

dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son. And he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;

4 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.

5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, 'Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.

8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice, according to that which I command thee.

9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth.

10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am à smooth man:

12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him ast a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son; only obey my voice, and go fetch

me them.

14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.

15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son.

16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck.

17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my sou? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.

21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, stated are mentioned in Scripture, they are recorded as matter of history, and without reference to the good or evil displayed in the conduct of those to whom the narrative applics. The act of Jacob is related by the pen of the inspired historian, but it does not therefore follow that it was holy, or approved as such: it was essential to the purposes of Scripture that it

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