Part 130 (1/2)

And Isaac said unto Jacob, ”Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.”

And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, ”The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”

And he knew him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.

And he said, ”Art thou my very son Esau?”

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

JACOB'S DREAM By Murillo [End ill.u.s.tration]

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And he said, ”I am.”

And he said, ”Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee.”

And he brought it near to him, and he ate: and he brought him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, ”Come near now, and kiss me, my son.”

And he came near, and kissed him.

And he smelled the smell of his garment, and blessed him, and said,--

”See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed: And G.o.d give thee of the dew of heaven, And of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of corn and wine: Let peoples serve thee, And nations bow down to thee: Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: Cursed be everyone that curseth thee, And blessed be everyone that blesseth thee.”

And it came to pa.s.s, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father, ”Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.”

And Isaac his father said unto him, ”Who art thou?”

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And he said, ”I am thy son, thy firstborn, Esau.” And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, ”Who then is he that hath taken venison and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before thou earnest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.”

When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, ”Bless me, even me also, O my father.”

And he said, ”Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing.”

And he said, ”Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.”

And he said, ”Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?”

And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, ”Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what then shall I do for thee, my son?”

And Esau said unto his father, ”Hast thou but one blessing, my father?

bless me, even me also, O my father.”

And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him:--