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thee, and in multiplying, I will (†) multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18. And (u) in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because thou hast (x)obeyed my voice." 19. So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up, d went together to Beer-sheba; and raham dwelt at Beer-sheba. 20. And

came to pass after these things, that it s told Abraham, saying, " Behold Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;" 21. Huz his first

, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the her of Aram, 22. and Chesed, and izo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Beth

23. And Bethuel begat Rebecca: these ht Milcah did bear to Nahor Abraham's ther. 24. And his concubine, whose ne was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

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) v. 18. "In thy seed, &c." A renewal fexplanation of the great promise to Abra: God had promised him, in Gen. xii. 3. In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." And this explains that it would be personally in him, but in one of his kendants.

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(*) v. 18. "Obeyed." This instance of dience is referred to, and approved, Heb. 17 to 19. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac ; and he that had received the promises offered up" (i. e. was ady to offer up, considering that as actually ne, which he had made up his mind to do) his only begotten son, of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead."

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"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 (y) bless thee "before I die." 5. And Rebecca heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son and Esau went to the field to hunt for venison," and to bring it. 6. And Rebecca 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 sa66 voury 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 Rebecca his mother, "Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, " and I am a smooth man. 12. My father "peradventure will feel me, and I shall "seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall "bring a curse upon me, and not a bless"ing.' 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,

in attempting to confer this blessing upon Esau, because God had declared, before their birth, Gen. xxv. 23. "the elder (Esau) shall serve the

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younger," and because Esau had given up his birth-right to Jacob, Gen. xxv. 31. 33. Esau also was wrong in being willing to accept it. The means, however, Rebecca and Jacob adopted, cannot be justified; and both accordingly suffered for their conduct; Jacob, in being forced to flee and live elsewhere, to avoid Esau's indignation, and Rebecca, in that she saw her favourite son no more. 2 Hales, 149. 150. Jacob also suffered in having Leah, for whom he had no affection, put upon him instead of Rachel, who was the object of his love; in having Rachel a long time barren, and in having Judah, one of the children of Leah, selected for the person in whose line the great Redeemer was to come. A deviation from right, even though it may accomplish God's purpose, is not likely to go unpunished.

and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father. loved. 15. And Rebecca 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 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, 66 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 son ?" And he said, (z.) "Because the LORD thy "God brought it to me." 21. 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." 22. 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." 23. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: So he blessed him. 24. And he said, "Art thou << my very son Esau ?" And he said "I am.” 25. 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 did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26. And his father Isaac said unto him, "Come near now, and kiss me, my son." 27. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, "See, the smell "of my son is as the smell of a field,

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" which the LORD hath blessed. 28. There "fore God give thee of the dew of heaven, "and the fatness of the earth, and plenty "of corn and wine. 29. Let people serve "thee, and nations bow down to thee; be "lord over thy brethren, and let thy mo "ther's sons bow down to thee: curse "be every one that curseth thee, and "blessed be he that blesseth thee. 30. And it came to pass as soon as I had made an end of blessing Jacob, a Jacob was yet scarce gone out from presence of Isaac his father, that Esau brother came in from his hunting. 31. A he also had made savoury meat, and broug it unto his father; and said unto his fathe "Let my father arise, and eat of his son "venison, that thy soul may bless me 32. And Isaac his father said unto him "Who art thou?" And he said, "I

thy son, thy first-born Esau." 33. A Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and sa "Who, where is he that hath taken "son and brought it me, and I have "of all before thou camest, and "blessed him? yea, and he shall "blessed." 34. And when Esau he the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and sad unto his father, "Bless me, even me "O my father." 35. And he said, "T "brother came with subtilty, and ha "taken away thy blessing." 36. And said, "Is not he rightly named (a) Jacod "for he hath supplanted me these t "times: he took away my (b) birth-rig " and behold, now he hath taken away "blessing." And he said, " Hast the "not reserved a blessing for me 37. And Isaac answered and said Esau, "Behold, I have made him thy "and all his brethren have I given to "for servants; and with corn and "have I sustained him: and what shall

because at his birth his hand took hold Esau's heel. Gen. xxv. 26.—1 Mede, 226.

(b) v. 36. "Birthright." The manner i which this was obtained by Isaac is s Gen. xxv 30. 34. Esau was faint, and plied to Jacob to feed him with some potta Jacob had: Jacob made it a condition th Esau should surrender to him his birthrigh and Esau complied.

"do now unto thee, my son ?" 38. And Esau said unto his father, "Hast thou but "one blessing, my father? bless me, even * me also, O my father." And Esau lift p his voice and wept. 39. And Isaac his ther answered, and said unto him, "Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. 40. And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother: and it shall come to pass, when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck." And Esau hated Jacob; because of the ssing wherewith his father blessed him: d Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand, then will I slay my brother Jacob."

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And these words of Esau her elder were told to Rebekah: and she sent called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, "Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purpofing to kill thee. 43. Now there

fore, my son, obey my voice: and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother, to Haran. 44. And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; 45. Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence. Why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?"

And Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life, because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?"

CHAP. XXXIV.

ND Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor, e Hivite, the prince of the country, saw T, he took her, and lay with her, and filed her. 3. And his soul clave unto inah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved e damsel, and spake kindly unto the amsel. 4. And Shechem spake unto his ther Hamor, saying, "Get me this damsel to wife." 5. And Jacob heard that e had defiled Dinah his daughter, (now

his sons were with his cattle in the field:) and Jacob held his peace, until they were come. 6. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob, to commune with him. 7. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field, when they heard it, and the men were grieved: and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel, in lying with Jacob's daughter: which thing ought not to be done. 8. And Hamor communed with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longeth "for your daughter: I pray you give her "him to wife : 9. And make ye mar"riages with us, and give your daughters "unto us; and take our daughters unto 6< you. 10. And ye shall dwell with us, "and the land shall be before you: dwell, " and trade you therein, and get you pos"sessions therein." 11. And Shechem said unto her father, and unto her brethren, "Let me find grace in your eyes, " and what ye shall say unto me, I will "give. 12. Ask me never so much dowry " and gift, and I will give according as ye "shall say unto me: but give me the dam"sel to wife." 13. And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem, and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, (because he had defiled Dinah their sister :) 14. And they said unto them, "We cannot do this thing, "to give our sister to one that is uncir"cumcised for that were a reproach unto 15. But in this will we consent "unto you: if ye will be as we be, that 66 every male of you be circumcised: "16. Then will we give our daughters "unto you, and we will take your daugh"ters to us, and we will dwell with you, " and we will become one people. 17. But "if ye will not hearken unto us, to be "circumcised, then will we take our "daughter, and we will be gone." 18. And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. 19. And the young man deferred not to do the thing; because he had delight in Jacob's daughter and he was more honourable then all the house of his father. 20. And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21. "These men are peaceable "with us, therefore let them dwell in the "land, and trade therein: for the land,

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"behold, it is large enough for them: let "us take their daughters to us for wives, "and let us give them our daughters. (6 22. Only herein will the men consent "unto us, for to dwell with us, to be one "people, if every male among us be cir"cumcised, as they are circumcised. << 23. Shall not their cattle, and their sub66 stance, and every beast of theirs be ours? "only let us consent unto them, and they "will dwell with us.' 24. And unto Hamor, and unto Shechem his son, hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25. And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, (c) Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. 26. And they slew Hamor, and Shechem his son, with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house; and went out. 27. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field. 29. And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. 30. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "Ye have troubled me, to make me to "stink among the inhabitants of the land,

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amongst the Canaanites, and the Periz. zites: and I being few in number, they "shall gather themselves together against "me and slay me, and I shall be destroyed, "I and my house." 31. And they said, "Should he deal with our sister, as with harlot ?"

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(c) v. 25. "Simeon and Levi." This perfidy and cruel y brought down upon them the denunciation of their father, when he called his sons together to tell them what should befall them in the Last days, and when he pronounced over their younger brother Judah the important prophecy, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, "nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until "Shiloh come: and unto him shall the gather"ing of the people be." Gen. xlix. 5 6.7. 10. On this prophecy see Newton, and 2 Hales, 168.

CHAP. XXXIX.

AND Joseph was brought down to

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Egypt: and Potiphar an officer ci Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyp tian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmae lites, which had brought him down thither 2. And the LORD was with Joseph, and was a prosperous man: and he was in house of his master the Egyptian. his master saw that the LORD was with and that the LORD made all that he prosper in his hand. 4. And Joseph in grace in his sight, and he served him: he made him overseer over his house, a all that he had he put into his hand. 5.An it came to pass, from the time that be made him overseer in his house, and ove all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake: d the blessing of the LORD was upon all he had in the house, and in the fi 6. And he left all that he had in Joseph hand; and he knew not ought he h save the bread which he did eat: Joseph was a goodly person, and wal favoured. 7. And it came to pass afte these things, that his master's wife ar her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, "L "with me.' "8. But he refused, and s unto his master's wife, "Behold, "master (d) wotteth not what is with " in the house, and he hath commit "that he hath to my hand. 9. Ther 66 none greater in this house thal "ther hath he kept back any the 66 me, but thee, because thou "wife: (e) how then can I do this "wickedness, and sin against G? 10. And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened mor unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11. And it came to pass, (f) about this

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I time that Jofeph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12. And she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me :" and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 13. And it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 14. That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, "See, he hath brought in an He

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brew unto us, to mock us: he came in "unto me to lie with me, and I cried with

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loud voice. 15. And it came to pass, "when he heard that I lifted up my voice, "and cried, that he left his garment with "me, and fled, and got him out." 16. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17. And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant which thou hast "brought unto us, came in unto me to

mock me. 18. And it came to pass, as I lift up my voice, and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out." 19. And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, "After this man

ner did thy servant to me;" that his wrath was kindled. 20. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the pri son. 21. But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand, all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him: and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

(g) v. 4. "Joseph's brother." Joseph and Benjamin were the only children Jacob had by Rachel, his favourite wife.

(b) v.9. "The dreams which he dreamed of "them." They are recorded Gen. xxxvii. 7.9. The one signified, that he should be above his

CHAP. XLII.

when Jacob saw that there was

NOW corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, "Why do ye look one upon another?"

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2. And he faid, "Behold I have heard "that there is corn in Egypt: get ye down "thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die." 3. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4. But Benjamin, (g) Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren: for he said, "Lest peradventure "mischief befall him." 5. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him, with their faces to the earth. 7. And Joseph saw his brethren: and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, "Whence "come ye?" and they said, "From the "land of Canaan to buy food." 8. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. 9. And Joseph remembred (b) the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, "Ye are spies; to see the "nakedness of the land you are come." 10. And they said unto him, "Nay my "lord, but to buy food are thy servants 66 come. 11. We are all one man's sons:

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we are true men, thy servants are no "spies." 12. And he said unto them, "Nay, but to see the nakedness of the "land you are come." 13. And they said, "Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan ; "and behold, the youngest is this day "with our father, and one (i) is not.' 14. And Joseph said unto them, "That " is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye "are spies. 15. Hereby shall ye be proved;

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brethren, and his brethren would make obeisance unto him, and the other, that his father and mother, and also his brethren, would bow down themselves before him.

(i) v. 13. "is not," i. e. "is dead.”

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