The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 3 · Section 14 – Section 19
SECT. XIV.
ABraham being now 140 years old, and the Lord having bleſſed him in all things, he began to think of providing a fit Wife for Iſaac his Son, who was at this time 40 years of age. And underſtanding that his ſecond Brother Nahor (whom he had left at Haran in Meſopotamia, when he firſt came into Canaan) had by Milchah his Wife eighth Sons (whereof one was Bethuel Father of Rebecca) and four by Reumah his Concubine, I ſay hearing theſe tyding of his Brother, and of his numerous Off-ſpring, he had a mind to ſend his chief Servant and Steward (ſuppoſed to be Eliezer, who had the Charge of all his Concerns) to his Kindred there, to ſeek a Wife among them for his Son. Therefore calling him to him, and acquainting him with the buſineſs, he required him to ſwear (k)A practice uſed by Maſters of Families in taking an Oath of any of their houſhold, in token of homage, ſubjection and faithfulneſs; ſo Jacob required of Joſeph, Ch. 47.29.to him, by putting his hand under his thigh, (l)Though the uſual cuſtom of ſwearing was by lifting up the hand to the moſt high God.that he would not take a Wife for his Son of any of the Daughters of the Canaanities (becauſe he would not have his Seed mix themſelves with that profane and Idolatrous people, whoſe blood his Poſterity was to ſhed without pity, and to ſucceed in their room) but ſhould go to his own Country to Charran to ſeek for a Wife there, where was the trueſt Worſhip of God, next to that in his own Family, though indeed very much corrupted, as we may ſee in Laban, Ch. 31.30, 53. The Servant very diſcreetly objected, that poſſibly a Woman of that Country would not be willing to come along with him ſo far, nor would marry his Son on ſuch Termes, as to leave her own Relations, and come and dwell in Canaan. Therefore if his Son would have a Wife from thence, in all likelihood he muſt conſent to go and dwell there. And if they in Meſopotamia ſhould inſiſt on ſuch terms as theſe, he deſires to know what his Oath ſhould bind him to. Abraham tells him, that by no means he muſt conſent that Iſaac ſhould go and dwell there, both becauſe they were too Corrupt in Religion, and becauſe Iſaac's going to dwell there would be in a ſort to renounce the Land of Promiſe. He muſt rather live here as a Stranger and Sojourner, by Faith as he himſelf had done. But he bids the Servant not to be over-careful in that matter, for God would ſend his holy Angel to guide and direct him, and ſhew him what he was to do. And if the Woman he ſhould chuſe for a Wife for his Son, would not be willing to come along with him, he ſhould be free of his Oath. On theſe terms therefore the Servant undertook the buſineſs, and ſware to him to perform what he enjoyn'd him. Then providing himſelf of all things needful for ſuch an undertaking, that he might ſet out in a Port and Equipage agreeable to the greatneſs and wealth of his Maſter, he took 10 Camels and Servants anſwerable, and furniſhed himſelf with Proviſions for ſo long a Journey, and carried with him many rich Preſents of all ſorts to preſent his Maſters Kindred with, as there ſhould be occaſion, and to ſhew what a mighty man of Wealth his Maſter was. Thus furniſh'd, he began his Journey, and after ſeveral days travel he came to Haran where Nahor his Maſters Brother dwelt. And coming thither about eventide, the time that the young women of the City us'd to go out to a Well hard by to fetch Water, he cauſed his Camels to kneel down, and be unloaded near that Fountain, that ſo they might bait and be watered, and reſt themſelves. This done, he betook himſelf by ſolemn prayer unto God, humbly intreating him to proſper him in the buſineſs he came about. And then (as 'tis like) by the ſpecial motion of Gods Spirit,(m)Without the like warrant we may not attempt the like. he humbly deſired of the Lord to give him a ſign whereby he might know the perſon that his Providence had appointed for Iſaac, and that this in particular might be the ſign, namely, that that Damoſel among thoſe that came out to draw Water, who when he intreated her that he might drink of her Pitcher, ſhould anſwer, Drink thy ſelf, and I will give thy Camels drink alſo, might be the perſon, whom He ſhould look upon as deſigned for His young Maſter. For that thing would argue her to be of a good ingenuous, friendly, hoſpitable nature and diſpoſition. Immediately upon this, Rebecca, Daughter of Bethuel, and Grand-Child of Nahor Abraham's Brother, came with her Pitcher to draw Water, being a Virgin of great beauty and comelineſs. The Servant ſeeing Her, addreſſes himſelf immediately to her, and deſires to drink of her Pitcher; ſhe readily gave it him, and freely offered to draw water for his Camels alſo. The man wondering at her Civility and Courteſie, began ſilently to conſider with himſelf, whether this was not a clear evidence that God had heard his prayer, and made his Journey ſucceſsful, and had now pointed out the Damoſel to him that was pointed for Iſaac. And then asking her whoſe Daughter ſhe was, ſhe told him Bethuels, the Son of Nahor by Milca his lawful Wife. He then acquainted her (as 'tis like) whoſe Servant he was, and from whom he came, and preſented her with a Jewel for her Forehead, and two Bracelets for her Hands. Then ſecretly worſhipping God, and praiſing of him that he had dealt ſo mercifully with his Maſter, and had led him His Servant in the right way to take his Brothers Grand-Child for his Son; he asked her if they had any room in her Fathers houſe for him and his Company. She told him, They had. And then immediately ſhe ran to tell them of her Mothers houſe what had happened; For it ſeems it was the cuſtom of thoſe times and places for the Women to dwell in Tents and Houſes by themſelves apart. See v. 67. Rebecca had a Brother whoſe Name was Laban, who hearing theſe things, and ſeeing the Jewel and Bracelets on the Forehead and Hands of his Siſter, by the appointment (as 'tis like) of his Father and Mother, (who were both ancient) he went to the Man, and ſaluting him kindly, ſaid, Come thou bleſſed of the Lord, thou art welcome unto our houſe, which is ready to receive thee. Eliezer readily and thankfully accepted his kindneſs, and went along with him unto his Houſe. When they were come thither, Laban ungirded his Camels, and gave them Provender, and gave water to Eliezer, and the other Servants that were with him to waſh their Feet, (after the manner of thoſe Eaſtern Countries) and then they ſet Meat before them. But Eliezer (like a faithful Servant that was more intent upon his buſineſs than his belly) told them, That he would not eat till he had acquainted them with his Errand. And then he declared unto them that he was Abraham's Servant, that God had extraordinarily bleſſed his Maſter with great Riches, that his Wife Sarah had born him a Son when ſhe was very aged, that this Son was to be his Heir, that his Maſter had made him ſwear to him that he ſhould not take a Wife for his Son of the Daughters of the accurſed Canaanites, but of his own Kindred, That he had objected to his Maſter that peradventure ſuch a Damoſel would not be willing to come with him ſo far from her own Relations, that his Maſter had anſwered, That God would ſend his Angel with him to direct and proſper him, and he ſhould find a Wife for his Son among his own Kindred; and if he could not find ſuch an one among them that would be willing to come, he ſhould be clear of his Oath. Upon theſe terms he undertook this Journey, and when he came to the Well without their City, he prayed unto the Lord to proſper him in his buſineſs, and that by ſuch a ſign he might know the Damoſel God had appointed for his Maſters Son, and this ſign he found pointed him clearly to Rebecca. Theſe things being all true and real, he deſired them that they would pleaſe to deal kindly and uprightly with his Maſter, and to let him have a direct anſwer, concerning this great and weighty matter, that he might know whether to turn to the right hand, or to the left, that is, that if they conſented not, he might ſomewhere elſe look for a Wife for his young Maſter. Then Laban (who as 'tis like had the managing of all their affairs, his Father being old) ſpake in the Name of them all, and told the Servant that the thing ſeemed to proceed from the Lord, and from his all-wiſe Providence, and therefore they could not ſpeak unto him either good or bad. Good reaſons they had none againſt this motion, and bad they would not urge, ſo that they had nothing to ſay againſt it. And therefore he ſhould have their free conſent to have Rebecca for his Maſters Son (provided ſhe were willing) ſeeing God had declared his good pleaſure therein by pointing Her out to him by that ſign. When Eliezer heard this, he worſhipped God, bowing himſelf to the ground. Then he preſented Rebecca with ſome rich picces of Gold and Silver plate, and with rich Suits of apparel, and preſented her Mother alſo and her Brother with rich Gifts. All things having thus proſperouſly ſucceeded, Eliezer and his Company were now willing to eat and drink with Laban, which having done, they repoſed themſelves there that night. Then riſing early the next Morning (Eliezer like a man that ſeriouſly minded his buſineſs) deſired them to haſten him away with his young Miſtreſs. Her Mother and Brother were not willing ſo ſoon to part with her, but deſired that ſhe might ſtay with them at leaſt ten days before ſhe went. But Eliezer was impatient of ſo long a ſtay, and therefore intreated them that ſeeing the Lord had ſo eminently proſpered him in his buſineſs hitherto, he might now haſten home to his Maſter. They replied, They would call Rebecca, and ſee what ſhe ſaid to it. Rebecca expreſſing a modeſt willingneſs to go (provided it might be with their good liking.) They ſaid, They ſaw the thing was of God, and therefore ſhe ſhould go. Then ſolemnly bleſſing her, and praying that ſhe might be the Mother of thouſands of Millions, (that is, of an innumerable Poſterity, who might poſſeſs the Gates of their Enemies) they forthwith ſent her away with Deborah her Nurſe, and ſome young Maids to attend her. Rebecca with Her Attendants being thus committed to the Care of Eliezer, they began their Journey towards Canaan; and after ſome days travel, they drew near to Beerſheba where Abraham and Iſaac dwelt. It being now Eventide, Iſaac was walking in the Fields to pray and meditate. His walk was in the way (n)Veniebat ea via qua itur ad puteum.that leads to the Well Lahai-roi, where on a ſudden lifting up his eyes, he ſaw the Camels coming towards him. Rebecca ſeeing him at ſome diſtance, ask'd Eliezer who He was; and he telling her it was Iſaac his young Maſter, ſhe immediately lighted off from her Camel, and took a Veil and covered her face in token of modeſty and ſubjection. When they met, the Servant told Iſaac all that had happened, and preſented Rebecca to Him. Iſaac joyfully receiv'd and welcom'd Her, and forthwith conducted her into his Mother Sarahs Tent,(o)Women it ſeems had their Tents apart, ſee Ch. 31.33. which it ſeems at her death (about three years before) had been reſerv'd with its Furniture for his Wife: And ſoon after He took her for his Wife, by ſolemn marrying of her, and loved her exceedingly, and was highly pleaſed with Her. So that the great grief he had before lien under for his dear Mothers death, was now well mitigated and abated by the Comforts he had in his new Wife.
Ch. 24. whole Chapter.
SECT. XV.
ABraham having thus happily diſpatched that weighty buſineſs of his Sons marriage, he took to himſelf another Wife, (p)Non libidine motus, ſed amore prolis, & ex divino inſtinctu, ut ex eo ſemen inter gentes quo que multiplicaretur.by name Keturah, when he was about 140 years old. For though forty years before that time his body was as it were dead, [Rom. 4.19.] as to any humane likelihood of begetting Children, yet God who ſtrengthen'd him then to beget Iſaac, did (it ſeems) now renew that Maſculine vigor and ſtrength to him (to make good his Promiſe of multiplying his Seed, Ch. 17. 5. in others alſo, though principally in Iſaac) that he inabled him to beget ſix Sons of Keturah in his old age. To theſe he gave portions, (as he had done before to Iſhmael the Son of Hagar, being his Children by his Concubines)(q)By this it appears that not only they were called Concubines, who (as Hagar) were taken after a man was married, to be as it were partner-wives, or by-wives, for the right of the Bed, and propagation of Children, though not ſolemnly betrothed, nor taken with Dowry, nor to be partners in the Government of the Family, but to be ſubject to the lawful Wife, and their Children were not to inherit except the Father pleaſed (as Bilhah's and Zilpah's did extraordinarily becoming heads of Tribes) I ſay not only ſuch as theſe were called Concubines, but ſecond Wives taken after the firſt was dead, were ſo called becauſe their Children had no right of Inheritance. and before his death ſent them away into the Eaſt-Country, into part of Arabia, a good way off from Iſaac, the Heir of the Promiſe, whom he made the ſole and full heir of all his remaining Eſtate; thus teſtifying his Faith that only Iſaac and his Seed ſhould enjoy the Land of Canaan.
Chap. 25. from 1. to 7.
SECT. XVI.
REbecca continued 19 years barren after her Marriage, but at laſt upon Iſaac's prayer, (who had prayed many years for her) the Lord was intreated to bleſs her with power to Conceive, and ſhe conceived Twins, who ſtrugling in her Womb, ſhe ſaid, If it be ſo, why am I thus? that is, if it be ſo that I am indeed with child, why am I thus? what is the reaſon I feel ſuch a ſtrange, and extraordinary and painful ſtrugling in my Womb more than other women do that are in my Condition? Hereupon ſhe betook her ſelf either by her own private prayer, or by ſome Prophet to inquire of the Lord what the meaning of it ſhould be. The anſwer ſhe received was, That ſhe had two Sons in her Womb, that ſhould be the heads of two ſeveral Nations, [viz. Edomites and Iſraelites] that theſe two Nations ſhould differ very much one from the other. They ſhould be divided in habitation, and ſhould differ very much in their Laws, Religion, and Manners; that Eſau for ſome time ſhould be greater than Jacob [ſee Ch. 27.43. & Ch. 32. & 33.] and the Edomites ſhould be more potent than the Iſraelites, [ſee Numb. 20.18.] yet in concluſion the Elder ſhould ſerve the Younger, that is, the Iſraelites ſhould ſubdue the Edomites, [2 Sam. 8.14. 1 Kings 22.47. Obadiah v. 17, 18.] And the younger ſhould have a great preheminence above the Elder in reſpect of Spiritual priviledges; he ſhould have the Birthright, and the Inheritance of the Land of Promiſe; out of his Loins the Meſſiah ſhould come; and the bleſſing of the Adoption and Covenant ſhould be conferred on him and his Poſterity. All theſe bleſſings ſeem contained in that Oracle, v. 23. The Elder ſhall ſerve the Younger. See Rom. 9.12. But yet 'tis probable, Iſaac did not rightly underſtand this Prediction, as Rebecca did, which made the one ſeek ſo much to favour Eſau, the other Jacob. And 'tis likely that this was the very reaſon why Rebecca believing it to be thus decreed of God, did ſo confidently afterwards plot and contrive to have the bleſſing conferred on the younger, contrary to the mind and intention of Iſaac. When the time of her delivery came, the firſt that came forth was Red and all over hairy, and they called his name Eſau, which ſignifies made or perfected, as if he were born a Man rather than a Child. Then came forth the other, taking hold on Eſau's heel, [Hoſea 12.3.] as if he would have pull'd him back; that he might be born before him; which was doubtleſs purpoſely ſo diſpoſed by the Providence of God, as a ſign preſaging what ſhould afterwards come to paſs, to wit, that he ſhould overthrow and ſupplant his Brother, and get the Birthright and Bleſſing from him; and accordingly his Name was called Jacob, that is, an holder by the heel, or a Supplanter.
Ch. 25. from v. 20. to 27.
SECT. XVII.
ABraham lived after the birth of Jacob fifteen years, with whom he is ſaid to have lived in Tents, Heb. 11.9. By Faith he ſojourned in the Land of Promiſe as in a ſtrange Country, with Iſaac and Jacob, the Heirs with him of the ſame promiſe. And now being 175 years old, (an 100 years after his firſt coming into Canaan) he gave up the Ghoſt, and was gathered to his people, that is, the Society of the Juſt, ſuch as he was. He was buried in the Cave of Machpelah with Sarah his Wife, by his Sons Iſaac and Iſhmael; which latter, though never received again into his Fathers Family after his firſt diſmiſſion, yet dwelt not ſo far off, but that he heard of his Fathers death, and came to his Burial. Iſaac after his death dwelt by the Well Lahairoi [ſee Ch. 16.14.] and there the Lord exceedingly bleſſed him.
Ch. 25. from 7. to 12.
SECT. XVIII.
ABout this time Heber, the 5th from Noah, died, 430 years after the Birth of his Son Peleg, (Gen. 11.17.) This man lived the longeſt of any that was born after the Flood, and outlived Abraham himſelf, and from him Abraham came firſt to be ſirnamed the Hebrew, Gen. 14.13. And in after-times all the Poſterity of his Grand-Child Jacob, were called by the ſame Name, Gen. 40.15. I was ſtolen away (ſays Joſeph) out of the Land of the Hebrews; whence obſerve, that Canaan was called the Land of the Hebrews while the Canaanite was ſtill living in that Land.
SECT. XIX.
ESau and Jacob being now grown up, diſcovered themſelves to be of very different tempers, and different ways of life. Eſau was a cunning Hunter, and a man of the Field, like Nimrod or Iſhmael, valorous and fierce, and following his Pleaſure: Jacob a good plain man dwelling in Tents, living a plain Shepherds life, keeping home, and looking to houſhold affairs, a man of little Note in Compariſon of his Brother. Now Iſaac's affection was moſt to Eſau, becauſe he obſerv'd his officiouſneſs, care, and diligence to pleaſe him, and to provide ſuch meat for him as he loved, which he took as a ſign that he did greatly reverence, reſpect, and love him. And He thought of the Two He would prove the moſt able and active, and fitteſt for great Imployments, and the beſt and ſtouteſt ſtay and ſupport of His Family. Yet in all this Iſaac did not ſo well conſider (as he ſhould have done) the divine Oracle concerning Jacob, recorded verſ. 23. And 'tis like on this account Rebeccas affection was moſt to Jacob. But to proceed on in the ſtory of theſe two Brothers, Jacob one day had provided for himſelf red pottage made of Lentils, (a kind of pulſe) and poſſibly had put ſome Cordial Ingredients into it, which not only coloured it, but made it ſeem very deſirable to the palat. This, though a ſmall matter, yet conduceth (as we ſhall ſee) to the fulfilling of a great Promiſe, Ch. 27.29. Eſau comes in from hunting with an Hunters ſtomach, extreme ſharp ſet, and ready to faint, and ſeeing this Broth, and having a ſtrong Appetite to it, he earneſtly deſires Jacob to give him ſome of it. Jacob (as it ſeems) apprehending the Birthright [according to the Oracle, verſ. 23. The Elder ſhall ſerve the younger] to belong to him, he makes uſe of this his Brothers preſent neceſſity, and asks him to ſell him his Birthright for the pottage. Eſau feeling himſelf faint, and ready to die with hunger, ſaid, What will my Birthright (with all the Priviledges belonging to it) profit me if I inſtantly die? Therefore relieve my preſent neceſſity, and take it. But Jacob would not take his bare word for it, but requires that he ſhould ſwear to him that He ſhould have (r)The Priviledges of the Birth-right were theſe: 1. Lordſhip over his Brethren, Ch. 4.7. & 49.3. 2ly, A double portion of goods, Deut. 21.17. 3ly, The right of Preiſthood after the Fathers deceaſe, until the Preiſthood was transferred on the Tribe of Levi, Numb. 8. from 16. to 20.it. Eſau does ſo, and thereupon Jacob gave him bread and pottage. And his ſo greedily deſiring red pottage, and ſo ungraciouſly deſpiſing and ſelling his Birth-right for it, [ſee Heb. 12.16.] got him the Nickname, and brand of Edom, which ſignifies red. And when he had eaten and drunk his fill, he went away like one that had deſpiſed his Birth-right. Yet poſſibly afterwards he did think of recovering it again by force, or ſome other way from his Brother; for we find him after this, pleading his Birth-right to his Father, Ch. 27.32.
Chap. 25. from 27. to the end.