27:13. And his mother said to him: Upon me be this curse, my son: only
hear thou my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I have said.
27:14. He went, and brought, and gave them to his mother. She dressed
meats, such as she knew his father liked.
27:15. And she put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at
home with her:
27:16. And the little skins of the kids she put about his hands, and
covered the bare of his neck.
27:17. And she gave him the savoury meat, and delivered him bread that
she had baked.
27:18. Which when he had carried in, he said: My father? But he
answered: I hear. Who art thou, my son?
27:19. And Jacob said: I am Esau, thy firstborn: I have done as thou
didst command me: arise, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may
bless me.
I am Esau thy firstborn... St. Augustine (L. Contra mendacium, c. 10),
treating at large upon this place, excuseth Jacob from a lie, because
this whole passage was mysterious, as relating to the preference which
was afterwards to be given to the Gentiles before the carnal Jews, which
Jacob by prophetic light might understand. So far is certain, that the
first birthright, both by divine election and by Esau's free cession
belonged to Jacob: so that if there were any lie in the case, it could
be no more than an officious and venial one.
Pages:
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108