To prevent an alliance with the Canaanites, Abraham sent his confidential servant to Bethuel, the son of his brother Nahor, and then living in Mesopotamia, to select from B. C. his family a wife for Isaac:-Rebecca was chosen, (1) and Isaac married her in the 40th year of his age.(') 1856. Gen. xxiv. After which, Abraham married Keturah, and had by her six sons, to whom he gave portions, and sent them away in the lifetime of Isaac, eastward into the east country, where their posterity was afterwards known as the Midianitish nation.

Ten years after the marriage of Isaac died Shem, (2) aged 600 years, (2) 98 of which he had lived before 1846. the Flood. Of the postdiluvian history of this patri

arch nothing is recorded in Scripture but what refers to the blessing pronounced upon him by his father. Some authors suppose that he might be the same person as Melchisedek; (see Prophecy, 3rd Period) by him however the traditional history of the world received from Methusaleh and Adam, might have been transmitted to Isaac.

Twenty years after the marriage of Isaac were (3) born his twin sons Esau and Jacob, (3) whose future 1836. fortunes had been revealed to Rebecca previous to

their birth;* (Gen. xxv. 22, 23.) fifteen years after (4) which died Abraham, aged 175, (4) and was buried 1821. by his sons Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah. (For a view of the revelations made to this patriarch, and his typical character and actions, see Prophecy, 3rd Period, F.) After the death of Abraham, Isaac removed from Hebron to Gerar, where passing off Rebecca for his sister, he was near losing her to the people, and his prosperity exciting the envy of Abimelech, king of

**It is said that Rebecca" went to enquire of the Lord," by which we may infer that there was some oracular mode of obtaining divine guidance and instruction. Dr. Hales quotes a tradition noticed by Abulfaragi, that responses of this sort were given by Melchisedek, king of Salem.

the country, he insisted upon his removing to a distance from him; in consequence of which, Isaac settled at Bersheba, where God appeared to him and renewed to him the covenant and promises made to his father. Here also he soon afterwards received a visit from king Abimelech, who made a league with him, to secure himself from any ill effects to himself and his posterity from the in- B. C. creasing power of the patriarch. (5) Gen. xxvi. 1-33.

(5)

1804.

In the mean time Esau and Jacob grew up, and applied themselves to the occupations best suited to their respective dispositions. Esau became "a cunning hunter, a man of the field," and Jacob was "a plain man dwelling in tents.” Esau returning hungry from the chase, was tempted to purchase his brother's pottage, even at the price of his birthright, Gen. xxv. 27-34; and at 40 years of age he still farther disgraced himself, by marrying two Canaanitish women, (6) "which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebecca," Gen. xxvi. 34, 35.

()

1796.

The next event, in the order of time, is the death of Ishmael, aged 137; (7) having seen his posterity (7) established in considerable power: "and they dwelt 1773. from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest towards Assyria; and he died in the presence of all his brethren." Compare Gen. xxv. 12-18, and xvi. 11, 12. (see also Prophecy, 3rd Period.)

Isaac now declining into the vale of years, purposed to bestow upon Esau the blessing which had been pre-ordained to Jacob, who therefore, by an artful contrivance of his mother, secured to himself this pre-eminent distinction, (8) Gen. xxvii. The event proves that al- (8) though in the predeterminate counsels of his wisdom, 1759. God may have reserved to himself the appointment of results, he by no means exonerates his creatures from the responsibility that attaches to the faculty of "free agency" in the adoption of means. In respect to these,

“with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you again" by a just and retributive Providence. To secure himself from the effects of his brother's anger, Jacob was obliged to leave Canaan (and all the comforts and consolations of his paternal home) and seek refuge with his uncle Laban, in Mesopotamia. On his way he had the miraculous vision described, Gen. xxviii. 11-22. (See also Pro phecy, 3rd Period, H.) Comforted with assurances of divine support he pursued his journey, and was kindly received by Laban' to whom he hired himself as a herdsman, and who gave him, in lieu of wages, his two daughters Leah and Rachel in marriage; by whom, and their respective handmaids, Zilpah and Bilhah, he became in pro cess of time, the father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Under the divine blessing, Jacob, notwithstanding the checks he received from the envy and jealousy of Laban, pros pered in all his affairs; and after twenty years service, at B. C. the command of God, he prepared to return into Ca (9) naan. (9) Laban no sooner discovered his departure 1739. than he pursued him; but being divinely warned against molesting his nephew, he suffered him to proceed, after making a league of amity with him. Gen. xxix, xxx, xxxi.

J

Remembering the cause of anger he had given his bro ther, Jacob was now apprehensive of his vengeance; Win deprecation of which, as soon as he approached the boundary of his dominions, he sent messengers with presents to him, entreating leave to pass through his territories on his way to Canaan. On the same night he mysteriously wrestled with the Lord, who changed his name to Israel. (See Prophecy, 3rd Period, H.) The following day Jacob was met by his brother, who professed to forgive him, and they parted friends; Esau returned to Mount Seir, and Jacob proceeded on his journey. Gen. xxxii. and xxxiii. 416.

It must be remarked, that Esau's apparently generous

forgiveness of his brother, was but the transient impulse of that spurious generosity which is often found upon the surface of minds undisciplined by the solid principles of piety to God. That it was not genuine is proved by the enmity which descended to his posterity, and which was afterwards so signally punished in the Amalekites, when they opposed the passage of the Israelites through their territories on their way from Egypt. Exod. xvii. 8, Deut. XXV. 17-19; see also the conduct of the Edomites, the immediate descendants of Esau, Numb. xx. 14-21.

Jacob continued his journey, stopping successively at Succoth, (where he built a house) Salem, near Shechem, (where he bought some land, but was obliged to leave the place in consequence of the outrageous conduct of his sons Simeon and Levi towards the inhabitants,) and Luz, the place where he had had the heavenly vision, and at which he now, by command of God, set up an altar, and called it Bethel, having previously purged his household from every vestige of idolatry. At Bethel died Deborah, the nurse of Rebecca. Jacob proceeded from Bethel towards Hebron where Isaac was still residing, and on the way near Ephrath, Rachael died in childbirth of Benjamin. ()

B. C.

()

Upon his arrival at Hebron Jacob took up his 1731. abode with his father, and soon afterwards, Joseph having rendered himself an object of envy and displeasure to his brethren, (see his dreams, &c. Gen. xxxvii.) they, to rid themselves of him, sold him to some Ishmaelite merchants, and persuaded Jacob that he had been destroyed by wild beasts. (2)

(2)

The Ishmaelites carried Joseph into Egypt and 1728. sold him to Potiphar, "Captain of the Guard," into whose favour and confidence he ingratiated himself by his good conduct, but who at length being incensed against him by the misrepresentations of his wife, threw him into prison. (3)

(3)

About this time died Isaac, aged 180 years, and 1717.

B. C.

was buried by his sons Esau and Jacob in the cave (+) of Machpelah. (*)

1716.

Joseph having recommended himself to the favour of the keeper of the prison, was entrusted by him with the care of the other prisoners, which afforded him the opportunity of interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh's Butler and Baker, (who were then confined there) which ultimately led to his being called to explain those of Pharaoh, and so to his release from prison, and advancement (5) to the first post in the government of Egypt, (5) 1715. see the account, Gen. xxxix, xl, and xli; and divine Providence, under whose direction "all things work together for good to them that love God," bestowed upon this faithful servant the happy privilege of preserving the lives of his father and brethren, and providing for (6) them a safe and honourable settlement in Egypt, (6) 1706. See the history Gen. xlii, xliii. xliv, also the collateral history of Egypt.

Jacob died in the 17th year of his residence in (7) Egypt, aged 147 years, (7) after having bestowed a 1689. prophetic blessing upon each of his sons, in which

the future fortunes of the tribes respectively proceeding from them were shadowed out. Gen. xlix. Upon Joseph he pronounced a peculiar blessing, and gave the pre-eminence to Ephraim his youngest, over Manasseh his eldest son, Gen. xlviii.; he also enjoined Joseph to bury him in the cave of Machpelah, which he accordingly did, conducting the funeral with great pomp and solemnity, Gen. 1. 1-13. Joseph continued in the government of Egypt 54 years after his father's death, during which time

he most affectionately cherished and protected his (8) brethren, and died aged 110 years; (8) having fore1635. told the return of the Israelites into the land of pro. mise, and enjoined that his own bones might not then be left behind in Egypt. With the death of Joseph ends the book of Genesis.