being unable to account for them, consulted the Lord. God answered her, that twins were in her womb; that they should be fathers of two distinct nations ; that their characters, as also that of their descendants, should be extremely different ; that they should contend with each other for the superiority ; that the younger should be victorious ; and that " the elder should serve the younger." This was not fulfilled in the children themselves ; for Esau was stronger than Jacob ; being at the head of a warlike banda while Jacob was only a poor shepherd, and having many generations of great and powerful men, while Jacob's posterity were oppressed with the sorest bondage. But in the time of David the prophecy began to be accomplished1" (we may indeed consider Jacob's obtaining of the birthright as a partial fulfil- ment of it), and in after ages it was fulfilled in its utmost extent ; Edom being made a desolation, while the kingdom of Judah was yet strong and flourishing0. We must not however imagine that this is all that is contained in the words of our text. This prophecy is referred to by the inspired writers both of the Old and New Testament ; and that too in such a way, as to shew that it is of singular importance. The prophet Malachi adduces it in proof of God's par- tiality towards the Jewish nation d: and St. Paul quotes it, to confirm the idea he has suggested of God's determination to reject the Jews, who were the elder part of his family ; and to receive the Gentiles, who were the younger6. The whole train of the Apostle's argumentation in that chapter shews, that he had even an ulterior view, which was, to vindicate the sovereignty of God in the disposal of his favours, whether temporal or spiritual ; and to make every one sensible that he was altogether indebted to the free grace of God for his hopes of mercy and salvation.
To confirm the words in this view, we may observe, I. That God has a right to dispense his blessings according to his own sovereign will —
a Gen.xxxvi. h 2 Sam. viii. 14. c Obad. G — 10, 17, 18 ;
Ezek. xxv. 12 — 14. d Mai. i. 2, 3. e Rom. ix. 10 — 13.