, II. Js.uo AND AnIMELECH. _1. Awmelech's request of Isaac. (1) Tbe nature of 1t: 11 demnnd for a forma~ alliance confirmed by the sanctions of religion. "Let there be now an oath betwut us, nnd let us make a covenant with thee." (2) The object of it: his own rather than Isaac's protection. "That thou wilt do us no hurt." Most men suspect their neighbours sooner than themselves. C'hristianity requires saints to be as careful of their neighbour's interests as of their own (Phil. ii. 4). (3) The motive of it: partly selfish fear, and partly a recognition of Isaac's goodness. "Th?u a~t no~ the blessed of the Lord." 2. Isaac's_ receptwn of Abimelech. (1) Cautious rnquuy, "Wherefore come ye to me?" It 1s prudent to try injurious men before we trust them. (2) Generous entertainment. "He made them a feast." Overlooking, as became a good man, their too favourable account of themselves, he gave them welcome to his hospitable board. God's people should not be censorious even in judging enemies; when obliged to suffer, they should forget as well as forgive injuries, and never should they disdain overtures for peace, though made by those who have done them wrong. 3. Solemn adjuration. "And they aware onu to another." Though religion does not lie within the sphere of politics, politics lie ,vithin the sphere of religion. Nothing should be done by a good man that he cannot sanctify by the word of God and prayer (Col. iii. 17, 23). 4. Peaceful dism-issal. "Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.'' Those who come for pence should never go without peace, It is the saint's interest as well as duty to follow after peace (Matt. v. 9). No sooner had Isaac dismissed Abimelech and his mi11i-sters, than hie servants came with tidings of their successful operations in sinking a well. Peace-makers seldom fail to find a recompense (James iii. 18). III. ISAAC AND ESAU. 1. Esau's sinful ma:rri,age. (1) He took more wives than one, which was against the fundamental law of marriage (eh. ii. 24; M11tt. xix. 5); (2) be married Canaanitish women, which was against the will of God, as expressed by Abraham in regard to Isaac's marriage, and doubtless also by Isaac with reference to Eeau's ; and (3) he acted contrary to· his parents' counsel in the matter, which was a violation of that filial duty which he owed his aged parents. 2. Isaac'a bitter grief. (1) Deeply seated as to its intensity, being bitterness of spirit (Prov. xviii. 14); (2) truly religious as to its character, being occasioned chiefly by the circum- stance that Esau'e ill-assorted marriages were not such as Heaven could approve; and (3) sympathisingly shared by Rebekah, whose motherly bosom was also stricken with sorrow at her son's impiety. Learn-I. That God's gracious visits to his people are always admirably suited to their needs in respect of time, place, nnd manner. 2. That when a mnn's ways please God he maketh even his enemies be at peace with him. 3. That while a wise son maketh a glad 4ther, a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
EXPOSITION. however, difficulties connected with this CHAPTER XXVII. reckoning which lay it open to suspicion. Ver. 1.-And it came to paH, that when For one thing, it postpones Jacob's marriage laaao was old,-nccordin~ to the gcnernlly- to nn extremely Inte period, Then it takes nccepted cnlculation, in his one hundred and for granted that the term of J acob's service thirty-seventh year, Joseph, having been in- in Pndan-aram was only twenty yoars (eh. troduced to Pham oh in his thirtieth year (eh. xxxi. 41), whereas it is not certain whether xii. 46), nad hnving been thirty-nine years it was not forty, made up, according to the of nge (eh. xiv. 6) when his father, aged computation oC Kennicott, of fourteen years' ono hundred and thirty (eh. xlvii. 9), came service, twenty ye1trs' ossistince llS a neigh- down to Egypt, must have been born before bour, and six years of work for wages. And, Jacob w11s nine~-ono; consequently, as his lastly, it necessitntes the birth of Jacob's birth occurred m the fourteenth year of eleven children in the short sp-'lco of six Jacob's sojourn in llfosopotnmia (cf. eh. xxx. years, a thing which appears to some, it 25 with xxix. 18, 21, 27), Jacob's flight not impossible, nt least highly improbable. must have taken place when he wo.s eeventy- Adopting tho larger number as tho term of sevea, But Jacob was born in Isnac's sixtieth J acob's sojourn in Mesopotamia, Isaac wouhl yenr (eh. xxv. 26); hence Isaac was now at this time be only one hundreu aml seven• one _hundred a.nd thirty-seven. There ~re, teen (vide 'Chronology of Jllcob's Life,' 33-1 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [cu. XXVII. 1-14