HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 8.-Esau aeparatesfrom Jacob. I. GOD REQUIRES ENTIRE DEVOTEDNESe AND FA 1TH. Edom is allied to the true kingdom, but is not one with it. We may keep in mind the relationship between the descendants of the two brothers, that we may learn the more clearly to distinguish the true heirs of the blessing. II. THE TRUE BELIEVERS SET APART DY SPECIAL GRACE. The rest of the Book of Genesis follows the course of the one family in whose midst the ark of the covenant, us it were, was already resting, where was (1) the revelation of God· and (2) tho special manifestation of his favour, and out of which should come forth (3) tl,e people among tlie peoples, the kingdom among the kingdoms, the Goshen in tlie Egypt, the seed oflife in the world of death.-R. Ver. 31.-lJelay in fulfilment of Go<ls promiaes. Between two stoges of the history of the covenant family stands the genealogy of Esau's descendants. The text sug• gests a contrast between their course and that of the family of Jacob. On the deatl1 of Isaac Esau departed from Canaan with family and possessions (cf. eh. xxvii. 40). The desert and the valleys of Seir were more attractive than quietness of Cannan. Prosperity, such as he cared for, attended him. Among his family we rend of dukes, or heads of tribes, and of kings. And whnt of the line of promise ?-king~ foretold to them (eh. xvii. 6; xxxv. 11). Yet while kings were reigning in Erlom, Israelites were slaves in Egypt or wanderers in the desert. Is God slack to fulfil hi~ word? (1 Pet. iii. 4). This is often o. trial to believers (Ps. lxxiii. 3). But God's promises are sure, though the time may seem long. The fulfilment of promisrs of great hlessings has almost always been slow, as we count it. Abraham waited long (eh. xii. 2). It was long ere tho kingdom of Israel arose; far longer ere the promise of a Saviour fulfi.'.led (eh. iii. 15; Gal. iv. 4); and still we wnit for the Lord's return. The same huth appears in nature. Great nnd precious things are of 11low growth (cf. Mark iv. 5) . .Doctrinal lessons :-1. Delay serves for the trial and strengthening of faith. Fnith grows by enduring trial. Mark how often the faith of eminent saints hns been tried. Without faith we cannot please God; for faith believes God's truth and love, and embruces his will. Unbelief charges God with untruth (eh. iii. 4; 1 John v, 10). TIIE BOOK OF GENESIS. [en. xxxnt. 2-11
Even in believers a leaven of unbelief may be at work. Trials are sent to cause faith to ?evelop into othe;__graces _(James i.~). 2. What springs up quickly is apt to fode quwldy ( cf: Exod. m. 11 _with Hagg,u 1. 2). Danger lest what seemM to be faith be mer~ly feeling. . 3 •. The time that seems ~o lol'!g is not mere delay, but preparation. 'While the seed lies m the earth a process 1s gomg on, though unseen, without which the perfect plant could not be formed. Compare the expression "the fulness of time" (Gal. iv. 4), and the way in which all previous history prepared the way for the coming of Christ. These lessons apply equally to God's dealings with the world and with individuals. . Practical lessons .~1. Encouragement if dishe!lrte~ed by slow progress of Christ's kmg-dom: much labour am?ng the heathen with little apparent result; or many e;fmts at home, ye_t ungod_hness not _checked. We have promises (Isa. Iv, 11; 1 Cor. xv. 58). In his own time God will make them good. 2. In like mnnner if our own striving for personnl holiness, or for good of others, snems to have little success. \\'. e require the training of ~isappointment to _chec.k pride (2 Cor. xii. 7), and God will see to the result (Gal. v1. 9). 3. To bear m mmd that we are but instruments in the Lord'~ hand (1 Cor. iii. 6). Every work to be performed "looking unto Jesus'' (2 Cor. xn, 10).-M.
§ 11. THE GENERATIONS 01!' JACOB (CH, XXXVII. 2-L. 26). EXPOSITION. l. HAvr~o disposed, in the preceding Jacob after delivering his last prophetic section, of the line of Esau by a brief sketch blessing to his sons, and finally the decease of its historical development during the two of Joseph himself at the age of 110 years, and a half centuries intervening between the when, as we learn from the subsequent founding of the Edomite empire by Esa.u's na:i-ra.tive in Exodus, having lost their pro- withdrawing to Mount Seir, and the days of tector at the Court, and a dynastic change Moses, the narrative reverts to the fortunes having taken place upon the throne, of Pha- of the house of Jacob, the story of which, raoh, tho sons of Israel gradually sank into after having suffered a temporary interrup• oppressive and cxliausti:ng bondage. tion, it likewise carries forward to the same 2. By those who repudiate the Mosaic point of reo,~, viz., to the period of the sojourn authorship of Genesis the present section is in Egypt. Commencing with a. glance at variously distributed among the alleged can- the inner family life of the patriarch at didates for the honour of its c01nposition. JIIa.mre in the vale of Hebron, where, on Beyond the ascription of eh. xxxviiL to the returning from Padan-aram, he had finally J ehovist, there is the most complete absence established himself beside his aged and bed- of unanimity among partitionists as to whom ridden father Isaac, it recites the tragic inci- the different portions are to be assigned. dents connected with the sale of Joseph by Oh. mvii. 2-36, which Tuch dccltires to his brethren, after which, first rehearsing the bo the work of the Elohist, Bicek 111firms to further wickedness of Jacob's sons in the have been tampered with by the Jehovist, matter of Tamar, it pursues his eventful while Davidson divides it between II younger career from the moment of his entering Egypt Elohist, the Jehovist, and a subsequent as a slave in the household of Potiphar to redactor. Oh. x:xxix. is, according to David- the time when, arrayed in fine linen and son, almost exclusively the composition of decorated with a golden necklace, he rode in the Jehovist; while, 11ccording to B!eek, it the second state chariot as Pharaoh's prime has proceeded nea.rly en tire from tho pen of minister and ruler over all the land. Then, the Elohist, and Tuch divides it pretty evenly detailing the ¥arious circumstances arising between the two. Tuch again thinks that from the famine which led to his discovery chs. xl.-1. have been supplied by the funda.- of his \Jrethreu, it ends by describing the mental document, and Bicek recognises alter- descent of Jacob and his sons into Egypta.nd ations by the hand of the supplementer; but their settlement in Goshen, the death of Davidson a.pportions m,ost of them to thl en. XXXVJI. 2-11.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 427