Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/199

 The Wooing of Rchckah

181

Jewish wife and mother, and of every true Jew, and has always been insisted upon by our Jewish religion. The Bible contains many And other prescriptions enjoining considerate treatment of animals. law^s, while possibly originating in some different conception, have come to be interpreted entirely from a humanitarian standpoint. Among such laws we ftnd, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn" (Deuteronomy XXV, 4), "Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fallen by the way, and hide thyself from them" (Deuteronomy XXII, 4), "Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together (Deuteronomy XXII, 10), "Thou shalt not seethe a kid in its mother's milk" (Exodus XXIII, 19; XXXIV, 26; Deuteronomy XIV, 21) and the rabbis taught, "First feed thy beast

and then

thyself."

An

old, rabljinical legend, illustrating this teaching

beautifully told in Whittier's poem, "Solomon and the Ants." All these and many similar laws and legends are summed up in the significant words, "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast" (Proverbs XII, 1). In presenting this lesson the teacher should not fail to lay due stress upon this thought of kindness to animals. But it should be presented not as the main theme, but as incidental to the picture of the true Jewish wife and mother, and the true Jewish w^oman and man. This must remain the main theme of the lesson, just as it is of the

of kindness to animals

story

is

itself.

Rebekah in effectiveness of portrayal and and sympathy evoked in the mind of the reader, is the faithful, old servant. Loyally and efficiently he discharges the responsible mission upon which he has been sent. His thoughts are not for himself at all, but only for his masters welfare. Even before he will touch a Secotid only to

in

the

interest

morsel of food or satisfy his other physical needs, he will tell

his errand.

His

faith in

Abraham was,

even as but that

it

is

in

God

is

unbounded



he

is

sure,

that his journey can not be in vain,

accordance with

God's will and will be

under God's guidance.

Far too frequently the term, servant, is thought to be indicative of inferiority and degradation. We would all be servants. Yet we have masters but few are willing to be

learned that

God

has created us, not to be masters, but to