Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/209

 The Well of from

Isaac.

It

knows nothing,

Abraham

ously dug by

same name by him. and

different

It

is

191

same place and given

this

clear that these are actually

two

independent

versions

of

story

the

the one version

tells

logically

original

is

apparently

the

form of this story Isaac played the leading was ascribed only secondarily to Abraham

that this

been stated,

If so, then, as has

which Isaac

entire Bible in It

is

the

Abra-

name Beer-sheba, more and satisfactorily than the Abraham version, it is though by no means absolutely certain, that in the

more complete, and explains probable,

of

that

the covenant, and the other ascribes this role to

Since the Isaac version of the story

Isaac.

and

Covenant

therefore, of a well previ-

this

at

covenant with Abimelech

ham made

the

interesting

to

role,

also.

this is the only story in the

really the principal actor.

is

note that some late Biblical

writer

sought to harmonize these two versions by telling that Isaac

merely reopened the wells which Abraham had previously dug, and which the Philistines had

he inserted vv. 15 and 18 into

filled

XXVI.

two verses confuse the story and disturb this

up.

Accordingly

Not only do its

these

continuity, but

writer failed also to insert a third verse, necessitated

by his attempted harmonization, stating that Isaac merely renewed the covenant with Abimelech which Abraham had

made before him. in

his

task.

Manifestly this writer did not succeed

Certainly

the

smoothly without vv. 15 and

But

wdiile

it

is

story

in

XXVI

reads

more

18.

true that the Bible records only this one

and even in this, as in everything else, makes Isaac the counterpart of his father, nevertheless

original Isaac story, it

a significant truth. God had His servant, to be a blessing unto all the families of the earth, and to bring to them the knowledge He had tested zbraham by bitter of Him and His law. trials, and had proved his fitness for this exalted and exacting mission. After Abraham's death this mission of service

by

this

called

very

fact

Abraham

it

to be

voices