Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/214

 The Book of Genesis

196

among

emplified

the

nations

of

the

earth.

Even

as

the

and hated Isaac because tliey saw that the Lord was with him and had blessed him, and bade him depart from their hmd, whither they cared not, even out into the burning desert, if need be, to perish of thirst and hunger, so, too, the nations have again and again envied and hated Israel because the Lord was with it, and have bidden it begone, they cared not wdiither nor to what fate. And time and again Israel has yielded its rights to the wells of life-giving water which it has dug, and has moved onward and ever onward. It has cost it dear, and its sufferings have been bitter. But God has always been with it, and it has always found new wells from which it might drink and not it alone, but the whole world might drink with it. For Israel has dug wells, not for itself alone, l)ut for all mankind. It is Israel's sacred task, imposed upon it by its religious genius, to dig the spiritual Avells which the world shall seize, and from which it shall drink. Israel yields its wells for the sake of peace and of the knowledge of God. And still we repeat reverently the time-honored prayer of our fathers, ''Grant us peace, Thy most precious gift, O Thou eternal source of peace, and enable Israel to be a messenger of peace unto the peoPhiHstines

envied



ples of the earth".

And

today,

it

seems,

"Enmity" have been

left

the

wells

far

behind,

of

and drawCovenant",

''Contention"

and

we

are

"The Well of the world will come together and say, "Let us make with one another a covenant of peace and brotherly love, whereby we shall no more seek one another's hurt nor disadvantage, but we shall ever dwell together in peace and unison, hel})ing one another, and living the life which God has meant that we should live". It seems as if this blessed time is approaching slowly but surely. And if only Israel remains worthy of its birthright, and performs its Godappointed task faithfully and loyally, tlien God will continue ing

close

where

all

to

the

Beer-Sheha,