Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/242

 The Book of Genesis

224

and

his later children

(X-XI. of

away, after ])roviding for them prop-

order that they might not inherit along with Isaac

in

erly,

lOff.

course,

XXV,



that

the

5f.).

right

In the case of Ishmael this meant, firstborn

of

fell

to

Now

Isaac.

and the

Esau and Jacob must divide There was but a few moments' difference it. in their ages yet Esau was nominally the elder, and to him their

father's

estate,

birthright with

therefore the birthright formally belonged.

But Esau despised

his birthright.

He had

no appreciation

of spiritual things, no desire to bring blessing unto

all

the

and no ambition to become a benePerhaps he might have been willfactor of the human race. ing to accept his birthright, had it been an easy thing, and But it was no easy thing; it laid no burden upon him. meant endless toil and sacrifice, and bearing the burdens of And of these Esau others, and infinite love for fellowmen. was incapable. And "so Esau despised his birthright", but families

of the earth,

Jacob eagerly desired In

it.

likelihood Jacob, too,

all

had

this

at

moment no

full

appreciation of the true nature of the birthright and of the

meant service, sacrifice, and meant dignity, honor, leadership, and privilege for himself, a w'orthy reward indeed. Probably Jacob thought at first rather of this reward than obligations

it

entailed.

blessing for others, but

True, it

it

also

of the service he might render.

centered and ambitious youth. creditable in this tion



for leadershij)

It is

Nor

rightly disciplined

may become

a

common

is

there

trait of self-

anything dis-

and directed, the ambi-

an un(|ualified blessing.

It

and ambitions were altogether wrong, but rather that the means he chose to gain his ends, were ignoble and blameworthy. The story of Jacob is the best proof of the truth that the end never justifies the means. All Jacob's sufferings, and those he brought upon others, were but the outcome of the means he employed to gain his ends. Ultimatelv what he had chained was established as his.

was not

that Jacob's desires