Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/246

228 of the birthright of service and blessing which is ours, Wisely, therefore, does the Bible say:

The rabbis likened life to ships which sail the troubled sea. One sails forth from the harbor upon a long and hazardous voyage, and every one is anxious, for they know not what the outcome will be, nor even whether the slip will ever return. And another ship sails slowly and quietly into port, weatherbeaten and worn, yet stately withal; and every one rejoices, for the voyage is done, and the ship comes home laden with precious stores. Truly

So it was with the life of our father Jacob.

One thing above all must be clearly understood, that just as Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, so Jacob and Esau, too, are types. Jacob is the type of Israel and Esau of Edom, Not that the compilers of the story meant to imply that all the evil qualities which they ascribed to Jacob m the beginning were characteristic of Israel They had to depict Jacob thus in order to bring out their thought of the nature and power of repentance and spiritual regeneration. But they meant to imply that in their contrasted qualities Esau and Jacob were types, Esau, the Edomite, the violent hunter, the materialist and sensualist, who despised his birthright and thought only of filling his belly; and Jacob, the Israelite. the "quiet man, dwelling in tents", who desired the birthright and was ready to restrain his passions and make all necessary sacrifices to obtain and keep it. The virtues attributed to Jacob here are really qualities which Israel has always possessed and cherished, though in a loftier way and for a nobler purpose. Israel, too, has aspired to spiritual dignity, honor, and leadership. Israel, too, has ever pre-