Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/272

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The Book of Genesis

254

he could turn the bargain to his advantage, and thereby he

would provide

himself and his

for

The

have his revenge.

old,

family,

deceitful Jacob

he had merely lain dormant during

he was again awake and active.

all

and would also was not dead

these years.

Now

Apparently these fourteen

and suffering and seeming ])urihcation had Only the outer surface of his nature had been altered; but the depths of his soul had not yet been

years

of

trial

availed naught.

reached.

So these

six years passed

And whenever

his

and changed

again,

knew how

and Jacob prospered materially.

perplexed and enraged uncle deceived him his

wages, as he did repeatedly, Jacob

to profit thereby.

And

he accounted for his suc-

and possibly also to himself, by the old, God was with him. Truly God was still with him, despite his deceit. But Jacob had now come to understand and interpret it, that God was with him only to protect and prosper him in his cunning. He had almost forgotten during these six years of prosperity through deceit, what the real purpose of God's being with him was. Not improbably, too, during these six years his thoughts of home and his longing for the dear ones there had grown weaker and weaker. His desires and ambitions were centered upon something else. In all likelihood he had ceased cess to his uncle,

oft-repeated claim that

to all

condemn himself it

differed but

Laban,

What

and of

for his treatment of his brother.

little

this

his

from

his

present

After

conduct toward his uncle course

of

life

approved.

were beginning to eye him askance, and to mutter suspicions that they were being It was clear that sooner or later they must defrauded? separate under present conditions they could not al)ide together long; and the parting must be in enmity and hatred. But meanwhile Jacob would ]:»ush his advantage to the utmattered

it

that Laban's sons



most.

And

better

nature

if

his conscience at times

sought

to

reassert

reproved him, or his

itself,

he knew

how

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