Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/293

Rh 275

Jacob and Bsaii in a

moment, and peace and happiness were restored between

them.

So

at

last

was forgiven, not only by Esau,

Jacob's sin

but also by God, just because, as the wise rabbis taught, Jacob had done all he could to right his wrong, and had at

Then God, too, was free to obtained Esau's pardon. The hardest thing in the w'orld is to acknowledge Yet, strangely that we have done wrong and to ask pardon. enough, it is the one thing which shows a truly great nature,

last

forgive.

anger and bring peace. If only acknowledge their sins and seek forgiveness, surely men would be nobler, and this world would be a better and happier place to live in. Thus Jacob became a true man at last, worthy of the

and which is certain people were quicker

birthright

to abate to

and of God's love and

And

blessing.

at last, as

he had prayed, he returned in peace to his father's house. It must have been a joyful as w^ell as a sad home coming; sad because of the absence of the beloved mother, who had

made such

whom father

a great sacrifice for him, as

he could never still alive,

and

to

now

he

be able to

and

old happy somewhat him recompense

but

repay;

realized,

find

to

his

We

can picture Jacob now a loving, dutiful son, seeking only to bring happiness And Isaac must have been truly happy to his old father. for the great

wrong done

in his last years.

in

a ripe old

At

age,

to

him.

last Isaac

and was

was gathered

laid

to

by

rest

to his

his

fathers

two sons,

Jacob and Esau, in the Cave of Machpelah, at the side of the companion of his life and his love, Rebekah. But Jacob lived on for many years, purified and ennobled,

doing the will of God, working blessing

in

every

way he

and living worthy of the birthright of his fathers. heard much in these lessons of repentance, and of have We did not repent, and therefore had to suffer the who people Now we have come of their sins. consequences inevitable

could,

to

know one who

truly

repented; and

we

realize

all

that \n