Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/128

 before him. But Esau,  rejoicing  to  see  his  brother  Jacob,  ran  to meet  him  and  embraced  him  with  many  tears. Then, perceiving the children,  he  asked:  “Whose  are  those?”  Jacob  replied:  “They are the  children  which  God  hath  given  me.”  And,  making  a sign to them,  they  all  advanced,  and  bowed  down  before  Esau. Jacob then presented  Esau  with  several  flocks. But Esau  refused  them, saying: “I  have  plenty,  my  brother;  keep  what  is  thine  for  thyself!” Jacob insisted,  and  said: “I  beseech  thee,  take  the  blessing  which



God hath  given  me!”  Then  Esau  yielded  to  his  prayer,  and Jacob, full  of  gratitude  for  the  protection  of  God,  continued  his journey, and  arrived  in  the  land  of  Chanaan. He came  to  Salem, a city of  the  Sichemites,  where  he  bought  a field; and  then,  mindful of  his  vow,  he  repaired  to  Bethel  to  offer  sacrifice  to  the  Lord. Thence he  went  south  to  Hebron,  where  his  aged  father  lived. On the  way  (near  Bethlehem)  his  wife  Rachel,  died  after  having given birth  to  Jacob’s  youngest  son  Benoni  or  Benjamin  (Fig. 10).