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Abraham. Rebecca to conceaue. But the litle ones strugled in her womb; who said: If it should be so with me, what need was there to conceaue? And she went to consult our Lord. Who answering said: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shal be diuided out of thy womb, and one people shal ouercome ther other, and ″ the elder shal serue the yonger. Now her time was come to be deliuered, and behold twinnes were found in her womb. He that came forth first, was red, and al hairie in manner of a skinne: and his name was called Esau. Immediately the other comming forth, held his brothers plant in his hand: and therfore he called him Iacob. Threescore yeares old was Isaac, when the litle ones were borne vnto him. Who being growne vp, Esau became a man cunning in hunting, & a husband man: but Iacob a plaine man dwelled in tents. Isaac loued Esau, because he did eate of his hunting: and Rebecca loued Iacob. & Iacob boyled broth: to whom Esau being come faynt out of the field, said: Giue me of this red broth, because I am exceeding faint. For which cause his name was called Edom. To whom Iacob said: ″ Sel me thy first-birth-right. He answered, Loe I dye, what wil the first-birth-right auaile me? Iacob said: Sweare therfore to me. Esau sware to him, and sold his first-birth-right. And so taking bread and the rice broth, did eate, and drinke, and went his way; litle esteeming that he had sold his first-birth-right.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXV.

6. To the children of his concubines.) S. Augustin (li. 16. c. 34. de ciuit) sheweth that both Agar and Cetura, being Abrahams lawful wiues (for so they are called in holie Scripture) are also called concubines, because they had not like priuiledges to Sara, whose sonne was sole heyre to his father, and the children of the others had only guifts (or moueable goods) not attayning to the promised Kingdom. And al this for mysterie sake. For Ismael signified the carnal people before Christ, the children of Cetura prefigured Heretikes, who suppose themselues to pertaine to the new Testament, but are separated no lesse then the Iewes from Christs Kingdom. And albeit there was also an other particular reason why Agar was called concubine, because she was a second wife the first then liuing, yet this lerned father saith, he did not see why Cetura, being maried after the death of Sara, should be called concubine, but only for this Mysterie.

21. Heard him.) Notwithstanding Gods assured promise, that Isaac should haue issue (Gen. 21. v. 12) yet he prayeth instantly for the same. And Moyses here attributeth Rebeccas conceiuing to Isaacs prayer. Wherby we see that Gods foreseeing, predestinating, and promising, exclude not, but indeed include secondarie causes, and ordinarie meanes, by which his eternal wil and pleasure is fulfilled. For as God did foresee that Rebecca should haue children, Rh