SECTION XLIV.

Isaac's Preparations to bless Esau.

Gen. xxvii. 1-17.

1. And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were (1) dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son. And he said unto him, Behold, (2) here am I.

1. Not able distinctly to perceive objects,-2. I am here ready to do whatever you desire.

1. Who was old? What is here said of Isaac when he was old? Who could not see? Why could Isaac not see? What were dit? Whom did Isaac call? Who was Esau? Whose son was Esau? What son of Isaac was Esau? What did Isaac say to Esau? What answer did Esau give to Isaac ?

2. And he said, (1) Behold, now I am old; I know not the (2) day of my death.

1. Take notice.-2. Time when I shall die.

2. What did Isaac say of himself? Who was old? To whom did Isaac say this? What did Isaac not know? The day of what? Of whose death?

3. Now, therefore, take, I pray thee, thy (1) weapons, thy (2) quiver and thy bow, and go out to the (3) field, and (4) take me some (5) veni

son;

1. Hunting materials.-2. Box for holding thy arrows.-5. Open country.-4. Kill for.-5. Wild animals for food.

3. What was Esau to do? What was he to take? Whose weapons? What weapons was he to take? What was he to do when he had taken his quiver_and his bow? To what was he to go? What was he to take? For whom was he to take some venison ?

4. And make me (1) savoury meat, such as I (2) love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that (3) my soul may (4) bless thee before I die. 1. Very pleasant.-2. Am fond of.-3.I, with my whole heart.-4. Pray for, and pronounce future prosperity unto.

4. What was Esau to make for his father? What kind of meat was he to make? What did Isaac say of this savoury meat? Who loved savoury meat? What was Esau to do with the savoury meat when it

was made? To whom was he to bring it? What was Isaac to do with it? What was Isaac to do to Esau? Whom was he to bless? What was to bless him? When was he to bless him? Before who died?

5. And Rebekah (1) heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son, And Esau went to the field to hunt for (2) venison, and to bring it.

1. Happened to be within hearing.-2. Some wild animal.

5. What is here said of Rebekah? Who heard? When did Rebekah hear? Who spoke to Esau ? Who was Esau? What did Esau do? Whither did Esau go? For what purpose did he go to the field? To hunt for what? What was he to do with the venison? What was he to bring?

6. And Rebekah (1) spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I (2) heard thy father (3) speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

1. Took aside, and seriously advised.-2. Overheard.-3. Give directions.

6. Who spake unto Jacob? Unto whom did Rebekah speak? Who was Jacob? What did Rebekah say to Jacob? What had she heard? Who spoke ? Unto whom did he speak? Who was Esau? Whose brother was Esau ?

7. Bring me (1) venison, and make me (2) savoury meat, that I may eat, and (3) bless thee before the Lord, before my death.

1. Flesh of wild animals.-2. Very pleasant.-3. In the presence of God call down blessings upon thee from.

7. What was Esau to bring? Who was to bring venison? To whom was he to bring venison? What was Esau to do with the venison? What was Esau to make? To whom was he to make savoury meat? What was Isaac fo do with the savoury meat? What did Isaac intend to do after he had eaten of the savoury meat? Whom was he to bless? Before whom was be to bless Esau? Before whose death? What was he to do before his death?

8. Now therefore, my son, obey my (1) voice, according to that which I command thee.

1. Orders,

3. What did Rebekah bid Jacob obey? Who was to obey her voice? What was Jacob to do? Whose

voice was Jacob to obey? According to what? Who was to command? Whom was Rebekah to command? 9. Go now to the flock, and (1) fetch me from (2) thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them (3) savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth;

1. Bring.-2. Among them.-3. Very pleasant.

9. Who was to go to the flock? Whither was Jacob to go? What did Rebekah bid Jacob fetch? How many kids was he to fetch? What kind of kids was Jacob to fetch? From whence was he to fetch them? What was Rebekah to do with the kids? What kind of meat was she to make? For whom was she to make savoury meat? For whose father? Who loved this? What did Isaac love?

10. And thou shalt (1) bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

1. Take.

10. What was Jacob to do with the savoury meat? What was he to bring? To whom was he to bring it? To whose father? What was his father to do? Who was to eat? What did she expect Isaac to do after he had eaten? Bless whom? Who was to bless Jacob? When was he to bless Jacob? Before what?

11. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is (1) an hairy man, and I am (2) a smooth man.

1. All covered with hair.-2. Like other men.

11. Who spoke to Rebekah? Who was Rebekah? What did Jacob say to his mother? What kind of a man was Esau ? Who was a hairy man? Who was Esau? What kind of a man was Jacob? Who was a smooth man? What was the difference between Jacob and Esau?

12. My father (1) peradventure will (2) feel me, and I shall (3) seem to him as a (4) deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing.

1. Perhaps.-2. Put his hand upon my skin, and will then know who I am. 3. Appear.-4. Cheat.

12. What would Jacob's father peradventure do? Feel whom? Who might feel him? What would Jacob seem to his father to be? Who would seem to be a deceiver? To whom would Jacob seem to be a de

ceiver? What did Jacob say he might bring upon himself? And not what? What might he not bring upon himself? By what might he bring a curse upon himself, and not a blessing?

13. And his mother said unto him, (1) Upon me be thy curse, my son; only (2) obey my voice, and go (3) fetch me them.

1. I shall take all the evil upon myself.-2. Do what I bid you.-3. And bring the kids to me.

13. Who answered Jacob? What did his mother say unto Jacob? What was to be upon her? Upon whom did she say the curse would be? What was to be upon Rebekah? Whose curse? Who was Jacob? What was Jacob to do? Obey what? Whose voice? Who was to fetch them? What was Jacob to fetch?

14. And he went and fetched and brought them to his mother and his mother made (1) savoury meat, such as (2) his father loved.

1. Pleasant.-2. Isaac.

14. What did Jacob do? Who went? What did he fetch? (See ver. 9.) To whom did he bring the kids? What did Rebekah do with the kids? What did Rebekah make? Who made savoury meat? What kind of savoury meat did Rebekah make? As who loved? Whose father? What did his father love?

15. And Rebekah took (1) goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were (2) with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son.

1. Of the best clothes.-2. Beside,

15. What did Rebekah take? Who took goodly raiment? What kind of raiment did Rebekah take? Whose raiment was this? Who was Esau? What son was Esau? Whose eldest son was he? Where was the raiment? With whom? In what was this raiment? What did Rebekah do with Esau's raiment? Upon whom did she put them? Who was Jacob? Whose son? What son of Rebekah was Jacob?

16. And she put the (1) skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck.

1. Fur.

16. What did Rebekah do with the skins of the kids?

What was put on Jacob's hands? What skins? What kids? What part of the kids were put on Jacob's hands? Who put the skins of the kids upon Jacob's hands? Where were the skins put, besides on Jacob's hands? The smooth of what? Of whose neck? What was put on the smooth of Jacob's neck?

17. And she gave the (1) savoury meat and the bread, which she had (2) prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

1. Pleasant.-2. Made ready.

17. What did Rebekah do with the savoury meat? Who got them? What was given to Jacob? What did Jacob get, besides the savoury meat? Who bad prepared them? What had Rebekah prepared? To whom did Rebekah give them? Who was Jacob?

LESSONS.

892. Isaac called Esau as if he had been his only son, ver. 1.-Parents ought not to be unreasonably partial to some of their children, nor unjustly neglectful of others.

893. Isaac called Esau, "My son," ," ver. 1.-Parents should treat their children with affection and respect.

894. Esau immediately answered his father, ver. 1. -We should be attentive to our parents, and prompt to answer them.

895. Isaac was old, but knew not the day of his death, ver. 2.-We should always be prepared for death.

896. Isaac directed Esau to go and hunt, ver. 3.— Hunting and field-sports are lawful, and often necessary, for health and subsistence.

897. Isaac loved, and desired savoury meat, ver. 4.Moderate attention to the comforts of the table, is not inconsistent with religion or true piety.

898. Isaac wished to eat of Esau's venison, that his soul might bless him, ver. 4.-we should never allow