BOYS OF THE BIBLE. 17

Years pass on and Isaac’s eyes grow dim—dim even to
blindness. The weary patriarch longs for rest, and with one
of those fancies that sometimes stir the desires of old age,
and perhaps are sometimes to be regarded as signs that the
end of life’s pilgrimage is not far off, Isaac yearns for a
savory hunter’s meal, and sending for his son Esau, he begs
him to go forth to the fields and bring him venison. This
is to be a kind of farewell feast. And when the feast is
ended Isaac will give Esau his dying blessing.

The shameful manner in which Jacob, aided by his
mother, deceives his blind old father, and robs his brother of
the old man’s parting blessing, is so simply and so beauti-
fully told in the Bible narrative that we cannot do better
than quote the story as told in the book of Genesis:

“And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his
eyes were 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, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am
old, I know, not the day of my death; now therefore take,
I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go
out to the field, and take me some venison; and make me
savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I
may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And
Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And
Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

“ And Rebekah spake unto Jacob, her son, saying, Behold,
I heard thy father speak unto Esau, thy brother, saying,
Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may
eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. Now
therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I
command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from
thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them