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CHAPTER XXI,

PROPHECIES CONCERNING JACOB AND ESAU, AND THE SONS OF JACOB.

WE have already seen that Abraham predicted the state and condition of his posterity by Ishmael, who was the son of the bond woman. The prophecies relative to Isaac, the son of the free woman, are much more numerous; but we shall only select some of those which have reference to these latter ages.

It was promised to Abraham before Ishmael or any son was born to him.

"In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

But after the birth of Ishmael and Isaac, the promise was limited to Isaac: "For in Isaac shall thy seed be called." Gen. xxi. 12. And accordingly, to Isaac was the promise repeated:

"In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Gen. xxvi. 4.

The Saviour of the world was therefore not to come of the family of Ishmael, but of the family of Isaac; which is an argument for the

truth of the Christian religion, in preference to the Mahometan, drawn from a prophecy made 2000 years before Christ; and many more before Mahomet was born.

The land of Canaan was promised to Abraham and his seed, four hundred years before they took possession of it. Gen. xv. It was promised again, to Isa.::

"For unto thee and to thy seed I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto thy father Abraham." Gen. xxvi. 3.

Now it is very well known, that it was not until after the death of Moses, who wrote these things, that the Israelites got possession of the land under Joshua. They remained in possession of it several ages in pursuance of these prophecies; and afterwards, when for their sins and iniquities they were to be removed from it, their removal also was foretold; both the carrying away of the ten tribes, and the captivity of the two remaining tribes, for seventy years; and likewise their final captivity, and dispersion into all nations:

It was foretold that the families of Esau, and Jacob should grow up into two different people and nations:

"Two nations dost thou bear, and two manner of people shall be separated from thee."

The Edomites were the offspring of Esau, as the Israelites were of Jacob; and who but the Author and Giver of life could foresee, that two children, unborn, would multiply into two nations?

Jacob had twelve sons, and their descendants all united, and incorporated into one nation. And what an overruling Providence it was, that two nations should arise from the two sons only, of Isaac But they were not only to grow up into two nations, but into two very different nations.And have not the Edomites and the Israelites, been all along two very different peoples in their manners, and customs, and religions; which made them perpetually to be at variance with one another? The children struggle together before their birth, which was a token of their future disagreement.

The religion of the Jews is very well known; but whatever the Edomites were at the first, in process of time, they became Idolaters. And Amaziah king of Judah, after he had overthrown the Edomites, 2. Chron. xxv. 14, brought their gods, and set them up to be his gods;" which was strangely absurd, as the prophet remonstrates: "Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?" verse 15. Upon D. d. 2.

these religious differences, and other accounts, there was a continual grudge and enmity between the two nations. The king of Edom would not suffer the Israelites, on their return out of Egypt, so much as to pass through his territories. And the history of the Edomites afterwards, is little more than the history of their wars with the Jews.

David and his captains made an entire conquest of the Edomites, 2 Sam. viii. 14, and all they of Edom became David's servants. In this state of servitude, they continued about 150` years, governed by viceroys appointed by the kings of Judah. But in the days of Jehoram they revolted, and made a king over themselves. Afterwards, Amaziah king of Judah subdued and carried them into captivity. Judas Maccabeus attacked and defeated them many times. with great slaughter. Lastly, his nephew Hyrcanus, the son of Simon, reduced them to the necessity of embracing the Jewish religion; whereupon they submitted to be circumcised, and even afterwards were incorporated into the Jewish church and nation.

In all spiritual gifts the younger was to be greatly superior, and to be the happy instrument of conveying the blessing to all nations:

"In thee, and in thy seed, shall all the families. of the earth be blessed."

And hitherto are to be referred, in their full force, those expressions: "Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee; and blessed be he that blesseth thee."

Jacob was a man of more religion, and believed the Divine promises more, than Esau. The posterity of Jacob likewise preserved the true religion, and the worship of one God, while the Edomites were sunk in idolatry. And of the seed of Jacob, was born the Saviour of the world. This was the peculiar privilege and advantage of Jacob, to be the happy instrument of conveying these spiritual blessings to all nations. This was his greatest superiority over Esau; and in this sense the Apostle Paul understands and applies the prophecy: "The elder shall serve the younger." Rom. ix. 12. Thus Christ, the Saviour of the world, was to be born of some one family, and we have seen Jacob's was preferred to Esau's. When the Gentiles were converted to Christianity, the prophecy was fulfilled literally: "Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee."

The nation of the Edomites were, at several times, conquered by, and made tributary to the Jews; but never the nation of the Jews, to the Edomites; and the Jews have been the more

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