the antiquities of the jews-1-第16章
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father's consent; they brought away their sister。
2。 Now while Jacob was astonished at the greatness of this act;
and was severely blaming his sons for it; God stood by him; and
bid him be of good courage; but to purify his tents; and to offer
those sacrifices which he had vowed to offer when he went first
into Mesopotamia; and saw his vision。 As he was therefore
purifying his followers; he lighted upon the gods of Laban; (for
he did not before know they were stolen by Rachel;) and he hid
them in the earth; under an oak; in Shechem。 And departing
thence; he offered sacrifice at Bethel; the place where he saw
his dream; when he went first into Mesopotamia。
3。 And when he was gone thence; and was come over against
Ephrata; he there buried Rachel; who died in child…bed: she was
the only one of Jacob's kindred that had not the honor of burial
at Hebron。 And when he had mourned for her a great while; he
called the son that was born of her Benjamin; (39) because of the
sorrow the mother had with him。 These are all the children of
Jacob; twelve males and one female。 … Of them eight were
legitimate; … viz。 six of Lea; and two of Rachel; and four were
of the handmaids; two of each; all whose names have been set down
already。
CHAPTER 22。
How Isaac Died; And Was Buried In Hebron。
From thence Jacob came to Hebron; a city situate among the
Canaanites; and there it was that Isaac lived: and so they lived
together for a little while; for as to Rebeka; Jacob did not find
her alive。 Isaac also died not long after the coming of his son;
and was buried by his sons; with his wife; in Hebron; where they
had a monument belonging to them from their forefathers。 Now
Isaac was a man who was beloved of God; and was vouchsafed great
instances of providence by God; after Abraham his father; and
lived to be exceeding old; for when he had lived virtuously one
hundred and eighty…five years; he then died。
BOOK II。
Containing The Interval Of Two Hundred And Twenty Years。
From The Death Of Isaac To The Exodus Out Of Egypt。
CHAPTER 1。
How Esau And Jacob; Isaac's Sons Divided Their Habitation; And
Esau Possessed Idumea And Jacob Canaan。
1。 After the death of Isaac; his sons divided their habitations
respectively; nor did they retain what they had before; but Esau
departed from the city of Hebron; and left it to his brother; and
dwelt in Seir; and ruled over Idumea。 He called the country by
that name from himself; for he was named Adom; which appellation
he got on the following occasion : … One day returning from the
toil of hunting very hungry; (it was when he was a child in age;)
he lighted on his brother when he was getting ready
lentile…pottage for his dinner; which was of a very red color; on
which account he the more earnestly longed for it; and desired
him to give him some of it to eat: but he made advantage of his
brother's hunger; and forced him to resign up to him his
birthright; and he; being pinched with famine; resigned it up to
him; under an oath。 Whence it came; that; on account of the
redness of this pottage; he was; in way of jest; by his
contemporaries; called Adom; for the Hebrews call what is red
Adom; and this was the name given to the country; but the Greeks
gave it a more agreeable pronunciation; and named it Idumea。
2。 He became the father of five sons; of whom Jaus; and Jalomus;
and Coreus; were by one wife; whose name was Alibama; but of the
rest; Aliphaz was born to him by Ada; and Raguel by Basemmath:
and these were the sons of Esau。 Aliphaz had five legitimate
sons; Theman; Omer; Saphus; Gotham; and Kanaz; for Amalek was not
legitimate; but by a concubine; whose name was Thamna。 These
dwelt in that part of Idumea which is called Gebalitis; and that
denominated from Amalek; Amalekitis; for Idumea was a large
country; and did then preserve the name of the whole; while in
its several parts it kept the names of its peculiar inhabitants。
CHAPTER 2。
How Joseph; The Youngest Of Jacob's Sons; Was Envied By His
Brethren; When Certain Dreams Had Foreshown His Future Happiness。
1。 It happened that Jacob came to so great happiness as rarely
any other person had arrived at。 He was richer than the rest of
the inhabitants of that country; and was at once envied and
admired for such virtuous sons; for they were deficient in
nothing; but were of great souls; both for laboring with their
hands and enduring of toil; and shrewd also in understanding。 And
God exercised such a providence over him; and such a care of his
happiness; as to bring him the greatest blessings; even out of
what appeared to be the most sorrowful condition; and to make him
the cause of our forefathers' departure out of Egypt; him and his
posterity。 The occasion was this : … When Jacob had his son
Joseph born to him by Rachel; his father loved him above the rest
of his sons; both because of the beauty of his body; and the
virtues of his mind; for he excelled the rest in prudence。 This
affection of his father excited the envy and the hatred of his
brethren; as did also his dreams which he saw; and related to his
father; and to them; which foretold his future happiness; it
being usual with mankind to envy their very nearest relations
such their prosperity。 Now the visions which Joseph saw in his
sleep were these : …
2。 When they were in the middle of harvest; and Joseph was sent
by his father; with his brethren; to gather the fruits of the
earth; he saw a vision in a dream; but greatly exceeding the
customary appearances that come when we are asleep; which; when
he was got up; he told his brethren; that they might judge what
it portended。 He said; he saw the last night; that his
wheat…sheaf stood still in the place where he set it; but that
their sheaves ran to bow down to it; as servants bow down to
their masters。 But as soon as they perceived the vision foretold
that he should obtain power and great wealth; and that his power
should be in opposition to them; they gave no interpretation of
it to Joseph; as if the dream were not by them undestood: but
they prayed that no part of what they suspected to be its meaning
might come to pass; and they bare a still greater hatred to him
on that account。
3。 But God; in opposition to their envy; sent a second vision to
Joseph; which was much more wonderful than the former; for it
seemed to him that the sun took with him the moon; and the rest
of the stars; and came down to the earth; and bowed down to him。
He told the vision to his father; and that; as suspecting nothing
of ill…will from his brethren; when they were there also; and
desired him to interpret what it should signify。 Now Jacob was
pleased with the dream: for; considering the prediction in his
mind; and shrewdly and wisely guessing at its meaning; he
rejoiced at the great things thereby signified; because it
declared the future happiness of his son; and that; by the
blessing of God; the time would come when he should be honored;
and thought worthy of worship by his parents and brethren; as
guessing that the moon and sun were like his mother and father;
the former; as she that gave increase and nourishment to all
things; and the latter; he that gave form and other powers to
them; and that the stars were like his brethren; since they were
eleven in number; as were the stars that receive their power from
the sun and moon。
4。 And thus did Jacob make a judgment of this vision; and that a
shrewd one also。 But these interpretations caused very great
grief to Joseph's brethren; and they were affected to him
hereupon as if he were a certain stranger; that was to those good
things which were signified by the dreams and not as one that was
a brother; with whom it was probable they should be
joint…partakers; and as they had been partners in the same
parentage; so should they be of the same happiness。 They also
resolved to kill the lad; and having fully ratified that
intention of theirs; as soon as their collection of the fruits
was over; they went to Shechem; which is a country good for
feeding of cattle; and for pasturage; there they fed their
flocks; without acquainting their father with their removal
thither; whereupon he had melan