Legends of the Patriarchs and Prophets: And Other Old Testament Characters from Various SourcesBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
Legends of the Patriarchs and Prophets: And Other Old Testament Characters from Various Sources
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Bible. Old Testament -- Legends
But according to certain Rabbinic authorities Esau sold his birthright
not only for the mess of lentiles, but also for a sword that Jacob
had--to wit, the sword of Methuselah, wherewith he had slain a thousand
devils.[373]
Esau had the garment which God had made for Adam,[374] on which were
embroidered the forms of all the wild beasts and birds that were on the
face of the earth, in their proper colors. This garment had been stolen
by Ham from Noah in the ark, and had been given by him to Cush, who
gave it to Nimrod. Esau killed Nimrod, and took from him his painted
dress, and thenceforth all the success in hunting which had attended
Nimrod devolved upon Esau.[375]
The story of the blessing of Jacob and Esau has not become surrounded
with many fables. The following are the most remarkable. Esau on that
occasion went forth in such haste to catch the venison, that he forgot
to take with him Nimrod’s garment, and therefore was not successful
in hunting, as on former occasions, and Jacob took advantage of this
forgetfulness to assume the embroidered coat.[376]
And when the meat was ready, and Isaac began to eat thereof, he was
thirsty, and there was no wine for him in the house. So an angel was
sent to him out of Paradise, and brought him the juice of the grape
that grows there on the vine that was created before the foundations of
the earth were laid.[377]
Isaac was so angry at having been deceived by Jacob, that he was about
to doom him to Gehinnom, after he said, “_Where is he that hath taken
vension, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest,
and have blessed him?_” But he paused to prepare his curse.
Then God suddenly opened hell to him beneath his feet, and he looked
into it, and saw the abyss of fire and darkness, and his horror
rendered him speechless; but when he recovered his voice, he resolved
that no child of his should descend there; therefore he added, “_Yea,
and he shall be blessed._”[378]
The Mussulmans relate the history of Esau and Jacob much as it stands
in the Book of Genesis. They add that the benediction of Esau was
fulfilled in his having a son named Roum, from whom sprang the Greek
and Roman empires.
This is also a Rabbinical tradition, for the Talmudists say that Esau
had a son named Eliphaz, who had a son, Zepho, from whom Vespasian and
his son Titus were descended, and thus they attribute the destruction
of Jerusalem to the struggle of Esau to break the yoke of Jacob from
off his neck.
Esau is said by the Rabbis to have had four wives, in imitation of
Satan, or Sammael, as has been already related.
Abulfaraj says that Esau made war with Jacob, and was killed by him
with an arrow.
Jacob feared Esau, for Esau said in his heart, “I will not do as Cain
did, who slew his brother Abel in the lifetime of his father, after
which his father begat Seth; but I will wait till the days of mourning
for my father are accomplished, and then I will kill Jacob, and so I
shall be the sole heir.”[379]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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