2. Transactions relative to the birthright, or Jacob's cunning
and Esau's roughness. — The disposition of the two brothers is
seen in their respective choice of a calling. Jacob chose the
peaceful, quiet shepherd-life, conducive to meditation and con-
templation. For Esau's rude mind his father's mode of life
was not manly enough — he chose hunting. Even the ancients
remarked the injurious influence which this pursuit exercises
on the mind, as a daily employment. Jerome says, " We find
in Scripture instances of holy fishermen, but not one of a holy
hunter."

Isaac is unable to comprehend his son Jacob. He prefers
Esau because he understands him better ; because he is more
adapted for daily intercourse. And Esau is more drawn to
the father than the mother ; is careful to minister to his
smallest likings. His corporeal strength is pleasant to Isaac,
who sees in him a welcome supplement to that in which he
himself is deficient, a pi'op for his old age ; in Jacob's spiritual
power and spiritual wealth, on the contrary, there is something
strange and uncongenial to Isaac. Here he stumbles on an
element in which he is not at home. The subtle-minded
Kebekah, on the other hand, is drawn towards her counterpart,
Jacob ; and she holds that she is the more justified in prefer-
ring him, since God Himself has already designated him the
heir of the promise. In Jacob's cunning her tendency to
intrigue finds a welcome confederate. She developed this pro-
pensity in the face of that obstinacy which in Isaac, as is so
frequently the case, was united with weakness.
