The land and the Book; or, Biblical illustrations drawn from the manners and customs, the scenes and scenery of the Holy Land . conduct ofLaban, and afterward in that of Jacob—a most undisguised and grievousfavoriti&in. Laban searches all beforehe visits Rachels tent, because bhe was the pet of his ownand of Jacobs family; and so, when Jacob prepared for theworst in the immediate prospect of a hostile visit from Esau,he placed the handmaids and his sons by them foremost,Leah and her children next, and Eachel and h^^r son last;that, as he said about the cattle, if Esau come to the onecompany an
The land and the Book; or, Biblical illustrations drawn from the manners and customs, the scenes and scenery of the Holy Land . conduct ofLaban, and afterward in that of Jacob—a most undisguised and grievousfavoriti&in. Laban searches all beforehe visits Rachels tent, because bhe was the pet of his ownand of Jacobs family; and so, when Jacob prepared for theworst in the immediate prospect of a hostile visit from Esau,he placed the handmaids and his sons by them foremost,Leah and her children next, and Eachel and h^^r son last;that, as he said about the cattle, if Esau come to the onecompany and smite it, then the other company shall was there the least attempt to disguise this offensiveand injurious favoritism, even in this hard extremity. Thereis nothing generous in the whole matter; nothing like say-ing, These are all my children; I can not choose betweenthem; come life, come death, it shall come upon us all to-gether. Far, far from this noble spirit. He in effect says, You handmaids and your children go first; if any are tobe killed, let it be vou. And Leah, go you and your sonsVol. II.—B. 26 THE LAND AND THE BOOK. next. (Would she not in her heart of hearts say, Henever loved me, and is willing now to sacrifice me and mysons, if by doing so he can make an additional opportunityfor his beloved Eachel and Joseph to escape?) Such isthe unmistakable English of this whole manoeuvre, and,no doubt, those concerned understood and remembered itlong after that dreadful day of trial. This story needs tworemarks to set certain matters in their proper light. Thefirst is, that Jacob, in this aflEViir, is no more than a type ofevery Arab emeer in the country, and, indeed, of nearlyevery Oriental household. Such favoritism is, and alwayshas been, the prevailing custom of the East. He thereforedid nothing but what the laws and domestic regulations ofhis day and generation sanctioned. The second remark is,that we have in this conduct of the father an exp
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