au; for they being
twins, and in all things else alike, differed only in this thing.
This was done out of his fear, that before his father had made his
supplications, he should be caught in his evil practice, and lest he
should, on the contrary, provoke his father to curse him. So he brought
in the supper to his father. Isaac perceivest to be Esau. So suspecting
no deceit, he ate the supper, and betook himself to his prayers and
intercessions with God; and said, "O Lord of all ages, and Creator of
all substance; for it was thou that didst propose to my father great
plenty of good things, and hast vouchsafed to bestow on me what I have;
and hast promised to my posterity to be their kind supporter, and to
bestow on them still greater blessings; do thou therefore confirm
these thy promises, and do not overlook me, because of my present
weak condition, on account of which I most earnestly pray to thee. Be
gracious to this my son; and preserve him and keep him from every thing
that is evil. Give him a happy life, and the possession of as many good
things as thy power is able to bestow. Make him terrible to his enemies,
and honorable and beloved among his friends."

7. Thus did Isaac pray to God, thinking his prayers had been made for
Esau. He had but just finished them, when Esau came in from hunting. And
when Isaac perceived his mistake, he was silent: but Esau required that
he might be made partaker of the like blessing from his father that
his brother had partook of; but his father refused it, because all
his prayers had been spent upon Jacob: so Esau lamented the mistake.
However, his father being grieved at his weeping, said, that "he should
excel in hunting and strength of body, in arms, and all such sorts of
work; and should obtain glory for ever on those accounts, he and his
posterity after him; but still should serve his brother."

8. Now the mother delivered Jacob, when she was afraid that his brother
would inflict some punishment upon him because of the mistake about the
prayers of Isaac; for she persuaded her husband to take a wife for Jacob
out of Mesopotamia, of her own kindred, Esau having married already
Basemmath, the daughter of Ismael, without his father's consent; for
Isaac did not like the Canaanites, so that he disapproved of Esau's
former marriages, which made him take Basemmath to wife, in order to
please him; and indeed he had a great affection for her.

CHAPTER 19. Concerning Jacob's Flight