John Calvin on Genesis 24:67

67. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent. He first brought her into the tent, then took her as his wife. By the very arrangement of his words, Moses distinguishes between the legitimate mode of marriage and barbarism. And certainly the sanctity of marriage demands that man and woman should not live together like cattle; but that, having pledged their mutual faith, and invoked the name of God, they might dwell with each other. Besides, it is to be observed, that Isaac was not compelled, by the tyrannical command of his father, to marry; but after he had given his mind to her he took her freely, and cordially gave her the assurance of conjugal fidelity.

And Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. Since his grief for the death of his mother was now first assuaged, we infer how great had been its vehemence; for a period sufficiently long had already elapsed. The time from the death of Sarah to Isaac’s marriage was three years. — Ed. We may also hence infer, that the affection of Isaac was tender and gentle: and that his love to his mother was of no common kind, seeing he had so long lamented her death. And the knowledge of this fact is useful to prevent us from imagining that the holy patriarchs were men of savage manners and of iron hardness of heart, and from becoming like those who conceive fortitude to consist in brutality. Only care must be taken that grief should be duly mitigated; lest it burst forth in impious murmurings, or subvert the hope of a future resurrection. I do not however entirely excuse the sorrow of Isaac; I only advise, that what belongs to humanity, ought not to be altogether condemned. And although it was culpable not to be able to efface grief from the mind, until the opposite joy of marriage prevailed over it; Moses still reckons it among the benefits conferred by God, that he applies a remedy of any kind to his servant.

CHAPTER 25.

Genesis 25:1-34

1. Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

1. Et addidit Abraham, et accepit uxorem, cujus nomen erat Cetura.

2. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

2. Et peperit ei Zimram, et Iocsan, et Medan, et Midian, et Isbah, et Suah

3. And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

3. Et Iocsan genuit Seba, et Dedan. Filii autem Dedan fuerunt Assurim, et Letusim, et Leummin.

4. And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

4. Filii vero Midian, Hephah, et Hepher, et Hanoch, et Abidah, et Eldaah: omnes isti, filii Ceturae.

5. And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

5. Porro dedit Abraham omnia, quae sua erant, ipsi Ishac.

6. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

6. Et filiis concubinarum quas habebat Abraham, dedit Abraham dona; et emisit eos ab Ishac filio suo, quum adhuc viveret, ad Orientem, ad terram Orientalem.

7. And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

7. Porro isti sunt dies annorum vitae Abraham quos vixit, centum anni et septuaginta anni et quinque anni.

8. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

8. Et obiit, et mortuus est Abraham in senectute bona, senex et satur: et congregatus est ad populos suos.

9. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

9. Et sepelierunt eum Ishac et Ismael filii ejus in spelunca duplici, in agro Ephron filii Sohar Hittaei, quae est ante Mamre,

10. The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

10. In agro quem emit Abraham a filiis Heth: ibi sepultus est Abraham et Sarah uxor ejus.

11. And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

11. Et fuit, postquam mortuus est Abraham, benedixit Deus Ishac filio ejus; et habitavit Ishac apud Puteum viventis videntis me.

12. Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

12. Istae autem generationes Ismael filii Abraham, quem peperit Hagar AEgyptia ancilla Sarah ipsi Abraham.

13. And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

13. Et haec nomina filiorum Ismael per nomina sua, per generationes suas: primogenitus Ismael, Nebajoth, et Cedar, et Abdeel, et Mibsam,

14. And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

14. Et Mismah, et Dumah, et Masa,

15. Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

15. Hadar, et Thema, Jetur, Naphis, et Cedmah.

16. These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

16. Isti sunt filii Ismael, et ista nomina eorum per villas suas, et per castella sua, duodecim principes per familias suas.

17. And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

17. Et isti sunt anni vitae Ismael, centum anni, et triginta anni, et septem anni: et obiit, et mortuus est, et congregatus est ad populos suos.

18. And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

18. Et habitaverunt ab Havilah usque ad Sur, quae est ante AEgyptum, dum pergis in Assur: coram omnibus fratribus suis habitavit.

19. And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac:

19. Istae vero sunt generationes Ishac filii Abraham: Abraham genuit Ishac.

20. And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

20. Et erat Ishac quadragenarius, quando accepit Ribcam filiam Bethuel Aramaei de Padan Aram, sororem Laban Aramaei, sibi in uxorem.

21. And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

21. Et oravit Ishac Iehovam respectu uxoris suae, quia sterilis erat: et exoratus est ab ipso Iehova, et concepit Ribca uxor ejus.

22. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

22. Et collidebant se filii in utero ejus, et dixit, Si ita, ut quid ego?

23. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

23. Tune dixit Iehova ad eam, Duae gentes sunt in utero tuo, et duo populi a visceribus tuis separabunt se: et populus populo robustior erit, et major serviet minori.

24. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

24. Et impleti sunt dies ejus ut pareret, et ecce gemini erant in utero ejus.

25. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

25. Egressus est autem prior rufus, totus ipse sicut pallium pilosum: et vocaverunt nomen ejus Esau.

26. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

26. Et postea egressus est frater ejus, et manus ejus tenebat calcaneum Esau, et vocarunt nomen Iahacob. Ishac autem erat sexagenarius, quando peperit eos.

27. And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

27. Et creverunt pueri: et fuit Esau vir peritus venationis, vir agricola: sed Iahacob erat vir integer, manens in tabernaculis.

28. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

28. Et dilexit Ishac Esau, quia venatio erat in ore ejus, et Ribca diligebat Iahacob.

29. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

29. Coxit autem Iahacob coctionem: et venit Esau ex agro, et erat lassus.

30. And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

30. Et dixit Esau ad Iahacob, Fac me comedere nunc de rufo, rufo isto: quia lassus sum: idcirco vocarunt nomen ejus Edom.

31. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

31. Tunc dixit Iahacob, Vende hoc tempore primogenituram tuam mihi.

32. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

32. Et dixit Esau, Ecce ego vado ut moriar, et utquid mihi primogenitura?

33. And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

33. Dixit itaque Iahacob, Iura mihi hoc tempore. Et juravit ei: et vendidit primogenituram suam ipsi Iahacob.

34. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

34. Et Iahacob dedit Esau panem et coctionem lenticularum, et comedit, atque bibit: et surrexit, et abiit, contempsitque Esau primogenituram.