The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04
Lest I faint with woe and care.


And Esau looked. and 10, Judith walked
in the grove of the Temple Of Baal and
Bashemath with her. And Judith ceased
singing and wept. And Esau was seized
with madness. and he rose up swiftly and
followed them. And when he came nigh
unto them he lifted up his voice and spake
and said, Daughter Of Beeri. why weepest
thou?"
And fear fell upon Judith and upon
Bashemath likewise, so that they answered
nothing. But Judith lifted UP her eyes and
beheld how that the flesh of Esau had
wasted away so that his bones well-nigh
pierced his cheek. and how he trembled as
one in a great illness. Yet she answered
nothing. Then came Esau unto Judith and
put his arm about her and clasped her, and
he needed not the presence of Bashemath
And he besought Judith. saying. Thou wilt
not go unto the son Of Heth?"
And she answered. weeping: "Our fathers
have taken the oath and the daughters of
Baal and Asherah have cried for the mar
riage-woe is me! But thou earnest not,
and now the time is past"
But Esau said, Not so.'' And he put
her from him and stood apart from her,
and he said: MY asses wait in the way
from Hebron to Beersheba. Come, let us
be going
But Judith was ashamed. And she drew
back the sleeve of her gown and showed
him the signs of Baal and Asherah written
in her skin upon her arm. after the custom
of the Hittites, and she said: 1T were not
meet for son of Abraham to take to wife
a daughter of the idolaters."
But Bashemath said: "It were not meet
for a daughter of Heth to marry. except
she wed a man of her own house,
Then Esau leaned and kissed the arm of
Judith. where the sign was written. saying,
mot for Baals sake, whom 1 know not.
but for thine And he said unto Judith,
Come" And she followed him. And
Bashemath followed after them till they
came to the way where the asses stood
and Bashemath cried aloud and said: Take
me also. L pray thee, for verify fear to
return to my fathers house."
And Esau looked at Judith, and her eyes
entreated him, and he said unto Bashe-
math. Because of the love 1 bear unto
Judith. thy friend. shalt thou come. See
thou serve her faithfully
And he put them on the asses and they
| journeyed to Beersheba: and they met no
| man of the Hittites to say them nay.
| Now, when they drew near to Beersheba
| to the tents of Isaac. 10, Isaac stood al
| the door. And when he saw that of truth
| there were women on the asses, his heart
| smote him, and he turned and went into
| his tent. And Rehecka came unto him to
| be with him. And when Esau had come
| to the door of the tent. he put Judith and
| Bashemath off from the asses and took
| them to his father. And Esau and judith
knelt before Isaac; and Esau said: "Bless
me, my father, and the maiden judith
| for my sake; and she shall be a daughter
to thee and a comfort in thine old age
But Isaac rent his clothes and said: BE.
| hold my grief for that thou hast done thi:
| thing which is contrary to the law of Abra.
ham, thy father. and mis- God. Moreover
thou hast kept the matter hidden from me
ana hath used deceit with the father that
| loved thee
| Then said Esau: "It may be that have
/sinned in the one respect. but in this latter
thing 1 am guiltless, for 1 thought mo-
| when I went forth TO Kirjath-Arba thai
| these things would happen
But Isaac said unto him: "Thy mothe
and thy brother have borne witness t,
] these things
Then was Esau wroth, and he rose III
and told unto Isaac all things as they haC
happened from the beginning. And Re
becka was ashamed. And Esau knelt anS
besought his father to bless him. Anc
| Isaac believed the words of Esau. and al
| do,,0 oh 70
of Heth, he forgave Esau and blessed hin
with tears.
And Judith said: 'Wilt thou not bles
me also, o father of Esau, that 1 be no
cause of contention in thine house, blu
a daughter to thee In thine old age
But Rebecka cried out against 1t an,
said: "Bless not the daughter of Ash
1 taroth. the shameful goddess. For is sh
not as the idol of Ishtar of Babylon whenc
thy father Abraham fied?"
And Esau denied 1t and said: 9TH
daughters of Heth worship not Astarte o
the two-horned Ashtaroth."
And Judith said unto Isaac: Bear wit
me yet a little while, for 1 have bee
taught the sacrifice to Baal from my yout
up Yet will love thy God for thy sake
and for the sake of Esau, my husband.
And Esau lifted Judith and held her an
kissed her in the presence of Isaac an
Rebecka, and he said unto her: Thou ar
my love and my hearts delight. Yet be
| link thee. Canst thou yield UP tn
dreams of the desert. which we both love
for .hy husbands sake? For I must tarr
with my father"
And Judith clave unto Esau and said
"Thou art my lord and my master, an
| all things unto me whatsoever I hav
dreamed
And they tarried there. And Esau too
Judith to wife, and Bashemath also, 70
Judith's sake, lest the children of tn
tents wrong her. because that she was a
idolater. And they abode there many year
at Beersheba, which is the Well of tn
Oath. And they were happy. And Isaa
loved Juuith for the sake of Esau, hi
first born, but the daughters of Heth wer
| a grief of mind to Jacob and Rebecka.
|