Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-09-01

Beeri for the hand OF his daughter in
marriage.
Yea, on this one condition.: That
thou wilt take a second wife TO myself
OF the Hittites. The son of the rich
Isaac should never be content with one
wife
But Isaac, my father has but one
wife, why should Esau, his son, have
more,
1T is the custom of the Hittites that
the daughter of a chief shall not be-
come the wife OF man who cannot
afford more than one wife"
But why second wife of the Hit
tites?"
so that the Hittites may be assured
Of their place in the tribe OF Abraham
aid Isaac. Should thou marry wives
from other nations the one wife OF the
Hittites might lose her influence and
nothing To fear"
Esau paused aud thought What
was this step leading him TO?
IL agree" at last he said.
Away so long and you return
empty handed, exclaimed Isaac, in dis
appointment when Esau entered his
tent after reaching home. lis thy hand
losing its cunning?"
Nay, father, but 1t is wife and
not an antelope this time
"A wife," exclaimed Isaac. what
n1eanest thou?"
Il mean that a fair Hittite damsel
Is TO become my wife"
And how came you TO be among the
in at that moment and overheard
Esau's last remark
And while his parents listened with
sinking hearts and darkening brows,
he told the whole story
But, my son" demonstrated the
father God has forbidden alliance
with the heather nations about His
blessing cannot follow you in such
marriage"
ooh. why need we be so narrow and
bigoted? Are not the nations about
us rich and powerful, and will not al
lance with them strengthen the place
of our family in the land?" Esau re-
sponded with much show OF spirit.
Yes. tslt future blessing is sacri-
feed for seeming present gain. AS God
/ forbade thy grandfather Abraham from
taking for his son Isaac wife OF the
/ people about him, so he forbids Isaac
10 permit his sons to marry into the
nations about. II thou wouldst marry
90 10 Haran and there pick thee wife
/ from among thine own people"
ooh. Esau, cried the weeping moth
er, bring not this sorrow upon us.
Listen 10 thy father; do"
Esau felt annoyed BIZ the storm OF
protest, and angrily paced back and
forth. He could not see why they felt
so He thought the women OF the ma
lions about them were as good as any
he might find at Haran. He even went
so far In his blind unreason as TO de-
clare that the nations about tlyers had
as good right 10 have their gods and
worship as did they, and as far as he
knew they were as apt 10 be right as
were the children OF Abraham and
Isaac.
My son. thou shalt not talk so
Leave at once and consider thy words
cried Isaac, now thoroughly aroused.
And Esau arose and departed to his
own tent in anger
The days slipped by and the time
drew near when he was TO return Il
claim his bride. He had lived in hopes
That his parents would relent and &C
company him. for Chief Beer1 was
planning TO make very great wedding
and was proudly counting on the pres
e2ce OF Esau's family.
And Will on not go with me-" said
Esau. dark frown settling upon his
face
we cannot. my son. and be faithful
TO our God" replied Isaac. with trem
bling voice. while tears stood In hi!
eyes for II was a great grief to hin
that his favorite son should thus disre
gard the direct command OF God.
Then go alone" Esau replied. an
grily And he strobe of. while th'
sorrowing parents watched him out o.
sight.