The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-08-19
BserI for the hand Of bis daughter in


and Isaac Should thou marry wives
from other nations the one wife Of the
Hittites might lose her influence and
power. but with two there would be
nothing to fear"
Esau paused aud thought What
was this step leading him to?
II agree" at last he said
Away 30 long and you return
mpty-handed." exclaimed Isaac. In dis
appointment, when Esau entered his
tent after reaching home. rs thy hand
losing It's cunning?"
NAY, father. but It is wife and
not an antelope this time"
"A wife!" exclaimed Isaac. what
meanest thou?"
II mean that fair Hittite damsel
Is to become my wife"
And how came you to be among the
| Hittites?'' asked Rebexah. who came
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"
"Oh, why need we be 80 narrow and
bigoted? Are not the nations about
us rich and powerful. and will not al
lance with them strengthen the place
L nf ns,r 70 mil IN ha la
| sponded with much show of spirit
"Yes, but future blessing L. sacri-
ficed for seeming present gain. As God
forbade thy grandfather Abraham from
taking for his son Isaac a wife OF the
people about him. so he forbids Isaac
to permit his sons to marry into the
nations about. II thou wouldst marry
go to Haran and there pick thee wife
from among thine own people"
"Oh. Esau,' cried the weeping moth
err, bring not this sorrow upon us.
Listen to thy father; dol"
Esau felt annoyed by 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
tions about them were as good as any
he might find at Haran. He even vent
so far In his blind unreasOn as to de-
clare that the nations about them had
as good right to have their gods and
worship as did they. and as far as he
knew they were as apt to be right as
were the children Of Abraham and
Isaac.
my son. thou shalt not talk 80.
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 to
claim his bride. He had lived In hopes
! that his parents would relent and ac-
company him. for Chief Beeri was
planning to make avery great wedding
and was proudly counting on the pres
| e1ce of Esau's family.
"And will .ou not go with me?" said
Esau, a dark frown settling upon his
face.
1--WE cannot, my son. and be faithful
to our God" replied Isaac. with trem-
bling voice, while tears stood In his
eyes, for It was great grief to him
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 the
sorrowing parents watched him out Of
sight.
"Esau," said his wife Judith, some
months after their marriage and re-
| turn to Beersheba, where the great
docks and herds Of Isaac and his sons
fed, II am weary of this strife with
thy mother. am cut OF from mine
own people and yours refuse to receive
me. Let US return to the Hittite conn
try"
Nay" replied Esau. startled by the
woman's unexpected request, II cannot
go while my father lives. I must re-
main with him that-f may receive the
eldest sons portion"
Then bring some OF my people here.
Oh, that Bashemath we're with me.
Dost thou remember thy promise 70
my father? Go and redeem 1t. Bash
emath will come. and the household OF
Esau will be greater than the house,
A hold Of thy father"
f'But II my father objected tn one
| wife of the Hittites, what will be say
Of two?" asked Esau, anxiously, fear
ing to stir up more trouble In his fam
lily.
GO and the blessing Of the gods OF
tina Hittites will be with thee. As for
the god which thy father worships,
know him not"
Thus 1t came to pass that Esau re-
turned to the land OF the Hittites and
1 took Bashemath. the daughter of Elon,
to be his wife and brought her back to
his fathers country, and though there
was no welcome for her among his own
people. Judith was content. and the
two Hittite women sought how they
might turn the heart OF Esau entirely
away from the God Of his fathers and
follow only the gods which the HIT
tItes worshipped. And thus It trans-
pired that instead of Esau winning his
wives to the faith of the God Of Abra-
ham and Isaac. they turned his heart
AFTER strange gods and made him IN.
II allan - fho h1oaoluv ~ C<>d Ana a. ~