Signs and Wonders by Bernard Evslin Page A

shouting came closer, “Father! Father!” It was Esau’s laughing voice. Isaac heard running footsteps, and the latchets of his tent being thrust aside, and a voice crying, “Father!” He leaped from his couch and stood trembling, knowing it was no dream but Esau returned from the hunt.
    “Father,” said the voice, “I am home from the hunt. I killed you a buck, fat and fine. Here is his haunch all roasted and hot. And a flagon of cool wine.”
    “Who are you?” whispered Isaac.
    “Who am I? I am Esau; who else could I be? Esau, your firstborn.”
    “Are you Esau?” said Isaac. “Then who was it who brought me roasted meat and served it to me and poured out wine—and waited until I had eaten and drunk, and knelt before me and received my blessing? Who was it?”
    “Not I,” said Esau. “I am just home from the wood.”
    “Who was it?” cried Isaac angrily. “Who came wearing your clothes and feeling like you to the touch but speaking with Jacob’s voice? Who dared?”
    “It was Jacob,” shouted Esau. “He tricked you.”
    “Then I curse him!” cried Isaac. “No! I cannot! I blessed him before heaven, and swore the great oath, and bound him to God’s covenant. It is God’s own special favor, not bestowed by me, but passing through me. I cannot retract the blessing. Only God can do that. I have been deceived, Esau. And you have been tricked out of your inheritance.”
    Esau beat himself upon the head and cried a loud and bitter cry. “Bless me, Father! Bless me, too!”
    “How can I? Your brother came and took the blessing meant for you.”
    “He has tricked me twice,” said Esau. “He took my birthright, and now he takes my blessing.”
    “We both sold ourselves for a meal,” said Isaac. “Our appetite was his profit.”
    “Did you give him all your blessing, Father? Did you keep nothing for me?”
    “Behold,” said Isaac, “I have made him your master and have appointed his brothers to serve him. I have given him first call upon the rain of heaven and the crops of earth, grain for bread and grapes for wine. What shall I give you, Esau, beloved son?”
    “Have you only one blessing. Father? Bless me! Bless me, too, for I cannot live without it.” And Esau wept.
    Isaac said: “The wild places of earth shall be your dwelling, and the great spaces. Horses shall be yours, and swift camels, and a warrior’s heart and a hunter’s joy. You shall live by the sword, serving your brothers. But, one day, you shall break free and shake off the yoke. This is all I can give you now. Take it, Esau, and my entire love.”
    The old man bowed his head and wept. Esau took him into his arms and they embraced. Isaac stood wrapped in the fragrance of horse and woodsmoke and sunshine and crushed grass, and wept bitterly for all that was lost.

JACOB
    Jacob’s Ladder
    N OW ESAU’S LAUGHTER WAS heard no more among the tents. He looked wrathfully upon Jacob and turned his face from his mother. It was reported to Rebecca that he had said: “Jacob shall not live to enjoy his inheritance. I will kill him with my own hands.”
    Whereupon Rebecca sent for Jacob and said: “You must leave this place. Flee the land.”
    “Why, Mother?”
    “Esau has promised to kill you. And he is a man of his word. Go to my brother, Laban, and dwell in Haran.”
    “How long must I stay?”
    “Until your brother’s wrath has cooled. His rage is terrible, but he forgets. I shall send for you as soon as he has forgotten his grievance. But leave now, today!”
    Then Rebecca went to Isaac and said: “I am sickened by the sight of those Hittite wives of Esau. If Jacob takes a daughter of Canaan, I shall want to die.”
    “He must marry,” said Isaac.
    “Let him do as you did. Let him go to Haran for his wife. My brother, Laban, has daughters.”
    Isaac sent for Jacob, and said: “I do not wish you to take a wife from among the daughters of Canaan. Go to Haran, to the house of Laban, and take a wife there.”
    “I shall