2. Character. In Jacob may be traced a combination of the quiet patience of his father with the acquisitiveness which seems to have marked his mother's family; and in Esau, as in Ishmael, the migratory and independent char acter of Abraham was developed into the enter prising habits of a warlike hunter-chief. Jacob, whose history occupies a larger space, leaves on the reader's mind a less favorable impression than either of the other patriarchs with whom he is joined in equal honor in the New Testament (Matt. viii :II). But in consider ing his character we must' bear in mind that we know not what limits were set in those days to the knowledge of God and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. A timid, thoughtful boy would acquire no self-reliance in a secluded home. There was little scope for the exercise of intelligence, wide sympathy, generosity, frankness. Growing up a stranger to the great joys and great sorrows of natural life—deaths, and wedlock, and births; inured to caution and restraint in the presence of a more vigorous brother; secretly stimulated by a belief that God designed Tor him some superior blessing, Jacob was perhaps in a fair way to become a narrow, selfish, deceitful, disappointed man. But, after dwelling for more than half a lifetime in solitude, he is driven from home by the provoked hostility of his more powerful brother. Then in deep and bitter sorrow the out cast begins life afresh long after youth has passed, and finds himself brought first of all unexpectedly into that close personal communion with God which elevates the soul, and then into that en larged intercourse 1.vith men which is capable of drawing ouf all the better feelings of human nature. An unseen world was opened. God re vived and renewed to him that slumbering prom ise over which he had brooded for threescore years, since he learned it in childhood from his mother. Angels conversed with him. Gradually he felt more and more the watchful care of an ever present spiritual Father. Face to face he wrestled with the representative of the Almighty. And so, even though the moral consequences of his early transgressions hung about him, and saddened him with a deep knowledge of all the evil of treachery and domestic envy, and partial judgment, and filial disobedience, yet the increas ing revelations of God enlightened the old age of the patriarch ; and at last the timid "sup planter," the man of subtle devices, waiting for the salvation of Jehovah, dies the "soldier of God" uttering the messages of God to his remote pos terity. (Smith, Bib. Dict.) 3. Deception of Isaac Palliated. Bishop Home gives the following considerations on this subject: The proposition of deceiving Isaac originated not with Jacob, but with Rebekah. Jacob remon strated against it, as likely to bring a curse upon him, rather than a blessing; nor would consent to perform his part, till she engaged to take all the blame on herself : "On me be thy curse, my son ; only obey my voice." From this speech, and from the earnestness and solicitude discovered by Rebekah, it may not un fairly be presumed that she had some special rea son for what she did ; that Isaac was about to take a wrong step in a concern of great moment. which
ought to be prevented, and could be prevented by no other means.
The rectitude of Rebekah's judgment seems evidently to have been recognized and allowed by Isaac, at the conclusion of the matter. For though he had blessed Jacob, intending to bless Esau, yet, as if recollecting himself, he con firmed and ratified that blessing in the strongest terms: "Yea, and he shall be blessed." Still further—at sending him away, he again repeated the benediction. in the most solemn and affect ing manner: "God give thee the blessing of Abra ham!" It is difficult to assign any other reason why, if so disposed, upon discovering the fraud, he might not have reversed the proceeding. Nay, by the kind meeting of the brothers afterwards, one should be inclined to suppose that Esau him self acquiesced at length in the propriety of what had been done.
If such were the case, Isaac was only deceived into what was right, and what he himself ac knowledged to be so in the conclusion. The de ception was like those often practiced by phy sicians for the benefit of their patients; and casuists must decide upon it in the same manner. The offense of Jacob is certainly alleviated, if not entirely taken off, by the circumstance of Rebekah pledging herself to bear the blame: as the conduct of Rebekah seems justified by that of Isaac ratifying and confirming to Jacob the blessing originally intended for Esau. Upon the whole, if there were any offense, it was one that might be forgiven ; and if God, notwithstanding, continued to bless Jacob, he did forgive it, and had reasons for so doing. (Bp. Horne's Works, vol. vi, PP. 477, 478.) (See REBEKAH ; ESAU ; MARRIAGE.) II. Jacob, the father of Joseph, thc husband of the Virgin Mary (Nlatt. 1:15, 16). (B. C. before 40.) jACOB'S WELL ( ja-kob's w61). Ja cob' s Well is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but was made famous by.the meeting of Jesus with the woman of Samaria at that place, as recorded in John 4:5-3o. It is located near Shechem, other wise known as Sychar, the modern Nablus. This is one of the very few spots in Palestine which have been closely identified with our Savior's resence. It is about half a mile north from oseph's Tomb at the base of Mt. Gcrizim. laundrell, in 1697, found the depth of the well to be to5 feet, with i 5 feet of water. Capt. Anderson, who visited it in 1866, found it to be only 75 feet. It may have been twice that depth originally. When visited by Farrar in 187o, it was only about 20 feet deep, and was in a state of hopeless ruin.
JADA (ja'da), (Heb. 1):1:, yaw-daw`, knowing), a brother of Shammai, son of Onam and grandson of Jerahmeel 0 Chron. ii:28, 32), B.C. 145o.
jADAT7 (ja'dau or ja-da'u), (Heb, la!, yad day', knowing), one of the Bene-Nebo who had taken a strange wife (Ezra x:43), B. C. 457.
jADDIJA (jad-dii'a), (Heb. VT, yad-doo'ah), knowing.
1. A Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah (Neh. X :21). (B. C 445.) 2. Son of Jonathan, the high priest. The last of the high priests spoken of in the Old Testa ment (Neh. xii:tr, 22). (B. C. 52o.)