THE ONE OR TWO ABIMELECHS.

It is not impossible that the Abimelech who showed so much kindness to Isaac, was the same who took away Sarah. I do not build upon the long life

which we must allow to Abimelech, if he were alive at the time when Isaac came to Gerar. This journey was later than the purchase which Jacob made of the right of eldership: we may suppose, therefore, that Isaac was then eighty years old; for he was sixty when Esau and Jacob were born; and Esau was already a great hunter when he sold his birthright. On the other side, Abimelech, who took away Sarah, was a king, and married, before Isaac was born: he must then at least have been a good hundred years old when Isaac journeyed to Gerar. But is this much? Did not men at that time live to above an hundred and fifty years? One would scarce believe one’s own eyes, that learned men should be capable of objecting these words of the Preacher,—“ Omnis potentates vita brevis:” as if, supposing the canonical authority of this book, it was contrary to Revelation, that a man’s reign should continue a hundred years. What induces me to believe that Abimelech who took away Sarah was not the same who entered into alliance with Isaac, is this:—the latter Abimelech readily believed, upon Isaac’s word, that Rebecca was but his sister; and when he was undeceived, not by the words but by the actions of Isaac, he reproved him mildly for his deceit, without saying to him,—“ You follow your father’s example; Abraham heretofore played me the same trick.” Now is it probable, if he had been already imposed upon by Abraham, that he would have again fallen into the same snare? or if he had, that he would not have passed a severe rebuke upon Isaac, on account both of his father’s and his own hypocrisy? He would hardly have forgotten Abraham’s, which drew such misfortunes upon him. St Chrysostom thought this so likely, that he boldly declared from the pulpit, that Abimelech actually did reproach Isaac with Abraham’s dissimulation; but all this has no better

foundation than rhetorical license. That Isaac’s Abimelech might not be a young man, though he was not the same who took away Sarah, I frankly own. I believe he was a good old man, because he formed no design upon the beautiful Rebecca, though he did not believe her to be married; and because he did not tell Isaac that she had been in danger 'from him, but from his subjects. As these people were so depraved, that every beautiful stranger, who was not thought to be married, was in great danger, I can see no reason more probable for Abimelech’s continency towards Rebecca, than his old age. “ There is a time,” say youthful libertines, “ when one is too wise.” The Philistines must have been furious folks in love matters, since Abimelech their king is surprised that no one had attempted Rebecca, who passed only for Isaac’s sister. We learn from hence, at the same time, their great regard for marriage. As for unmarried women, it seems in this country to have been thought they were the first comer’s right. Witness Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, who was decoyed by them as she was taking a walk. She was first violated, and then demanded in marriage.—ArticlesAbraham,' Sarah,andAbimelech.