The Book of Coicsis
22
the central theme of the
makes them both the
of
cycle
first
unit
a
stories
Ahraham in in
stories, which and a unit with I-XI and with the Jacob and
cycle of
themselves,
which follow. For to a certain, though less marked degree, not only Abraham, but also Jacol) and Joseph are prototypes of Israel
Joseph cycles
or rather God's relation with these two jxitriarchs
God's relation with discharge but
if
its
Israel.
all
Israel
typihes
might faithfully
must not only be tested and proved, vices, and do lack any of the the former must first be eradicated and the
mission,
it
do possess faults and
it
requisite virtues,
developed, before
latter
That
Above
all
ceit, if
such exist
can be ready for God's service.
it
and demust give way to unselfishness, capacity for self-sacrifice, and perfect righteousness. He alone who, in his eagerness to serve God and fellowmen truly, can forget self and personal advantage entirely, is God works only with perfect worthy of the divine call. tools. For His service He selects the best tools available. But if these best tools be still imperfect, they must be corrected and made right, that they may be fit for God's use. Israel was the best tool for God's service, the story tells us, and these Biblical writers would have us believe, better than of
else the vices of selfishness, covetousness
Ishmael or Edom,
Abraham.
first to
But even so
other
the
it
was not
Israel
It
])erfect.
It
had
might become ready
the earth.
of
Then only
the soul. is
But such purification is trial and suft'ering and inclination is purged from
demands years of
bitter struggle, until at last all evil
chapters
it
descendants
as a precious birthright, of bringing blessing
families
never easy.
Such
traditional
on the work committed to Al)raham, and which had
descended to all
the
be purified and ennobled, that
to carry
to
at all in Israel,
the tool ready and fit for God's use. theme of the third portion of Genesis,
is
the central
XXV, 19-XXXVI.
Here, too, a number of ancient
legends were emjiloyed by the authors in order to give con-
