Chapter II.
Jacob excuses his parents, and through their example, teaches how other parents should behave towards their children. Then he reveals why Jacob has also succeeded, and what mysteries his blessing contains.
5. However, even parents should not be excused for abandoning us, because they have preferred a younger son to an older one. At the same time, care must be taken that no one, while following their example, has an unfair judgment between their children; so that they think one should be loved, the other should be disregarded. For from this fraternal hatred is aroused, and a crime of parricide is made from the despicable gain of money. The same measure of piety should nourish offspring. Nevertheless, let it be that one may seize something more for himself in regard to a more charming or similar affection, an equal form of justice should be around all. It is more advantageous to the beloved one to whom the love of brothers is sought; but it is more taken away from the one who is burdened by unjust preeminence with envy. Esau was threatening to kill his brother, not being called back by brotherly kinship or the reverence of his parents from his murderous intent; and he was grieved that the blessing had been snatched away from him, which he must certainly prove himself worthy of by gentleness, not by wickedness.
6. But Rebecca, too, did not prefer the child to the child as if he were a just man, but as if he were an unjust man. For indeed, before her pious mother, she esteemed the mystery of the pledge: she did not so much prefer him to her brother as offer him to the Lord, whom she knew could preserve the gift bestowed upon her; in this she also consulted the other, whom she was protecting from divine offense; lest she be involved in a more serious guilt, if she were to lose the favor of the blessing received.
7. However, let there be a good competition between parents. Let the mother bring affection, let the father bring judgment. Let the mother lean towards the younger one with tender piety: let the father preserve the honor of the elder according to nature. Let him honor more, let her love more: as long as each supports the other, let both not conspire against one, and deceive the other. Let there be equality in different competitions, and let equal love and gratitude be given to both parents through different efforts: let one compensate for what the other diminishes. Thus the pious patriarch Isaac and holy Rebecca competed with one another, not to make either of them inferior, but to make both equal (Gen. XXV, 28).
However, the one who was preferred by the oracle emerged victorious: diligence defeated slowness, gentleness overcame harshness. While one seeks a wild prey in rough hunting, the other presented the gentle food of character, the domestic grace, the tender meekness, and the sweet feasts of piety to his pious father. Whatever may happen pleases more in our souls than whatever you may think should be sought after. Jacob approached the sheep and brought the offspring of innocence and the gifts of sacred prophecy, for he believed that no food was sweeter than Christ, who was led as a sheep to slaughter and as a lamb to sacrifice. He considered this food useful either for the common parent or for the people, whose image he bore, because it was a future remission of sins.
9. Therefore he received the robe of his brother because he surpassed him in old-age wisdom; therefore the younger brother stripped the older brother because he surpassed him in the dignity of faith. This robe Rebecca brought forth as a figure of the Church and gave it to her younger son, the robe of the Old Testament, the prophetic and priestly robe, the royal robe of David, the robe of Solomon, Hezekiah, and Josiah, kings; and she gave it to the Christian people, who knew how to use it having received it; for the Jewish people had it without use, and did not know their own ornaments. This robe was lying in the shadow, cast aside and neglected. It was obscured by the dark haze of impiety and could not be fully explained in the narrow heart of the Jewish people. The Christian people put it on and it shone brightly: illuminating with the brilliance of their faith and the light of their righteous deeds. Isaac recognized the familiar scent of his kind, he recognized the robe of the Old Scripture, but he did not recognize the voice of the old people; and therefore he knew it had been changed. For she remains today with the same robe, but the confession of the more devout people has started to be sung; and rightfully it is said: 'The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.' And he smelled the smell of her garments (Genesis, 27:22 & 27). And perhaps this is because we are justified not by works, but by faith; because the weakness of the flesh is an impediment to works, but the brightness of faith obscures the error of actions, which deserves the forgiveness of sins.