Chapter IV.
Esau threatens his brother's death, for which reason the instructions for appeasing envy are proposed. Jacob, setting out to Laban, is refreshed on his journey by an appearance of angels and afterwards is enriched with possessions.
From here arose envy, and Esau threatened that after their father's death he would kill his brother. But if that were to happen, let us learn from Rebecca how to provide, so that envy does not incite anger, and anger does not lead to parricide. Let Rebecca come forth, that is, let patience be introduced, a good guardian of innocence, let her persuade us to give way to anger. Let us retreat for a while, until with time indignation softens, and forgetfulness sneaks in to cover the offense. Therefore, she endures patiently without fearing exile, but rather accepts it eagerly: not so much to avoid the danger of her safety, as to turn away the incentive for wrongdoing. The loving mother also tolerates her most beloved son being absent, providing him with more than she harmed him: however, she takes care of both, so that she may protect one from danger and the other from guilt.
15. We have heard what intemperance has said about bodily drunken desires; let us consider what true virtue does. It requires nothing but God's grace: it follows only that highest good, it is content only with it, from which we have received everything; but we contribute nothing to it, for it needs nothing, as David says: I said to the Lord: You are my God; for you do not need my goods (Psal. XV, 2). For what does he need, who abounds in all things, and who bestows all things on us, and supplies everything without any lack?
16. And Jacob went on, and slept, which is a sign of a peaceful soul: and he saw the angels of God ascending and descending (Gen. XXVIII, 11), that is, he foresaw Christ on earth, to whom a host of angels descended and ascended, offering service to their own pious Lord (Matth. IV, 11).
17. And he came to a well, to drink from his vessels, and from the fountains of his wells, and the water overflowed from his fountain (Gen. XXIX, 2). For the fountain of life is in the hands of the righteous.
18. And he came to Laban, and fed his sheep. Unaccompanied wickedness resides: wisdom does not neglect the duty of governing (Gen. XXIX, 19, et XXX, 28 et seq.) : she does not know how to be empty-handed in the affairs of others, she does not know how to be an exile among foreigners. For how can she be an exile who everywhere maintains her own rights, and possesses in herself what she owns?
19. The just man enters as if a hired servant; and he is the ruler, who, with the brilliance of many and excellent virtues, gathers a flock shining with the ministry of Evangelical preaching; in order to present to the thirsting sheep the rod of storax, and the nut, and the plane, found, by which, desiring the prefigured mysteries of the most blessed Trinity, they would not form colorless offspring by the conception of a pious mind. Good sheep, which have produced offspring of good works not unworthy of the sacred faith. By the staff is meant the evening offering and sacrifice, which is offered to God the Father in the psalm. By the rod of the priest, the gift of Christ is bestowed (Psalm 139:2). For this rod of Aaron, which blossomed when it was stored away, shone forth with the priestly grace of sanctification (Numbers 17:8). By the plane tree, the spiritual fruitfulness is signified; for to this tree the vine is joined, so that in its joyful companionship it may bring forth abundant fruit. Indeed, the gifts of the passion of the Lord, along with the grace of the Spirit, are accustomed to grant the forgiveness of all sins.