Let us inquire, therefore, whether this people or the first people inheriteth, and whether the covenant is unto us or unto them.
Hear, now, what the scripture saith concerning the people. But Isaac prayed for Rebecca his wife because she was barren, and she conceived. Then went forth Rebecca to inquire of the Lord, and the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples are in thy bowels, and the one people shall surpass the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.
Ye ought to understand who was Isaac and who was Rebecca, and concerning whom he declared that the one people was greater than the other.
And in another prophecy Jacob speaketh yet more clearly to Joseph his son, saying, Behold the Lord hath not deprived me of thy face; bring unto me thy sons, that I may bless them.
And he brought unto him Ephraim and Manasseh, wishing that he should bless Manasseh, because he was the elder. Joseph, therefore, brought him to the right hand of his father Jacob. But Jacob saw in spirit a figure of the people that should be hereafter. And what saith the scriptures? And Jacob crossed his hands, and placed his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the second and youngest, and blessed him. And Joseph said unto Jacob, Change thy right hand unto the head of Manasseh, because he is my firstborn son. And Jacob said unto Joseph, I know, my child, I know; but the elder shall serve the younger; but this one also shall be blessed.
Behold in what way he appointed that this people should be the first and heir of the covenant.
If, therefore, it were moreover mentioned through Abraham also, we have the perfecting of our knowledge. What, therefore, saith he unto Abraham, when he alone believed, and it was counted unto him for righteousness? Behold I have made thee, Abraham, a father of the nations who believe in the Lord in uncircumcision.