Well may Jacob's chaplains cackle in delighted surprise over their noble memories, like geese who have unwittingly hatched a swan! But on Esau in general:--on poor rough Esau, who sails Jacob's ships, digs Jacob's mines, founds Jacob's colonies, pours out his blood for him in those wars which Jacob himself has stirred up-- while his sleek brother sits at home in his counting-house, enjoying at once 'the means of grace' and the produce of Esau's labour--on him Jacob's chaplains have less and less influence; for him they have less and less good news.

He is afraid of them, and they of him; the two do not comprehend one another, sympathise with one another; they do not even understand one another's speech.

The same social and moral gulf has opened between them, as parted the cultivated and wealthy Pharisee of Jerusalem from the rough fishers of the Galilaean Lake: and yet the Galilaean fishers (if we are to trust Josephus and the Gospels) were trusty, generous, affectionate- -and it was not from among the Pharisees, it is said, that the Apostles were chosen.
Be that as it may, Esau has a birthright; and this book, like all books which I have ever written, is written to tell him so; and, I trust, has not been written in vain.

But it is not this book, or any man's book, or any man at all, who can tell Esau the whole truth about himself, his powers, his duty, and his God.

Woman must do it, and not man.