Advantaging himself of his brother's absence, Jacob used the skin of a kid to make his hands hairy, like the hands of Esau, and, simulating the brother's voice, he extorted from his dying father those tokens that, according to the Eastern custom, made him the successor to his father's title, wealth and power.

Full twoscore years passed swiftly by and the deceit seems to have brought is large money returns to crafty Jacob.
But silently nature was working out the harvest of retribution, through that law of heredity that makes sons repeat the qualities of their father.

When Jacob was now advanced in years his ten sons began, to develop craftiness, and soon they plowed great furrows of care in the father's face.

In those days of care his young son Joseph stole into Jacob's heart like a sweet sunbeam, and, with his open, loving ways, filled his father's heart with gladness.

When the elder brothers knew Jacob had given Joseph a coat of many colors they remembered the craft of their father in his early career.