Page 64 - New English Book L

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Chapter IV

Muhammad (pbuh) is the “Shiloh”

Jacob (pbuh) , the grandson of Abraham (pbuh) , is lying

sick in bed; he is in his one hundred and forty-seventh
year, and the end is approaching rapidly. He summons
his twelve sons and their families to his bedroom; and he
blesses each son and foretells the future of his tribe. It is
generally known as the “Testament of Jacob (pbuh) ,” and is
written in an elegant Hebrew style with a poetic touch. It
contains a few words which are unique and never occur
again in the Bible. The Testament recalls the varied events
in the life of a man who has had many ups and downs.
He is reported to have taken advantage of his brother’s
hunger and bought his right of birth for a dish of pottage,
and deceived his blind old father and obtained the blessing
which by birthright belonged to Esau. He served seven
years to marry Rachel, but was deceived by her father,
being married to her elder sister Liah; so he had to serve
another term of seven years for the former. The massacre
of all the male population by his (Jacob’s) two sons Simon
and Livi for the pollution of his (Jacob’s) daughter Dina
by Schechim, the prince of that town, had greatly grieved
him. The shameful conduct of his first-born, Reubin, in
defiling his father’s bed by lying with his concubine was
never forgotten nor forgiven by him. But the greatest grief
that befell him after the loss of his beloved wife Rachel
was the disappearance for many years of his favourite son
Joseph (pbuh) . His descent into Egypt and his meeting with
Joseph (pbuh) caused him great joy and the recovery of his
lost sight. Jacob (pbuh) was a Prophet, and surnamed by
God “Israel,” the name which was adopted by the twelve
tribes that descended from him.