CHAP. XXXII.
Jacob for distrust in the Promise so far, upon Esaus approach, that he sendeth him above a thousand cattel of all sorts, of which he had vowed the Tithes to the Lord, and before he paid them, is met by the way by the Lord, and in danger to be killed by him: but by prayer and supplication he prevaileth with the Lord, and escapeth only with a lame leg. This lameness of Jacob was not reputed to him for a maim, but like the honourable scars of a valiant Captain, for a special dignity. For at Bethel he ex∣erciseth the part and office of a Priest, which if his halting had been reputed for a mai••, he had been disabled to do, and his posterity in all succeeding ages, reserve the honorable memory of this his lameness, in not eating the sinew that shrank. That was the first Ce∣remony that distinguished Israel for a peculiar people, because with this his lameness Jacob is first dignified with the name of Israel. Circumcision differenced them not from the other seed of Abraham, by Hagar and Keturah, but this curiosity in meats first beginneth Judaism. They refrained not to eat the joint where the sinew was, as a leg of Mutton or of Beef, for the legs of the Passover were to be eaten, Exod. 1••. 10. but they spared the sinew. And that not in abomination or abhorring of it, but in honour and special respect, because it bare the memorial of their first naming Israel: The portion of meat that Elka∣nah gave to his beloved Hannah, Manah Ahhath Appaiina the portion of representation may not unfitly be understood of this joint, and the same piece of the meat did Samuel reserve for Saul, in honour, The Cook took up the leg, 1 Sam. 9. 24.