“I’m teaching him to love the words and stories of God,” said Rebekah.

And it was Abraham’s turn to visibly stifle the retort he so plainly wanted to say.

And when he spoke, it was not a retort at all. “They both need to learn it all,” he said. “They need to learn together. We’ve been wrong to try to keep Jacob away from the writings.” Abraham looked at Rebekah. “It’s the words the Lord gave you. Warning us that the younger would usurp the place of the older.”

“Those weren’t the words,” said Rebekah, “and it wasn’t a warning. It was just . . . a prophecy.”

“The Lord gives us prophecies so we can figure out what to do before the moment of decision arrives.”

“Yes,” said Rebekah. “And if the younger will someday rule, shouldn’t he be prepared to do it righteously?”

“It’s not his right to do it at all,” said Abraham.

“What if he has to rule because the older brother refuses to do it?” asked Rebekah. “Then it would be his right, even if he never sought it.”

“But you do seek it for him,” said Isaac softly.

“I don’t!” cried Rebekah. “I want Esau to be worthy, I want him to—”

“How could he ever have any kind of faith or confidence, when you disapprove of everything he does?”

“And you approve of everything!”

“So he doesn’t grow up surrounded by rebukes at every turn.”

“And how does Jacob feel, with you two always praising Esau and completely ignoring him?”

“When do we have a chance even to see who Jacob is, when he’s always with you and never with me?” said Isaac.

“He wants to be with you, but you never even see him. All you see is Esau.”

“Because Jacob just . . . just tags along, just clings instead of doing things.”

“He does things,” said Rebekah. “But when he tends the animals, you mock him for hugging them instead of throwing rocks at them and . . . and blinding them.” She couldn’t help weeping at the unfairness of Isaac’s treatment of Jacob.

“How can we love each other so much,” said Isaac, “and yet see nothing but bad in the way we treat our sons?”

“All Jacob wants is your love.”

“He has my love. You know he does, and he knows he does.”

And that was true. Rebekah realized it now, that Isaac was affectionate with Jacob, that he listened to him—which was sometimes a challenge, since Jacob was a determined talker, more like Rebekah than like Isaac in that way. “Yes, you’re right, it’s not your love that he’s missing, it’s . . . your respect.”

“Respect is earned,” said Abraham.

“And how has Esau earned it? What great deeds of righteousness?”

“They’re five. They can’t tell right from wrong yet,” said Abraham. “Esau’s willfulness is not wicked.”