亲爱的小文：

    你注意到警察局里消防车上的云梯（ladder）了吗？那种梯子升起来很高，可高出一百英尺。美国underworldslang把ladder叫做Jacob，你知道是谁吗？

    JacobwasthesonofIsaadthefatherofthe12sonswhofouheTwelveTribesofIsrael,acctotheOldTestament.HeboughthisolderbrotherEsausbirthrightwithabowlofsavorystew（“messofpottage”）.Later,JaforcedhisclaimbypretendingtohisblindaherthathehimselfwasEsau.Thus,heobtainedfromIsaacthewordsofblessingIsaachadmeantforEsau.EsauwassoangrythatJacobfledforhislife.

    OohisuncleLaban,JacobsleptataplacecalledBethel,wherehedreamedofawonderfulladderbetweenheaveh.Inthedream,Godpromisedtoprotedblesshimwhilehewasawayfromhome.Muced,JacobwentontoLabanshome.TherehefellohLabansdaughter,Rachel.ButLabanforcedJaarryhidhter.Leah,beforehecouldhaveRachelforhiswife.Afterw20yearsforLaban,Jacobleftforhome.

    Ontheway,JacobprayedallnightuntilGodreassuredhimthatEsauwouldsparehislife.Esaumethimwithfiveness,andtheypartedgoodfriends.Jacobspenthislastyearsi,wherehissonJosephbroughthimtolive.

    EsauwasthesonofIsaadRebecdtwinbrotherofJatheBible.HeisamaincharacterinmanystoriesfoundinGenesis25-33.ThebestknownareJacobscheatinghimoutofhisbirthrightfora“messofpottage”（Gen.25：27-34）,andthelossofhisblessingthroughtheplottingofhismotherandbren.27）.EsauwasreciledtoJacobafterthelattersreturntoPalestine20yearslater.

    BiblicalhistardsEsauasthefouheEdomitenation.

    Jacob就是现在以色列（Israel）人的老老老老老老老老老老……老祖宗。

    Messofpottage就是“因小失大”、“得不偿失”、“划不来”的意思。

    AJacobsladderisaladdermadeofropeorcable,usuallywithwos.It