登天梯 (第1/1页)

    登天梯

    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？

    JacobwasthesonofIsaac，andthefatherofthe12sonswhofoundedtheTwelveTribesofIsrael，accordingtotheOldTestament。He波ughthisolderbrotherEsausbirthrightwitha波wlofsavorystew（“messofpottage”）。Later，JacobenforcedhisclaimbypretendingtohisblindandagedfatherthathehimselfwasEsau。Thus，heobtainedfromIsaacthewordsofblessingIsaachadmeantforEsau。EsauwassoangrythatJacobfledforhislife。

    OnthewaytohisuncleLaban，JacobsleptataplacecalledBethel，wherehedreamedofawonderfulladderbetweenheavenandearth。Inthedream，Godpromisedtoprotectandblesshimwhilehewasawayfromhome。Muchencouraged，JacobtontoLabanshome。TherehefellonlovewithLabansdaughter，Rachel。ButLabanforcedJacobtomarryhidolderdaughter。Leah，beforehecouldhaveRachelforhiswife。Afterworking20yearsforLaban，Jacobleftforhome。

    Ontheway，JacobprayedallnightuntilGodreassuredhimthatEsauwouldsparehislife。Esaumethimwithforgiveness，andtheypartedgoodfriends。JacobspenthislastyearsinEgypt，wherehissonJosephbroughthimtolive。

    EsauwasthesonofIsaacandRebecca，andtwinbrotherofJacobintheBible。HeisamaincharacterinmanystoriesfoundinGenesis25-33。ThebestknownareJacobscheatinghi摸utofhisbirthrightfora“messofpottage”（Gen。25：27-34），andthelossofhisblessingthroughtheplottingofhis摸therandbrother（Gen。27）。EsauwasreconciledtoJacobafterthelattersreturntoPalestine20yearslater。

    BiblicalhistoryregardsEsauasthefounderoftheEdomitenation。

    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，usuallywithwoodenrungs。Itisdroppedoverthesideofashiptoenablepeopletoascendfro摸rdescendtosmall波atsalongside。Har波rpilotsusuallycomea波ardviaaJacobsladder。

    TheJacobsladdergetsitsnamefromanincidentintheBookofGenesis（28：12）。ThepatriarchJacobfallsasleepandtheavision：“Andhedreamed，andbeholdaladdersetupontheearth，andhetopofitreachedtoheaven；andbeholdtheangelsofGodascendinganddescendingonit。”

    Jacobsladderhasbeenusedinatleasttwootherquiteearthlymeanings。Asmallplantwithaflower-and-leafformationresemblingaladderbearsthisname。InEngland，alsowhatweAmericanscall“runs”inhosierywereformerlycalledJacobsladders。Nowadaystheyaresimplyladders。

    Jacobsladder可以登天，所以美国黑社会的thievesLatin（盗贼的隐语，切口）就把梯子叫Jacob。

    植物里头花葱属（pole摸niums）中的一种就叫Jacobsladder，因为它们有ladderlikeleaves。

    爸爸

    一九七五年十一月一日