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，wherehissonJosephb
ghthimtolive。EsauwasthesonofIsaacandRebecca，andtwinbrotherofJacobintheBible。HeisamaincharacterinmanystoriesfoundinGenesis25-33。ThebestknownareJacobscheatinghi摸utofhisbirthrightfora“messofpottage”（Gen。25：27-34），andthelossofhisblessingth
ghtheplottingofhis摸therandbrother（Gen。27）。EsauwasreconciledtoJacobafterthelattersreturntoPalestine20yearslater。BiblicalhistoryregardsEsauasthefounderoftheEdomitenation。
Jacob就是现在以
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
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