And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother [is] a hairy man, and I [am] a smooth man:
Ver. 11. Esau my brother is a hairy man.] This Rebekah thought not of. Plus vident oculi, quam oculus. Two is better than one; but woe be to him that is alone. We want much of our strength, in the want of a faithful friend, who might be our monitor. Whence David so bemoans the loss of his Jonathan; and St Paul counted it a special mercy to him, that Epaphroditus recovered. Php 2:25-27 This the heathen persecutors knew, and therefore banished the Christians, and confined them to isles and mines, where they could not have access one to another. a Dr Taylor rejoiced that ever he came into prison, there to be acquainted with that angel of God - so he calls him - John Bradford. While Ridley and Latimer lived, they kept up Cranmer from entertaining counsels of revolt. It was not for nothing, surely, that our Saviour sent forth his disciples by two and two. He knew, by experience, that Satan is readiest to assault when none is by to assist. Aaron may be for a mouth to Moses, Moses for a God to Aaron. Exo 4:16
a Cyprian, Epist.