by the members of which they were to be governed.

When his sons were brought into his presence by the
angels, Jacob spoke, saying, "Take heed that no dissensions
spring up among you, for union is the first condition of
Israel's redemption," and he was on the point of revealing
the great secret to them concerning the end of time, but
while they were standing around the golden bed whereon
their father lay, the Shekinah visited him for a moment and
departed as quickly, and with her departed also all trace of
the knowledge of the great mystery from the mind of Jacob.[382]
He had the same experience as his own father Isaac, who
also had loss of memory inflicted upon him by God, to prevent
him from revealing the secret at the end of time to
Esau, when he summoned him to receive his blessing.