Mercy me

On page 262, in a scene that gave me chills, Jacob sees the emissary, a man who he knew "had been sent to him." Jacob, who has lost Sarah and left his son in the care of another at this point, tells the emissary his whole story and at the end the emissary tells him that his son is a gentile because it is the law. But, "behind the law, there is mercy." (265).

The connection of law and mercy brought to mind Portia's quote from Merchant of Venice:

The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. . . .. . .
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute to God himself,
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this:
That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. (IV.i.179–197)

Coincidentally (and ironically?), Portia is speaking to a Jew (Shylock) and implying that mercy is a Christian concept.