1 And it came to pass, H1961 that when Isaac H3327 was old, H2204 and his eyes H5869 were dim, H3543 so that he could not see, H7200 he called H7121 Esau H6215 his eldest H1419 son, H1121 and said H559 unto him, My son: H1121 and he said H559 unto him, Behold, here am I.
2 And he said, H559 Behold now, I am old, H2204 I know H3045 not the day H3117 of my death: H4194
3 Now therefore take, H5375 I pray thee, thy weapons, H3627 thy quiver H8522 and thy bow, H7198 and go out H3318 to the field, H7704 and take H6679 me some venison; H6718 H6720
4 And make H6213 me savoury meat, H4303 such as H834 I love, H157 and bring H935 it to me, that I may eat; H398 that my soul H5315 may bless H1288 thee before H2962 I die. H4191
5 And Rebekah H7259 heard H8085 when Isaac H3327 spake H1696 to Esau H6215 his son. H1121 And Esau H6215 went H3212 to the field H7704 to hunt H6679 for venison, H6718 and to bring H935 it.
6 And Rebekah H7259 spake H559 unto Jacob H3290 her son, H1121 saying, H559 Behold, I heard H8085 thy father H1 speak H1696 unto Esau H6215 thy brother, H251 saying, H559
7 Bring H935 me venison, H6718 and make H6213 me savoury meat, H4303 that I may eat, H398 and bless H1288 thee before H6440 the LORD H3068 before H6440 my death. H4194
8 Now therefore, my son, H1121 obey H8085 my voice H6963 according to that which H834 I command H6680 thee.
9 Go H3212 now to the flock, H6629 and fetch H3947 me from thence two H8147 good H2896 kids H1423 of the goats; H5795 and I will make H6213 them savoury meat H4303 for thy father, H1 such as he loveth: H157
10 And thou shalt bring H935 it to thy father, H1 that he may eat, H398 and that H834 he may bless H1288 thee before H6440 his death. H4194
11 And Jacob H3290 said H559 to Rebekah H7259 his mother, H517 Behold, Esau H6215 my brother H251 is a hairy H8163 man, H376 and I am a smooth H2509 man: H376
12 My father H1 peradventure will feel H4959 me, and I shall seem H5869 to him as a deceiver; H8591 and I shall bring H935 a curse H7045 upon me, and not a blessing. H1293
13 And his mother H517 said H559 unto him, Upon me be thy curse, H7045 my son: H1121 only obey H8085 my voice, H6963 and go H3212 fetch H3947 me them.
14 And he went, H3212 and fetched, H3947 and brought H935 them to his mother: H517 and his mother H517 made H6213 savoury meat, H4303 such as his father H1 loved. H157
15 And Rebekah H7259 took H3947 goodly H2532 raiment H899 of her eldest H1419 son H1121 Esau, H6215 which were with her in the house, H1004 and put them upon H3847 Jacob H3290 her younger H6996 son: H1121
16 And she put H3847 the skins H5785 of the kids H1423 of the goats H5795 upon his hands, H3027 and upon the smooth H2513 of his neck: H6677
17 And she gave H5414 the savoury meat H4303 and the bread, H3899 which she had prepared, H6213 into the hand H3027 of her son H1121 Jacob. H3290
18 And he came H935 unto his father, H1 and said, H559 My father: H1 and he said, H559 Here am I; who art thou, my son? H1121
19 And Jacob H3290 said H559 unto his father, H1 I am Esau H6215 thy firstborn; H1060 I have done H6213 according as thou badest H1696 me: arise, H6965 I pray thee, sit H3427 and eat H398 of my venison, H6718 that thy soul H5315 may bless H1288 me.
20 And Isaac H3327 said H559 unto his son, H1121 How is it that thou hast found H4672 it so quickly, H4116 my son? H1121 And he said, H559 Because the LORD H3068 thy God H430 brought H7136 it to me. H6440
21 And Isaac H3327 said H559 unto Jacob, H3290 Come near, H5066 I pray thee, that I may feel H4184 thee, my son, H1121 whether thou be my very H2088 son H1121 Esau H6215 or not.
22 And Jacob H3290 went near H5066 unto Isaac H3327 his father; H1 and he felt H4959 him, and said, H559 The voice H6963 is Jacob's H3290 voice, H6963 but the hands H3027 are the hands H3027 of Esau. H6215
23 And he discerned H5234 him not, because his hands H3027 were hairy, H8163 as his brother H251 Esau's H6215 hands: H3027 so he blessed H1288 him.
24 And he said, H559 Art thou my very son H1121 Esau? H6215 And he said, H559 I am.
25 And he said, H559 Bring it near H5066 to me, and I will eat H398 of my son's H1121 venison, H6718 that my soul H5315 may bless H1288 thee. And he brought it near H5066 to him, and he did eat: H398 and he brought H935 him wine, H3196 and he drank. H8354
26 And his father H1 Isaac H3327 said H559 unto him, Come near H5066 now, and kiss H5401 me, my son. H1121
27 And he came near, H5066 and kissed H5401 him: and he smelled H7306 the smell H7381 of his raiment, H899 and blessed H1288 him, and said, H559 See, H7200 the smell H7381 of my son H1121 is as the smell H7381 of a field H7704 which the LORD H3068 hath blessed: H1288
28 Therefore God H430 give H5414 thee of the dew H2919 of heaven, H8064 and the fatness H4924 of the earth, H776 and plenty H7230 of corn H1715 and wine: H8492
29 Let people H5971 serve H5647 thee, and nations H3816 bow down H7812 to thee: be H1933 lord H1376 over thy brethren, H251 and let thy mother's H517 sons H1121 bow down H7812 to thee: cursed H779 be every one that curseth H779 thee, and blessed H1288 be he that blesseth H1288 thee.
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac H3327 had made an end H3615 of blessing H1288 Jacob, H3290 and Jacob H3290 was yet H389 scarce H3318 gone out H3318 from the presence H6440 of Isaac H3327 his father, H1 that Esau H6215 his brother H251 came in H935 from his hunting. H6718
31 And he also had made H6213 savoury meat, H4303 and brought it H935 unto his father, H1 and said H559 unto his father, H1 Let my father H1 arise, H6965 and eat H398 of his son's H1121 venison, H6718 that thy soul H5315 may bless H1288 me.
32 And Isaac H3327 his father H1 said H559 unto him, Who art thou? And he said, H559 I am thy son, H1121 thy firstborn H1060 Esau. H6215
33 And Isaac H3327 trembled H2729 very H1419 exceedingly, H3966 H2731 and said, H559 Who? where H645 is he that hath taken H6679 venison, H6718 and brought H935 it me, and I have eaten H398 of all before thou camest, H935 and have blessed H1288 him? yea, and he shall be blessed. H1288
34 And when Esau H6215 heard H8085 the words H1697 of his father, H1 he cried H6817 with a great H1419 and exceeding H3966 bitter H4751 cry, H6818 and said H559 unto his father, H1 Bless H1288 me, even me also, O my father. H1
35 And he said, H559 Thy brother H251 came H935 with subtilty, H4820 and hath taken away H3947 thy blessing. H1293
36 And he said, H559 Is not he rightly H3588 named H7121 H8034 Jacob? H3290 for he hath supplanted me H6117 these H2088 two times: H6471 he took away H3947 my birthright; H1062 and, behold, now he hath taken away H3947 my blessing. H1293 And he said, H559 Hast thou not reserved H680 a blessing H1293 for me?
37 And Isaac H3327 answered H6030 and said H559 unto Esau, H6215 Behold, I have made H7760 him thy lord, H1376 and all his brethren H251 have I given H5414 to him for servants; H5650 and with corn H1715 and wine H8492 have I sustained H5564 him: and what shall I do H6213 now H645 unto thee, my son? H1121
38 And Esau H6215 said H559 unto his father, H1 Hast thou but one H259 blessing, H1293 my father? H1 bless H1288 me, even me also, O my father. H1 And Esau H6215 lifted up H5375 his voice, H6963 and wept. H1058
39 And Isaac H3327 his father H1 answered H6030 and said H559 unto him, Behold, thy dwelling H4186 shall be the fatness H4924 of the earth, H776 and of the dew H2919 of heaven H8064 from above; H5920
40 And by thy sword H2719 shalt thou live, H2421 and shalt serve H5647 thy brother; H251 and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, H7300 that thou shalt break H6561 his yoke H5923 from off thy neck. H6677
41 And Esau H6215 hated H7852 Jacob H3290 because H5921 of the blessing H1293 wherewith H834 his father H1 blessed him: H1288 and Esau H6215 said H559 in his heart, H3820 The days H3117 of mourning H60 for my father H1 are at hand; H7126 then will I slay H2026 my brother H251 Jacob. H3290
42 And these words H1697 of Esau H6215 her elder H1419 son H1121 were told H5046 to Rebekah: H7259 and she sent H7971 and called H7121 Jacob H3290 her younger H6996 son, H1121 and said H559 unto him, Behold, thy brother H251 Esau, H6215 as touching thee, doth comfort H5162 himself, purposing to kill H2026 thee.
43 Now therefore, my son, H1121 obey H8085 my voice; H6963 and arise, H6965 flee H1272 thou to Laban H3837 my brother H251 to Haran; H2771
44 And tarry H3427 with him a few H259 days, H3117 until H834 thy brother's H251 fury H2534 turn away; H7725
45 Until thy brother's H251 anger H639 turn away H7725 from thee, and he forget H7911 that which thou hast done H6213 to him: then I will send, H7971 and fetch H3947 thee from thence: why H4100 should I be deprived H7921 also of you both H8147 in one H259 day? H3117
46 And Rebekah H7259 said H559 to Isaac, H3327 I am weary H6973 of my life H2416 because H6440 of the daughters H1323 of Heth: H2845 if Jacob H3290 take H3947 a wife H802 of the daughters H1323 of Heth, H2845 such as these which are of the daughters H1323 of the land, H776 what good H4100 shall my life H2416 do me?
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 27
Commentary on Genesis 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 27
Ge 27:1-27. Infirmity of Isaac.
1. when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim—He was in his hundred thirty-seventh year; and apprehending death to be near, Isaac prepared to make his last will—an act of the gravest importance, especially as it included the conveyance through a prophetic spirit of the patriarchal blessing.
4. make … savory meat—perhaps to revive and strengthen him for the duty; or rather, "as eating and drinking" were used on all religious occasions, he could not convey the right, till he had eaten of the meat provided for the purpose by him who was to receive the blessing [Adam Clarke] (compare Ge 18:7).
that my soul may bless thee—It is difficult to imagine him ignorant of the divine purpose (compare Ge 25:23). But natural affection, prevailing through age and infirmity, prompted him to entail the honors and powers of the birthright on his elder son; and perhaps he was not aware of what Esau had done (Ge 25:34).
6-10. Rebekah spake unto Jacob—She prized the blessing as invaluable; she knew that God intended it for the younger son [Ge 25:23]; and in her anxiety to secure its being conferred on the right object—on one who cared for religion—she acted in the sincerity of faith; but in crooked policy—with unenlightened zeal; on the false principle that the end would sanctify the means.
11. Jacob said, Esau my brother is a hairy man—It is remarkable that his scruples were founded, not on the evil of the act, but on the risk and consequences of deception.
13-17. and his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse—His conscience being soothed by his mother, preparations were hastily made for carrying out the device; consisting, first, of a kid's flesh, which, made into a ragout, spiced with salt, onions, garlic, and lemon juice, might easily be passed off on a blind old man, with blunted senses, as game; second, of pieces of goat's skin bound on his hands and neck, its soft silken hair resembling that on the cheek of a young man; third, of the long white robe—the vestment of the first-born, which, transmitted from father to son and kept in a chest among fragrant herbs and perfumed flowers used much in the East to keep away moths—his mother provided for him.
18-27. he came unto his father—The scheme planned by the mother was to be executed by the son in the father's bedchamber; and it is painful to think of the deliberate falsehoods, as well as daring profanity, he resorted to. The disguise, though wanting in one thing, which had nearly upset the whole plot, succeeded in misleading Isaac; and while giving his paternal embrace, the old man was roused into a state of high satisfaction and delight.
27. the smell of my son is as of a field—The aromatic odors of the Syrian fields and meadows, often impart a strong fragrance to the person and clothes, as has been noticed by many travellers.
Ge 27:28-46. The Blessing.
28. God give thee of the dew of heaven—To an Oriental mind, this phraseology implied the highest flow of prosperity. The copious fall of dew is indispensable to the fruitfulness of lands, which would be otherwise arid and sterile through the violent heat; and it abounds most in hilly regions, such as Canaan, hence called the "fat land" (Ne 9:25, 35).
plenty of corn and wine—Palestine was famous for vineyards, and it produced varieties of corn, namely, wheat, barley, oats, and rye.
29. Let people serve thee—fulfilled in the discomfiture of the hostile tribes that opposed the Israelites in the wilderness; and in the pre-eminence and power they attained after their national establishment in the promised land. This blessing was not realized to Jacob, but to his descendants; and the temporal blessings promised were but a shadow of those spiritual ones, which formed the grand distinction of Jacob's posterity.
30-35. Esau came in from his hunting—Scarcely had the former scene been concluded, when the fraud was discovered. The emotions of Isaac, as well as Esau, may easily be imagined—the astonishment, alarm, and sorrow of the one; the disappointment and indignation of the other. But a moment's reflection convinced the aged patriarch that the transfer of the blessing was "of the Lord," and now irrevocable. The importunities of Esau, however, overpowered him; and as the prophetic afflatus was upon the patriarch, he added what was probably as pleasing to a man of Esau's character as the other would have been.
39, 40. Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth—The first part is a promise of temporal prosperity, made in the same terms as Jacob's [Ge 27:28]—the second part refers to the roving life of hunting freebooters, which he and his descendants should lead. Though Esau was not personally subject to his brother, his posterity were tributary to the Israelites, till the reign of Joram when they revolted and established a kingdom of their own (2Ki 8:20; 2Ch 21:8-10).
41. Esau hated Jacob—It is scarcely to be wondered at that Esau resented the conduct of Jacob and vowed revenge.
The days of mourning for my father are at hand—a common Oriental phrase for the death of a parent.
42-45. these words of Esau were told Rebekah—Poor woman! she now early begins to reap the bitter fruits of her fraudulent device; she is obliged to part with her son, for whom she planned it, never, probably, seeing him again; and he felt the retributive justice of heaven fall upon him heavily in his own future family.
45. Why should I be deprived of you both?—This refers to the law of Goelism, by which the nearest of kin would be obliged to avenge the death of Jacob upon his brother.
46. Rebekah said to Isaac—Another pretext Rebekah's cunning had to devise to obtain her husband's consent to Jacob's journey to Mesopotamia; and she succeeded by touching the aged patriarch in a tender point, afflicting to his pious heart—the proper marriage of their younger son.