C H J e 27:1-40. Deception of father and brother by Jacob and Rebekah.
f 27:41. Hatred of Esau.
K 27:42-28:5 Departure of Jacob to Padam-aram.
I g 28:6-9. Esau's wives.
h 28:10-22. Jacob's vision at Bethel.
I g 29:1-31:55. Jacob's wives.
h 32:1,2. Jacob's vision at Mahanaiam.
H J f 32:5-33:17. Reconciliation of Esau.
e 33:18-34:31. Deception of Shechemites by Jacob's sons.
K 35:1-15. Return of Jacob to Padam-aram.1759 B.C.
Genesis 27)
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old (about 137 years - same age as his brother Ishmael died at. He recovered and lived 43 years longer, cp. 35:28), and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, "My son:" and he said to him, "Behold, here I am."
2 And he said, "Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3 Now therefore take, I pray you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison (Heb. hunt me some hunting. Fig Polyptoton, and Metonymy [of cause, when the cause is put for the effect], by which venison, the result of hunting, is put for hunting itself. In 25:29 Esau missed his venison and lost his birthright. Was he now to miss it again and loose his blessing?)
4 And make me savory meat such as I love (see vv.9,14 and 25:28), and bring it to me, that I may eat, that myself may bless you before I die." (He must have heard that He was to bless Jacob, for it came by "faith" he ultimately did so-Heb. 11:20, and it came by "hearing"-Rom. 10:17. "The will of the flesh" made him wish to bless Esau-cp. v.4 with 25:28. But his faith in the end overcame "the will of the flesh" in him.)
5 And Rebekah was listening when Isaac was speaking to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son saying, "Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother saying,
7 'Bring me some venison (see v.3), and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death.'
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.
9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from there two kids of the goat; and I will make them savory meat for your father, such as he loves:
10 And you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, and that he may bless you before his death."
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man.
12 My father will perhaps feel me, and I will seem to him as a deceiver (he shrinks from the detection, not the fraud); and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing."
13 And his mother said to him, "Upon me be your curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them." (i.e. the kids of the goat)
14 And he went and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory meat, such as his father loved.
15 And Rebekah took goodly clothing of her eldest son Esau (= desired clothing, all clothing in the East to this day marks the social rank and position of the wearer. Among the Bedouins, the chief and his eldest son wear a distinctive garment. This accounts for Jacob's desire here, and his act with Joseph 37:3. Being the garment of the firstborn it doubtless denoted also his official and priestly position. Here used of sacred things. Not the word rendered clothes in Deut. 29:5. No wonder Esau is called "profane" when he sold his birthright. Cp. Heb. 12:16), which was with her in the house and put them on Jacob her youngest son:
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon his neck.
17 And she gave him the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18 And he came to his father, and said, "My father:" and he said, "Here I am; who are you my son?"
19 And Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn (said perhaps because he bought the birthright. Covert action?); I have done according as you bid me: arise, I pray you, sit and eat my venison, that you may bless me."
20 And Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?" And he said, "Because the Lord your God brought it to me."
21 And Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near, I pray you, that I may feel you my son, whether you be my very son Esau or not."
22 And Jacob went near Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau."
23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy as his brother's Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
24 And he said, "Are you my very son Esau?" And he said, "I am."
25 And he said, "Bring it near to me, and I will eat my son's venison (see v.3), that myself may bless you." And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.
26 And his father Isaac said to him, "Come near now (not an adverb of time, but an expletive in command, emphasizing the solemnity of the command. It must have been at this point that Isaac's faith overcame "the will of the flesh", and made him resolve to bless Jacob, in spite of it), and kiss me, my son."
27 And he came near and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, "See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed:
28 Therefore God give you of (partitive preposition, to give out, bless) the dew of the heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn (= bread and solid food generally) and wine (usually combined with "corn" for all liquids. Your land will always produce. We [U.S. and the Americas are descendants of Jacob. This great nation produces so much food that our very farmers, the life blood of the nation, are criticized and penalized. Because of the gift of God and the blessing of this nation with the waving fields of pottage [grain]. See v. 38)
29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you: cursed be every one that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you."
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end to blessing Jacob, and Jacob was scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also made savory meat, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, "Let my father arise, and eat of his son's hunting, that you may bless me."
32 And Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you? And he said, "I am your son, your firstborn Esau." (Esau still claims what he sold)
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly (Fig. Polyptoton is thus beautifully rendered. Heb. "trembled a great trembling greatly" see 26:28. This was not from doubt, or from the discovery [now made vv.26,27], but on account of the difficulty into which it had brought him with a man of Esau's temperament), and he said, "Who? where is he that has taking hunting and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and blessed him, yes, and he shall be blessed."
34 And when Esau heard the voice of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and he said to his father, "Bless me, even so, Oh my father."
35 And he said, "Your brother came with subtlety, and he has taken away your blessing."
36 And he said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? for he has supplanted me these two times (Jacobed or over-reached me. See note on 25:25 & 32:28): he took away my birthright; and behold, now he has taken away my blessings." (This "blessing" is the "it" of Heb. 12:17)
37: And Isaac answered and said to Esau, "Behold, I have made him your lord (a mighty man to you, fulfilled in 2 Sam.8:14), and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine (see v.28) have I sustained him: and what shall I do to you now, my son?"
38 And Esau said to his father, "Have you but one blessing, my father? bless me, even so, Oh my father." And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. (See Heb. 12:17, but could not change his father's mind)
39 And Isaac his father answered and said to him, "Behold, far from the fatness of the earth shall be your dwelling, and far from the dew of the heavens above; (Jacob had already received the blessings "of" the fatness of the earth or the land-v.28. Esau's was to be far from it, in the desert; and so it was. Look at where Russia is today geographically above the 50th parallel, land won't produce well. Russians are descendants of Esau. And look what happened in 1917, the church doors were nailed shut. See the book of Obadiah for this curse [primitive].)
40 And by the sword shall you live, and shall serve your brother (see 1 Sam. 14:47, 2 Sam. 8:14, 2 Kings 8:20, and cp. 1 Kings 22:47); and it shall come to pass when you shall have the dominion, that you shall break his yolk from off your neck."
41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing where with his father blessed him: And Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand (Isaac mistaken, vv.1,2. Esau mistaken here); then will I slay my brother Jacob."
42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, "Behold, your brother Esau, as touching you, does comfort himself, purposing to kill you.
43 Now therefore my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee for yourself to Laban my brother to Charan (see 11:31. Frontier town Charan devoted to the moon-god);
44 And tarry with him a few days, until your brother's fury turn away; (Rebekah mistaken, for Jacob was there 20 year)
45 Until your brother's anger turn away from you, and he forget that which you have done to him; then I will send, and fetch you from there; why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?" (Jacob by Esau's hand, and Esau by the avenger of blood)
46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth (refers to Esau's wives, see 26:34,35): if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth such as these which are the daughters of the land, what good would my life be to me?"