The First Book of Moses, called Genesis
Genesis 27
Chapter XXVII · Vol. I, pp. 258–259
1 Isaac sendeth Esau for venison. 6 Rebekah instructeth Jacob to obtain the blessing. 18 Jacob under the person of Esau obtaineth it. 30 Esau bringeth venison. 33 Isaac trembleth. 34 Esau complaineth, and by importunity obtaineth a blessing. 41 He threateneth Jacob's life. 42 Rebekah disappointeth it.
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old,6 and his eyes awere dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son. And he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and ctake me some venison;
c Heb. hunt, ch.25. 27.
4 And make me dsavoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.7
d ch.25.28. 1 Co.6.12.
7 Esau, as we read, ch.25.28, had always been very careful in gratifying his aged father's taste in this particular, and Isaac seems to have wished that his paternal affection might be stimulated to the utmost on the present occasion, by an act that should recall to his mind all the filial attention of his son in time past.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee ebefore the LORD8 before my death.
e In his presence, and by his authority, 1 Sa.26.19. ver.33.
8 The expression is significant, and intimates that it was not a common blessing, but a solemn benediction, as in the presence of God, and by his authority and approbation, which Isaac meant to pronounce upon Esau.—I.
9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is ga hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
g ch.25.25.
12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a hdeceiver; and I shall bring a icurse upon me, and not a blessing.
13 And his mother said unto him, kUpon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.
15 And Rebekah took goodly9 raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son.
9 Heb. desirable.
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck.
17 And she gave the savoury1 meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
A.M. 2244. B.C. 1760.
1 Most of the dishes of the people of Aleppo are high-seasoned with salt and spices; onions and garlic often complete the seasoning.—Russell.
18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy mfirst-born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
m ch.25.25; ver.25.
20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.2
2 Heb. before me.
21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22 And Jacob went near unto 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 Esau's hands; so he nblessed him.
24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, oI am.3
o Ro.3.7,8. Job 13.7. Zec.8.16. Ep.4.25. Col. 3.9.
3 This whole scene is painful and even revolting; but it is thoroughly oriental in character. In cunning, duplicity, and bare-faced lying, it only resembles scenes enacted almost every day even in families of the highest station among the inhabitants of Western Asia. The sins of Esau, Rebekah, and Jacob did not pass unpunished. Bitterly did they all lament their errors and crimes during long years of estrangement, danger, and suffering.—P.
25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. 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 unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the psmell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
28 Therefore qGod give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:4
q Heb.12.20. Ps.65.9-13. De.33.13;8.7-9;11. 11, 12. Ho. 14. 6, 7. De. 32.2. Ps.133.3. ch.49.20. Zec.9.17.
4 The nature and extent of the patriarchal birthright, which Esau despised, ch. 25.34, is here fully exhibited. It consists, 1. In a propitious climate, a fertile soil, with that abundant return that implies an industrious, peaceable, and prosperous people. 2. The service and submission of foreign nations by conquest. 3. The service and submission of his own relatives by voluntary choice. 4. A curse upon all his enemies, and a blessing upon all his friends.—What a glorious emblem of the birthright of Jesus! Hasten the time, O Lord! when the heathen shall be his inheritance, and the utmost ends of the earth his possession!—But while Rebekah or Jacob must be praised for valuing this patriarchal birthright so highly, is either to be imitated in seeking it so subtlely? No. Like Paul with Peter, Ga. 2. 11, we must, as it were, withstand them to the face, because they are to be blamed. The goodness of the end sought can never justify the wrong means employed. God, who cannot lie, had already told Rebekah, ch. 25.23, that the elder (Esau) should serve the younger (Jacob), and relying upon his truth and power, as well as valuing his promised gift, Rebekah should have waited on God's means for accomplishing his own purposes. Her human wisdom, however, brought its own punishment. It made Esau an intending murderer, verse 41, and Jacob a banished exile.—C.
29 Let rpeople serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: scursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau.
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly,4 and said,5 Who? where is he that hath taken6 venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, tand he shall be blessed.
A.M. 2244. B.C. 1760.
4 Heb. trembled with a great trembling greatly.
5 If Isaac knew the prophecy delivered to Rebekah, ch. 25. 23 (and we cannot imagine him ignorant of it), then his purpose of blessing Esau, and endowing him with the birthright, was contrary to God's prediction. We may conjecture, but we cannot absolutely discover, by what process Isaac was led to forget this word, any more than we can discover how Peter did not remember the words of Jesus till he turned and looked on him, Lu. 22. 61; but to the recollection of God's promise, and of his own neglect of it, we may mainly attribute the trembling that now seized upon Isaac.—Note, With Rebekah and Isaac we must not take improper means to effect God's known purposes—but with Isaac we must not neglect any legitimate or authorized means in our power to give effect to all his commands and promises.—C.
6 Heb. hunted.
t Ro. 11.29. ch. 28.1,3,4. He. 11.20. Ep. 1.3. Jn. 10.10,28,29. Ro. 5.20,21.
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitteru cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father!
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob?7 for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright;8 and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
7 i.e. a supplanter.
8 False, for he sold it himself.
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained9 him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
9 Or, supported.
38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father! And Esau ylifted up his voice and wept.
39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, zBehold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness1 of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;2
z ver. 28; ch. 36.6,8. Jos. 24.4. He. 11.20.
1 Or, of the fatness.
2 Esau obtained possession of Mount Seir. It was a mountainous country, intersected by deep wild ravines. But it is far from being barren. The deep glens, the terraces along the mountain sides, and the broad downs upon the summits of the ridges, are covered with rich soil, capable of cultivation, and in which trees, shrubs, and flowers now grow luxuriantly. All this shows how accurate were the prophetic statements in Isaac's blessing: 'Thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above.' Compared with the regions immediately adjoining it, Edom is fertile.—P.
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother: and it shall come to pass, when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.3
3 The prophecy contained in the latter clause of this verse was fulfilled 900 years afterwards, in the reign of Jehoram.—Newton.
41 And aEsau hated Jacob, because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand, bthen will I slay my brother Jacob.
a Eze. 35.5. Am. 1.11. Ob. 10. 1 Jn. 3.12.
b 2 Sa. 13.23. Pr. 4.16; 2.14; 1.12,13,16. Ps. 37.12,14,32; 140.4,5; 142.3. Tit. 3.3; 1.15,16.
42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah:4 and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth ccomfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
A.M. 2244. B.C. 1760.
4 The information was given to Rebekah, as her partiality for Jacob was well known. Being a prudent woman, as well as a tender mother, she advises Jacob not to anticipate the intended injury by complaint to his father, or private revenge; but rather to give place to his brother's anger. Fully aware of the irritable and fiery temper of Esau, she enforces her argument on Jacob by reminding him how soon the paroxysm would be over and make way for his return.—C.
c Pr. 2.14; 4.16; 1.12,13,16.
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother, to Haran;
44 And tarry with him da few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
d They proved 20 years, ch. 31.38.
45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send and fetch thee from thence. Why should I be edeprived also of you both in one day?
e 2 Sa. 14.6,7. ch. 9.6; 4.11,16. Ac. 28.4.
46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?
Notes
Ver. 4. That, invigorated with the savoury meat, I may bestow upon thee my blessing, constituting thee heir of all the benefits promised to me and my father Abraham: ver. 27-29; ch. 28. 3, 4; 48. 15; xlix. De. xxxi. xxxiii.; He. 11. 20.
Ver. 13. The manner in which she imprecates the curse cannot be justified; but, from the promise of God, and from Jacob's having obtained the birthright, ch. 25. 23, 33, she was confident of a happy issue.
Ver. 27. He regarded the smell of Jacob's garments as a token that God had intended to bless him abundantly, and to render him a particular blessing to others.
Ver. 28, 29. In this blessing Isaac at once requested and predicted the benefits mentioned. These temporal favours were more remarkable under the Old Testament than under the New; and represented the spiritual and temporal influences and fulness of the new covenant and of the church of God: He. 14. 6, 7; De. 32. 2; Is. 45. 8; 1 Co. 1. 30; 3. 22; Re. 1. 6; 5. 10; Ep. 1. 3.
Ver. 39, 40. This blessing imported that Esau and his seed should inhabit Mount Seir, a soil then moderately fertile, He. 11. 20; ch. 36. 6-8; that they should live much by war, violence, and rapine, Mat. 10. 34; should, by David, Amaziah, Hyrcanus, &c., be subjected to the Hebrew yoke, De. 33. 29; Ps. 60. 8; 2 Sa. 8. 14; 2 Ch. 25. 11, 12; Ob. 18, 19; but should under Jehoram cast it off, 2 Ki. 8. 16, 20.
Ver. 41. In this manner Esau hoped to recover both birthright and blessing; but Isaac nevertheless lived about forty-three years after.—[Esau was afraid to attempt any open violence during his father's life. The disease under which Isaac was labouring had brought on premature debility, and it appears to have greatly affected his sight. He must have in a great measure recovered from it, however, for he lived for forty years after Jacob's departure. P.]
Reflections. When dimness of sight, or other harbingers of death, fasten upon us, it is high time for spiritual diligence, particularly in committing ourselves and our families to God. But even then it is hard to rectify the partial affection which we have conceived for our children. How unseemly in parents, especially if godly, to become tempters of their children to offend God, and to despise the awful curse which he hath annexed to sin! Their evil counsels are a most entangling snare; and it is unnatural for the dearest relations to become deceivers of one another; especially as one sin so naturally leads to another still worse; and nothing but disorder, grief, or other murderous consequences, can justly be expected. The wisdom of God is often remarkably evident in accomplishing his great designs through means of the wicked practices of men; but the heirs of promise, notwithstanding, entail upon themselves the most fearful perplexity and trouble, in taking sinful methods to obtain their promised benefits. With what earnestness will the most carnal men pursue after spiritual things, for the sake of the carnal advantages which they hope will attend them! But, if disappointed, readily they pervert their way, and their heart fretteth against the Lord, while with malice and murder they think to defeat the purposes of God. How readily this malice reduces to great perplexity and fear such as have been the sinful instruments of their disappointment! Stand in awe, my soul; seek the Lord's blessing only in his own time and method! Let lying lips be an abomination to me! Never let me despise the heavenly birthright, lest I be denied the blessing when afterward I seek it carefully with tears. Is any provoked by or even unjustly enraged at me, let me, by yielding, pacify great offences; or, by flight, escape for my safety. Perhaps what now seems base or bitter to my corrupt heart, may yield me consolation in the latter end. Let intimacy, therefore, and especially marriage-connection, with the wicked, be always the detestation of my soul.