Genesis 27:1-45 (J, E). The Blessing of Isaac and Jacob's Deceit This narrative is taken from J, though possibly it includes extracts from E. It is a famous and graphically written piece of literature. The lifelike personal touches are not allowed to obscure the element of racial or national motive... [ Continue Reading ]
_Isaac was old_ According to P, Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah (Genesis 25:20); sixty years old when Esau and Jacob were born (Genesis 25:26); and a hundred years old when Esau married Judith and Basemath (Genesis 26:34). _his eyes were dim_ The narrative assumes that Isaac is in... [ Continue Reading ]
_I know not the day of my death_ Isaac expects that death is at hand, and fears lest he should die without having pronounced the blessing on his son. The dying utterance was deemed prophetic Genesis 48:21, Gen 50:24; 2 Samuel 23:1-5.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy weapons_ The quiver and bow are the huntsman's weapons. Esau as "a man of the field" (Genesis 25:27) is to go out "to the field," i.e. the open country. Targum of Onkelos, "thy sword and thy bow"; cf. Genesis 48:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
_that my soul may bless thee_ Cf. 19, 25, 31. See note on Genesis 12:13. A sacrificial meal is not intended. The strengthening food is from the chase, not the flesh of domestic animals.... [ Continue Reading ]
_before the Lord_ i.e. in the presence of Jehovah, and in acknowledgment of His power, the human blessing will be pronounced, and will be effectual. The supposition that "before the Lord" means before an image of Jehovah in the house, is an arbitrary one. A local sanctuary, such as we may suppose wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_obey my voice_ Jacob is Rebekah's favourite; cf. Genesis 25:28. Rebekah is prepared to deceive Isaac, in order that Jacob may obtain the coveted blessing. As in chap. 24, she shews energy and decision. She believes that Isaac's blessing of Esau would have the effect of reversing the oracle she hers... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jacob said_, &c. Jacob objects to the proposal, not because of its deceitfulness, but because of the risk of detection. _a hairy man_ See Genesis 25:25 (E).... [ Continue Reading ]
_will feel me_ Isaac's sight was no longer good enough to distinguish between his sons; but the sense of touch would remove all doubt. _a deceiver_ Better, as R.V. marg., _a mocker_. LXX ὡς καταφρονῶν, "a profane trifler," one who treats in a contemptuous way the solemn religious blessing of his fa... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy curse_ i.e. "the penalty pronounced upon thee." Rebekah is prepared to take upon herself the evil consequences. Absorbed in her plan, she will not waste time upon the consideration of ill results. The character of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare admits of comparison with that of Rebekah in this sce... [ Continue Reading ]
_the goodly raiment_ "Goodly," lit. "choice," "desirable." By this is meant the clothes worn by Esau on festivals and solemn occasions. Their odour was familiar, Genesis 27:27. It was the ancient Jewish idea that _priestly_garments were meant. _with her in the house_ We are to infer from this expre... [ Continue Reading ]
_the skins of the kids_ An extraordinary comment upon the description of Esau as "a hairy man" (Genesis 25:25).... [ Continue Reading ]
_who art thou, my son_ These words indicate the state of blindness of Isaac. The element of doubt arises from an imperfect recognition of the voice.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jacob said_ Jacob's reply combines (_a_) a statement of direct falsehood and (_b_) a specious assumption of virtue in the prompt obedience to his father's command.... [ Continue Reading ]
_How is it … quickly_ Isaac's question implies a second shadow of doubt. This time it arises not from the voice, but from the disquieting thought of the extraordinary rapidity of the huntsman's good fortune. _Because the Lord thy God_ Jacob takes a third step in deceitfulness. To the lie and the va... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come near_ Isaac's shadow of suspicion has not yet been dispelled, even by the invocation of the Divine Name. He requires to be assured by the very test that Jacob, in Genesis 27:12, had dreaded would defeat his mother's stratagem. This point raises the excitement of the story.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jacob went near_ Luther says, "Had I been Jacob, I should have dropped the dish." _The voice is Jacob's voice_ Here is expressed the original source of Isaac's hesitation. The touch of his arms dispels all doubt; cf. Genesis 27:14_; Genesis 27:16_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_blessed_ Anticipating Genesis 27:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
_did eat … drank_ The feast, consisting of food and drink, is the preliminary to the solemn ceremony of blessing, just as it precedes the rites of a covenant; cf. Genesis 26:30; Genesis 31:54.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he smelled_ The scent of the "field" forms the starting-point of the Oracle, or Song, of Blessing. The blessing is concerned not with the personal destiny of Jacob, but with the national history of the Israelite people. Cf. the blessing of Jacob on Joseph (Genesis 49:22 ff.). What "the smell of his... [ Continue Reading ]
_And God give thee_ The blessing of the firstborn in this and the following verse is solemnly pronounced by Isaac. It is irrevocable; see Genesis 27:33. It invokes (_a_) blessings of fertility upon the soil, (_b_) blessings of victory over other nations, (_c_) blessings of predominance over kindred... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let peoples_, &c. The first half of this verse seems to refer to conquest over foreign foes; the second half to pre-eminence among the kindred races. The complete fulfilment of this prediction cannot have taken place before the times of David (cf. 2 Samuel 8) and Solomon. The "peoples" and "nations... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jacob was yet … out_ These words dramatically represent to us the rapid succession of the two scenes, and remind us that, had Esau arrived a few minutes earlier, the _dénouement_would have been entirely different. Rebekah's trick has been wholly successful. Jacob has won the blessing of the firstbo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let my father arise_ Cf. 19. The effect of this scene is heightened by the use of almost identical language.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy son, thy firstborn, Esau_ For this triple emphasis, cf. Genesis 22:2. Esau answers, as if he were surprised that Isaac should have asked who he was, or possibly at the agitated manner of the questioner.... [ Continue Reading ]
_trembled very exceedingly_ Isaac's agitation is expressed in the original with an emphasis which our version can hardly reproduce. Lat. "_expavit Isaac stupore vehementi et ultra quam credi potest admirans_," where two renderings seem to be combined. LXX ἐξέστη ἔκστασιν μεγάλην σφόδρα. and _he sha... [ Continue Reading ]
_an exceeding … cry_ These are the words to which reference is made in Hebrews 12:17. Esau had hoped to win back through his father's fondness the privileges which he himself had bartered away through his own thoughtless folly. His disappointment is all the greater, because he believed that he was a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy brother … guile_ Isaac at once concludes that the deceiver was Jacob, and acknowledges that Jacob's trick has succeeded.... [ Continue Reading ]
_rightly named Jacob_ See note on Genesis 25:26. _supplanted_ i.e. "outwitted," "overreached by guile." The word in the original is of the same root as the word "Jacob." It is as if Esau had said "he hath -Jacob-ed" me these two times"; "he hath twice overreached me." See Jeremiah 9:4. LXX ἐπτέρνικ... [ Continue Reading ]
_but one blessing_ Esau's words shew the importance attached to the blessing invoked by the dying head of the family. Isaac's words in the preceding verse, coupled with Esau's exclamation, imply that there was only one blessing. Esau knows that the blessing once given cannot be recalled. _wept_ Cf.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold_, &c. Isaac's utterance again takes the form of poetry. His prediction as to Esau's future is contained in 6 strophes; 1 and 2 refer to the physical conditions of the nation's existence; 3 to its manner of life; 4 to its temporary subjection to Israel; 5 to its revolt; 6 to its ultimate inde... [ Continue Reading ]
_by thy sword_ The soil will not furnish means of subsistence. The life of marauders dwelling in mountain fastnesses is here depicted. They will raid their brother's borders. They will cut off the merchants travelling with caravans and camels between the Red Sea and Syria. _thou shalt serve thy bro... [ Continue Reading ]
_The days of mourning_, &c. Cf. Genesis 50:3-4; Genesis 50:10. The meaning is obvious. Esau says in his heart, "Isaac my father is on the point of death: no sooner shall he die, than I will take revenge. Even while the customary mourning is going on, I will slay Jacob." Before seven days have elapse... [ Continue Reading ]
_the words of Esau_ Esau's threat in the previous verse was "said in his heart"; but his was not a nature to keep a secret. His intention was soon the subject of talk. _doth comfort himself_ A strange, but expressive phrase, lit. "is comforting himself with regard to thee, in order to kill thee": a... [ Continue Reading ]
_obey my voice_ Rebekah takes full responsibility upon herself, in fulfilment of her promise in Genesis 27:13, "upon me be thy curse, my son, only obey my voice.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a few days_ Cf. Genesis 29:20, "but a few days," in the sense of "a short time." Rebekah's plan was, in this respect, destined to be signally frustrated, cf. Genesis 29:30; Genesis 31:41. She was separated from her favourite son for over 20 years.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will send, and fetch thee_ There is no mention of this part of Rebekah's promise being fulfilled. _be bereaved of you both_ The expression seems to be a reference to the custom of blood-revenge, as in 2 Samuel 14:7. The life of the murderer would be required by the family. He must either be bani... [ Continue Reading ]
and ch. Genesis 28:1-9. This passage is from P, as is shewn by the characteristic language and phraseology. It supplies a different motive for Jacob's journey. He is to go to Paddan-aram, Genesis 28:2, not to Haran as in Genesis 27:43. Jacob's deception is ignored; his departure is on a journey for... [ Continue Reading ]