_JACOB, CLOTHED IN THE GARMENTS OF ESAU, IS BLESSED BY ISAAC. ESAU, HEARING OF JACOB'S ACTION, IS FULL OF ANGER, AND EARNESTLY REQUESTS A BLESSING FROM HIS FATHER. HIS FATHER CONFIRMS THE BLESSING GIVEN TO JACOB, AND FORETELLS THAT ESAU SHOULD BE HIS SERVANT, BUT THAT HE SHOULD AFTERWARDS BREAK HIS... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS OLD, &C.— Bishop Kidder, from several passages of the history laid together, proves, that Isaac was now one hundred and thirty-six or one hundred and thirty-seven years old; when his faculties being much impaired, and apprehending the approach of death, (though he lived forty years after,) he de... [ Continue Reading ]
_GENESIS 27:5_, &C. _AND REBEKAH,_ &C.— Rebekah, acquainted with the Divine will concerning the channel in which the grand promise was to pass, resolved to do her part towards preventing the ill effects of Isaac's partial fondness for an eldest son, who had already indicated so unworthy a dispositio... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO GOOD KIDS— Not that the old patriarch could eat two, but that she might select and dress the most exquisite parts of each. Kids were, of old time, reckoned very delicious food, and allowed to decayed, weak people, as excellent nourishment.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK GOODLY RAIMENT OF HER ELDEST SON, &C.— Some critics of very great name, as Bochart, Selden, Grotius, &c. are of opinion, that these were the sacerdotal garments, appropriated to the first-born, which seems very probable; and if so, we have a confirmation of what was suggested on Genesis 27:1. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_GENESIS 27:19_, &C. _JACOB SAID, I AM ESAU,_ &C.— In this discourse of Jacob's with his father, there are many palpable falsehoods, which can neither be imitated without sin, nor justified without partiality. All attempts to do it are vain: though the intention and the circumstances may extenuate t... [ Continue Reading ]
COME NEAR NOW, AND KISS ME— Many suppose this to have been another way, by which Isaac wished to satisfy himself that it was his son Esau; but it appears to have been a merely natural expression of the love wherewith he conferred this blessing.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SMELLED THE SMELL, &C.— It is thought to have been the custom to scent their richer garments with odoriferous flowers and other perfumes, with which they could easily be supplied from Arabia, famed for aromatic herbs: though perhaps the common flowers and odoriferous herbs of the country were mos... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD GIVE THEE, &C.— It is here foretold, and in Genesis 27:39 of these two brethren, that, as to situation and other temporal advantages, they should be much alike. It was said to Jacob, _God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:_ and much the sam... [ Continue Reading ]
LET PEOPLE SERVE THEE, &C.— However alike their temporal advantages were to be, the younger brother was to have the superiority in all spiritual gifts, was to be the happy instrument of conveying the blessing to all nations: _In thee and in thy Seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed:_ a... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAAC TREMBLED, &C.— It may appear extraordinary, that Isaac should be so exceedingly alarmed at this event, and yet confirm what he had done; not withdrawing the blessing, so deceitfully gained: _I have blessed him, yea, and he shall be blessed._ To the common answers taken from Isaac's being convi... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT HE RIGHTLY NAMED JACOB— i.e.. A _supplanter._ There is something very affecting in this scene between Esau (who was now, as Le Clerc computes, past his seventieth year) and his blind and aged parent. But his instant accusation of Jacob for _taking away_ his birth-right, when he parted with it... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THY DWELLING, &C.— See notes on Genesis 27:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THY SWORD SHALT THOU LIVE, &C.— The elder branch, it is here foretold, should delight more in war and violence, but yet should be subdued by the younger; _and by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother._ Esau himself might be said to live much by the sword, for he was a cunning hun... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAYS OF MOURNING ARE AT HAND— In this however he was mistaken, as Isaac lived forty years after: he was also happily prevented from executing his wicked purpose by his mother's care, who sent away her son Jacob to Laban, designing soon to _fetch_ him back _from thence,_ Genesis 27:45 though in t... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM WEARY, &C.— See notes on ch. Genesis 26:34, &c. The writers of the Universal History remark, that whosoever narrowly observes Jacob's life, after he had obtained his father's blessing, will own, that it consisted in nothing less than in worldly felicity, of which he enjoyed as little perhaps as... [ Continue Reading ]