EXCURSUS G: UPON THE CHRONOLOGY OF JACOB’S LIFE (Genesis 27) The elaborate calculations of Lightfoot, and most Jewish and Christian commentators, intended to show that when Jacob set out upon his journey to Haran, he and Esau were each about 77 years of age, and Isaac their father about 137, though... [ Continue Reading ]
XXVII. JACOB BY SUBTILTY OBTAINS THE FIRSTBORN’S BLESSING. (1) IT CAME TO PASS. — The importance of this chapter is manifest. Just as in Abraham’s life the decision had to be made which of the two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, was to be the heir of the promise, so, here again, there is the same Divine el... [ Continue Reading ]
THY QUIVER. — This word does not occur elsewhere, and is rendered in the Targum and Syriac _a sword._ As it is derived from a root signifying _to hang,_ it probably means, like our word _hanger,_ a sort of knife; but all that we can say for certain is that it was some sort of hunting implement. TAK... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVOURY MEAT. — On the rare occasions on which an Arab sheik tastes flesh, it is flavoured with almonds, pistachio nuts, and raisins. It would thus not be easy for Isaac to distinguish the taste of the flesh of a kid from that of an antelope. As the Arabs always spare their own flocks and herds, the... [ Continue Reading ]
REBEKAH HEARD. — She was possibly present when Isaac gave the order, and he may even have wished her to know his determination to give the blessing to his favourite son. But the words filled her with dismay. She had, no doubt, treasured the prophecy of Jacob’s ultimate superiority, and now it seemed... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE LORD (_Jehovah_)_. — _Rebekah has been accused of inserting words which Isaac had not used; but it is unreasonable to suppose that more is recorded of Isaac’s address to his son than the main sense. Still, these words had a meaning to Jacob which they did not bear to Esau. The latter care... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO GOOD KIDS. — These would be about equal to one antelope or animal of the larger game. After Isaac had eaten of the flesh, so solemn an occasion would doubtless be marked by a feast for those, at least in the foremost tents, if not for all the household and followers of Isaac.... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON ME BE THY CURSE. — No curse followed upon their conduct; but, on the contrary, Isaac acknowledged the substantial justice of the act of Rebekah and her son, and confirmed Jacob in the possession of the blessing (Genesis 27:33). It seems strange, nevertheless, that neither of them had any scrupl... [ Continue Reading ]
GOODLY RAIMENT. — It has been supposed that the elder son held a sort of priestly office in the household, and as Isaac’s sight was growing dim, that Esau ministered for him at sacrifices. Evidently the clothing was something special, and such as was peculiar to Esau: for ordinary raiment, however h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SKINS OF THE KIDS. — In hot countries the coats of animals are far less thick and coarse than in cold climates, and some species of Oriental goats are famous for their soft, silky wool. But in those cases in which men have their bodies covered with hair, it is by no means of a delicate texture.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE... SIT AND EAT. — The Hebrews at this time, and for centuries, sat at their meals (1 Samuel 20:25). It was from the Romans that they learned to recline at table, as we find was their custom in the Gospels. It is a mistake, moreover, to suppose that Isaac was a bedridden old man, for Jacob bids... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE LORD THY GOD BROUGHT IT TO ME. — Jacob does not keep up his acting well here, for it was not in accordance with Esau’s character to see anything providential in his success in hunting. This may have helped to arouse Isaac’s suspicions, who immediately proceeds to examine him.... [ Continue Reading ]
COME NEAR... THAT I MAY FEEL THEE. — Besides the answer, in a style very different from Esau’s way of thinking, Isaac was surprised at the short delay in bringing the savoury meat; for the game had to be sought at a distance away from the cattle-pastures. Though, too, the voices of the twins had a c... [ Continue Reading ]
COME NEAR NOW, AND KISS ME, MY SON. — This was the solemn preparation for the giving of the blessing. Isaac’s suspicions had now quite passed away. He had eaten and drunk, and the time had now come for the decision which son was to inherit the promise.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE SMELL OF A FIELD. — From the abundance of aromatic plants, the pastures of Palestine are peculiarly fragrant; but Isaac, deceived by the scent of Esau’s own garments, intended probably to contrast the pure sweetness of one whose life was spent in the open field with the less pleasant odour wh... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE GOD GIVE THEE. — Heb., _And the Elohim give thee._ Here, as not unfrequently is the case, the name Elohim follows immediately upon that of Jehovah. As the blessings of dew and fertile land are the gifts of the God of nature, the use of the title Elohim is in accordance with the general rul... [ Continue Reading ]
LET PEOPLE SERVE THEE. — Heb., _peoples._ Up to this point the blessing had been general, but now Isaac bestows the birthright, carrying with it widespread dominion, precedence over all other members of the family, and special blessedness. The phrases “thy brethren” and “thy mother’s sons” include a... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ALSO HAD MADE. — Heb., _he also made,_ Esau returned just as Jacob was leaving Isaac’s presence. There would still be some considerable delay before the captured game was made into savoury meat... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAAC TREMBLED VERY EXCEEDINGLY. — This was not from mere vexation at having been so deceived, and made to give the blessing contrary to his wishes. What Isaac felt was that he had been resisting God. In spite of the prophecy given to the mother, and Esau’s own irreligious character and heathen marr... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT HE RIGHTLY NAMED JACOB? — In thus playing upon his brother’s name, Esau has had a lasting revenge; for the bad sense which he for the first time put upon the word Jacob has adhered to it, no doubt, because Jacob’s own conduct made it only too appropriate. Its right meaning is “one who follows... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU BUT ONE BLESSING? — Only one son could inherit the spiritual prerogatives of the birthright, and the temporal lordship which accompanied it. And even lower earthly blessings would avail little if Esau’s descendants were to be subject to the dominion of the other brother’s race. With some m... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAAC HIS FATHER ANSWERED. — Unwillingly, and only after repeated entreaty and earnest expostulation, and even tears, upon Esau’s side, does Isaac bring himself to the effort to lessen in any way the painful consequences to his favourite son of his brother having robbed him of the blessing. Plainly,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU SHALT HAVE THE DOMINION. — This rendering of a rare and difficult Hebrew word is scarcely more than a guess made by two or three ancient Jewish commentators. Its real meaning here, and in Jeremiah 2:31; Hosea 11:12, is _to toss the yoke_ — be restless and unquiet. The prophecy of Edom’s su... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB IS SENT AWAY BY HIS FATHER AND MOTHER TO HARAN. (41) THE DAYS OF MOURNING FOR MY FATHER ARE AT HAND. — Esau evidently expected that his father’s death was near, and such also was Isaac’s own expectation (Genesis 27:2); but he recovered, and lived for more than half a century. Perhaps on this... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE WORDS OF ESAU. — Though spoken “in his heart,” Esau had evidently made no secret of his evil purpose, and Rebekah therefore determines to send Jacob to her father’s house, not merely for safety, but that he might take a wife from among his own kindred. He was now formally acknowledged as the h... [ Continue Reading ]
A FEW DAYS. — Like Esau (Genesis 27:41), Rebekah expected that Isaac’s end was near. Really Jacob was absent for forty years, and while Isaac lived to see him return, Rebekah saw him again no more. Yet this was better than for Esau to slay him, and then, like another Cain, to be banished far away.... [ Continue Reading ]
REBEKAH SAID TO ISAAC. — With this begins a new act. In the previous five verses we had the general results of Rebekah’s guile: we have now the special consequence of Jacob’s departure for Haran. Upon Rebekah’s communication to Isaac follows his decision in the next chapter. In the Hebrew there is n... [ Continue Reading ]