Genesis 27

— when thou shalt have the dominion,] It is not meant, that they should have dominion over the seed of Jacob, but simply have dominion, as they had when they appointed a king of their own. Bp. Newton.

— thou shalt break his yoke &c.] In the reign of Jehoram, “the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king,” (2 Kings viii. 20;) thus fulfilling this prophecy 900 years after it was delivered. Bp. Newton.

Genesis 27:29

29. Let people serve thee,] As the former part of the blessing relates to wealth, so does this to dominion and empire: it was signally fulfilled in the days of David, when the Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians, Philistines, and Edomites also, were subdued under him. Bp. Patrick.

—be lord over thy brethren,] This is a third part of the blessing, giving him a prerogative in his own family. Bp. Patrick.

In the following chapter, ver. 14, the promise is made to Jacob, “In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed;” and to this are to be referred in their full force those expressions, “Let people serve thee, &c.” It appears that Jacob was a man of more religion, and believed the Divine promises more than Esau. The posterity of Jacob likewise preserved the true religion and the worship of one God, while the Edomites were sunk in idolatry. And of the seed of Jacob was born at last the Saviour of the world. This was the peculiar privilege and advantage of Jacob, to be the happy instrument of conveying these spiritual blessings to all nations. This was his greatest superiority over Esau: and in this sense St. Paul understands and applies the prophecy, “The elder shall serve the younger,” Rom. ix. 12. The Christ, the Saviour of the world, was to be born of some one family: and Jacob’s was preferred to Esau’s out of the good pleasure of Almighty God, who is certainly the best judge of fitness and expedience, and hath an undoubted right to dispense His favours, as He shall see proper: “for He saith to Moses,” as the Apostle proceeds to argue, ver. 15, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” And when the Gentiles were converted to Christianity,

Esau complaineth. He threateneth Jacob. Before CHRIST about 1760.

great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.

Genesis 27:34

34. — And he said, I am.] Jacob got his father’s blessing by a lie: but see what followed. His brother purposed to murder him:—he was in a manner banished from his father’s house:—his uncle dealt deceitfully with him, as he had done with his father, and treated him with great rigour: and his mother, who put him upon this fraud, never saw him after. Bp. Wilson.

Genesis 27:35

35. Therefore God give thee] Or, will give thee: it is a prophecy as well as a prayer. Bp. Kidder.

—the dew of heaven,] Rain fell only at certain seasons in that country: but there was a recompence for it by plentiful dews, which very much refreshed the

earth, and are represented as a Divine gift, Job xxxviii. 28; Mic. v. 7. Bp. Patrick.

—and the fatness of the earth,] Canaan, the lot of his inheritance, was a fruitful, and therefore by the Prophet called, a fat land, Neh. ix. 25. Stackhouse.

Genesis 27:39

39. — Behold, thy dwelling &c.] Esau had cattle, and beasts, and substance in abundance. And when the Israelites on their return from Egypt desired leave to pass through the territories of Edom, it appears that the country contained fields and vineyards. There is however a manifest difference between this and Jacob’s benediction. For here is no mention of plenty of corn and wine; nor is there dominion given to him, as there was to Jacob: and, whatsoever fatness was in the soil of the country, it did not last, as appears from Mal. i. 3. Bps. Newton and Patrick.

Genesis 27:40

40. — by thy sword shalt thou live.] Live upon spoil. Bp. Patrick. The Edomites were always distinguished for their violence and martial spirit. Josephus gives them the character of “a turbulent and disorderly nation, always erect to commotions, and rejoicing in changes; at the least adulation of those who beseech them, beginning war, and hastening to battles as it were to a feast.” Bp. Newton.

— shalt serve thy brother;] See note on chap. xxv. 23.

Genesis 27:46

46. — I am weary of my life &c.] However culpable Rebekah may be thought in the former instance, there is not the like imputation on her, in hiding from her husband the true reason of her sending Jacob away. It is prudence to conceal the truth, when the discovery will occasion more harm than good. Therefore that she might not afflict her husband’s old age with the unwelcome news of his son Esau’s wicked design against his brother, and thereby provoke his indignation against him; she covered the dismissal of Jacob with a reason, that was true indeed, but not that chief and latent one, which gave her the most uneasiness; and which, if communicated to her husband, might have been the means of bringing down his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. So that on the whole, and according to the Proverbs of the wise king, she acted the part both of a careful wife and of a prudent woman: for “the tongue