Genesis 27

Isaac being old and dim sighted intends to bless Esau as the first born but is deceived therein by the prudent managing Rebecca in so much hat he blessed Jacob instead of Esau verse 1 &c. Esau coming from hunting and understanding this is much distempered at it and so is Isaac himself who nevertheless provided Esau upon his great lamenting with a temporal blessing 30. For this Esau hates his brother and purposed to slay him 41 which being perceived by Rebecca she adviseth Jacob to depart towards her brother Laban and disposeth Isaac to approve of the same 42.

1. And it came to pass when Isaac grown old [as some conjecture about 137 years now] and his eyes became dim [not withstanding Gods wonderful providence who by this blindness or dim sightedness did not only exercise his servants Isaac but likewise brought it about that the right of primogeniture was conferred upon Jacob] that he could not see he called Esau his greatest son [that is the first born] and said to him my son and he said lo here I am [see above chapter 22 on verse 1.]

2. and he said behold now I am grown old I do not know the day of my death [that is I have so small time to live left me that I know soon death may surprise me and must look for him every hour and moment.]

3. Now then take I pray thy instruments thy quiver of arrows [Heb. Pendant quiver r any kind of Bandelier] antsy bow and go to thy field and hunt me some venison [Heb. Hunt me a hunting take any kind of venison for me such as thou knowest I love to eat as below verse 5,7.]

4. And make or dress me savory meats or dishes [or some dainties] so as I love the same and bring them to me eat that thy my soul [that is myself with full intent and purpose of mind] may bless thee ere I die [understand this is not a common or ordinary blessing which parents are able to give their children in any occasion but of a most singular extraordinary and excellent solemn prophetical blessing drest and solemnized in a manner of a last will and testament declairing his son the heir apparent of al the spiritual and corporal promises made to him his father and so below chapter 8.1.]

5. Now Rebecca hearkened to it when Isaac spake to his son Esau and Esau went into the field for to hunt some venison that might bring it in.

6. Then Rebecca spoke to her son Jacob saying behold I have heard thy father speak to Esau thy brother saying:

7. bring me some venison and dress me savory meats and dishes that I may eat and bless thee before the faceoff the LORD [that is to say with such a blessing as shall be pronounced in his name and as in his presence and confirmed by his guidance and direction] before my death.

8. Now then my son hear my voice [howbeit Rebecca makes use of means in this business which cannot wholly be excused nevertheless the matter itself that she endeavored to derive the right of the progeniture upon Jacob did agree with Gods will and declaration see above chapter25.23] in that which I command thee.

9. Go to the stock now and fetch or bring [Heb. Take but the Hebrew word doth likewise here comprehend the signification to bring and both they together imply as much as to fetch see above chapter 12 on verse 15] me thence two good kids of the he goats [that is two fat ones well liking and well fed compare below chapter 41.5] and I will make or dress them for savory meats to thy father such as he loves.

10. And thou salt bring the same to thy father and he shall eat that he may bless thee before his death.

11. Then said Jacob to Rebecca his mother behold my brother Esau is a hairy men [that is rough skinned] and I am a smooth man [that is soft skinned.]

12. Perhaps my father will feel me and I shall be a deceiver before his eyes [Heb. Seducer the particle as is sometimes used not for that which only seems so but which is so indeed see Nehemiah 7:2 John 1:14 2 Corinthians 3:18] so should I bring a curse upon me and not a blessing [compare Deuteronomy 27:18.]

13. And his mother said to him the curse be upon me my son [Rebecca speaks thus confidently not out of any levity but as it seems out of an assured hope of a good issue arguing and concluding with herself not only from the clear oracle of God but likewise from the ungracious life and conversation of Esau that the right of primogeniture did not belong to him but to his brother Jacob] only hearken to my voice and go fetch them me [Heb. Take me that island bring them me to wit the two young he goats as I bad thee see above verse 9.]

14. Then he went and he fetched them and brought them to his mother made savory meats such as his father loved.

15. then Rebecca took Esau her greatest sons precious garments [Heb. Desirable garments or garments of the desirableness that is such as are much desired and delighted in that is fair and costly ones] which she had by her in the house [that which she kept and laid up in the well scented presses or wardrobes as appears by verse 27] and she put them upon Jacob her least son [this and the following action verse 16 which Rebecca made use of to compass her design indeed a kind of deceit but so much the less to be found fault with as her intent was thereby to help to reduce him into the right way to fulfill the way of God and to put Jacob in the possession of which Gods intimated decree belonged unto him.]

16. And the skins of the kids of the he-goat she put on his hands and upon the smoothness of his neck.

17. And she gave the savory meats and the bread which she had prepared into the hand of Jacob her son.

18. And he came to is father and said my father and he said Lo here I am who art thou my son?

19. And Jacob said I am Esau the first born [it is indeed commendable to Jacob that he did highly esteem and earnestly long for high primogeniture but the way he goeth deserves no praise making use of untruth the former was in from God through faith in his promises that the latter was from himself through frailty of human corruption] I have done as thou hast spoken to me get thee up sit and eat for my venison that thy soul may bless me [see above verse 4]

20. Then said Isaac to his son how is this that thou hast found it so soon my son? [Heb. That thou didst hasten so much to find? These words may likewise be rendered thus what is this that thou hast found so soon? Or thou hast found that so soon?] And he said because the Lord thy God made that meet or occur before my face.

21. And Isaac said to Jacob draw near I pray that I may feel thee my son? Whether thou be son Esau himself or not?

22. Then Jacob came nigh to his father Isaac who felt and said the voice is Jacobs voice [that is as rough if they were Esau’s hands as it is declared verse 23 hereby it appears that Isaac began to doubt whether this carriage was right nevertheless God purpose proceeded.]

23. Yet he knew him not [notably by a wonderful direction of the providence of God who besides the blindness of his eyes suffers such a dullness of mind to surprise him in this particular that he proceeds to the blessings although he knew the voice of Jacob and was doubtful still as appears by the next verse] because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau’s hands and he blessed him.

24. And he said art thou my son Esau himself? And he said I am.

25. Then said he put it near me that I may eat of the venison of my son [to wit of that which thou hast taken and drest for me] that my soul may bless the and he put it near him and he did eat he brought him wine also and he drank.

26. And his father Isaac said unto him come near I pray and kiss me my son [the kiss was used for the old in such solemn benediction as a pledge of honor and affection see below chapter 48 verse 10.]

27. And he came near and he kissed him then he smelled the smell of his garments [whereby he was the more persuaded that Jacob was his son Esau as if the same he said my apparel doth smell of the stables and cattle but of the fields and wood of pleasure] and bless him and he said behold the smell of my son [that is the smell of my sons garments] is like the smell of the fields which the Lord hath blessed [which smell is chiefly caused by the temperateness of the air the goodness of the soil and the precious abundance of all manner of growing things. The meaning is , that like as a pleasant smell of the field is a token of its goodly situation precious fruits and rich abundance so the smell of my sons garments is a token unto me of his and his posterities future blessedness which shall more then deserve to be compared to such goodly field.]

28. Thus then God gives unto thee [this is not to be understood as a wish only that it may be so but as a prophecy that it should be fulfilled thus according to the letter indeed not so much in Jacobs person as in his posterity nevertheless the spiritual benefits typified thereby were common to him with all the true believers] of the dew of heaven [under the name of the dew which was very necessary to the land of Canaan to supply the scarcity o frail he comprehends all manner of blessing conveyed and bestowed upon the earth by means of the air and the heavens compare Deuteronomy 33 verse 13,14] and the fastness of the earth [that is abundance of god and precious things produced out of good and fruitful soil compare Deuteronomy 8:8 and 32.13,14 and 33.24] and the abundance of wheat and must.

29. People popular shall serve thee and the nations shall bow down before thee[this wish or blessing was especially fulfilled in the times of David Solomon and king of Judah unto Jorum see above chapter 25 on verse 23] be thou LORD over thy brethren and thy mothers sons shall bow down before thee [according to the right of primogeniture see above chapter 25 on verse 31] cursed must he be who so curseth thee and he who so blesseth thee must he be blessed [see above chapter 12 on verse 3.]

30. And it happened when Isaac had finished blessing Jacob it happened then Jacob was just gone forth from his father Isaacs face [Heb. Going forth was gone forth] that Esau came from his hunting.

31. He now likewise make drest savory meats and brought them to his father and he said to his father let my father arise and eat of the venison of his son that thy soul may bless me.

32. And Isaac his father said to him who art thou? And he said I am thy son the first born Esau.

33. Then Isaac was astonished with very great astonishment exceedingly, [The Hebrew word does signify a very great fright and terror accompanied with shaking and trembling, as below chapter 42.28 Exodus 19:16,18. This terror God suffered to seize upon him from being angry with Jacob and partly to make him consider that the issue and success of the blessing renounced was a thing proceeding from God's decree and his everlasting purpose see above chapter 25.23] and said: Who is he then that hunted the venison and brought it to me? And I have eaten of all before thou came and have blessed him; also he shall be blessed.

34. When Esau heard the words of his father he cried out with a great and bitter cry exceedingly and he said to his father bless me also my father [others I am likewise my father or I am likewise thy son my father so verse 38.]

35. And he said thy brother is come with deceit [Isaac indeed called Jacobs action deceit as indeed it was but now he understood plainly that himself had been the cause of it by his foregoing advertency as the same appears by his ratifying an firmly adhering to what bring deceived thus he had done upon it see above verse 23] and hath taken thy blessing away [that is which by nature appertained to thee and I was fully resolved to have bestowed upon thee.]

36. Then thou said it is not because they call his name Jacob that he hath deceived me twice now? [wherefore he was called Jacob that is to be seen above chapter 25 verse 26 to wit because he laid hold on his brothers heels at his birth but Esau interprets this name as if he had trip up his heels that is had coarsened and cheated him which signification the Hebrew word may bear well enough see Jeremiah 17:9] my first birth he hath taken away [this is false for he has freely accord sold the same unto him see above chapter 25.32,33] and behold now he hath taken away my blessings [the blessing belonged to the right primogeniture but he having sold the same the blessing did not appertain unto him] moreover he said hast thou then kept no blessing for?

37. Then Isaac answered and said unto Esau behold I set him to be the Lord over thee an doll his brethren [that is all the progeny and posterity of Esau] have I given him for servants and I have supported him with corn and must [that is I have so furnished and provided for him that he shall have enough not only to supply the common wants and necessities but likewise to cheer and comfort himself abundantly] what shall I now do unto thee my son?

38. And Esau said to his father hast thou but third one blessing my father? [understand by this one blessing the chief and principal whereby now Jacob was now declared heir of the divine covenant an of the land of Canaan] bless me also my father and Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39. Then his father Isaac answered and said unto him behold the fatnesses of the earth shall be thy habitation and of the dew of heaven shalt thou be blessed above.

40. And thou shalt live upon thy sword [that is thou shalt be put upon to it to maintain the people country and substance by force of arms and by reason thereof live a troublesome life in the midst of many wards] and shalt serve thy brother [see above chapter 25 on verse 23] nevertheless it shalt come to pass when it shalt bear sway then shalt withdraw his yoke from thy neck [see 2 Samuel 8:14 and the fulfilling hereof 2 Kings 8:20, 22.]

41. And Esau hated Jacob for that blessing wherewith his father had blessed him [this hatred descended as by inheritance upon the children and posterity see Ezekiel 35:5 Amos 1:11 Obadiah verse 10] and Esau said in his heart [that is by himself howbeit he not only thought so but either by words or gestures made it sufficiently known afterwards so that it cam to his mothers ears appears verse 42.] the days of my fathers mourning draw near and I will kill my brother Jacob.

42. When Rebecca was made acquainted with these words of Esau her greatest son she sent and called Jacob her least son and said to him behold thy brother Esau comforts himself over thee that he shall kill thee [Rebecca reveals unto her son Jacob what she had understood of Esau’s design for to encourage him thereby to undertake his journey she had thought on as a means of his safety.]

43. Now then my son hearken my voice and get thee up flee [or flee thee or for thee see above chapter 12 on verse 1] to Haran [see above chapter 11 on verse 31] unto my brother Alban.

44. And tarry with him for some days [that is for a while or certain time Heb. Had the plural this dies unos and so below likewise chapter 29.20] until the servant wrath [the Heb. Word doth signify a hot burning wrath such as this of Esaus was] of thy brotherbrothers turn.

45. Until the wrath of thy brother turn away from thee, and he shall have forgotten that which thou didst to him then I will send and take thee thence why should I be bereaved of you both in one day? [That is of thee if Esau should chance to kill thee and of Esau if for his murder should be put to death by the magistrate or otherwise destroyed by a just judgment of God upon him or should be driven away from the presence of God like Cain.]

46. And Rebecca said to Isaac: I am vexed to live [or, is my life] because of the daughters of Heth [Heb. from or before the face of &c., understand Esau’s wives. See above chapter 26.34.] If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth such as these are, of the daughters of this land, what shall I live for?