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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 27:30-40

Here is, I. The covenant-blessing denied to Esau. He that made so light of the birthright would now have inherited the blessing, but he was rejected, and found no place of repentance in his father, though he sought it carefully with tears, Heb. 12:17. Observe, 1. How carefully he sought it. He prepared the savoury meat, as his father had directed him, and then begged the blessing which his father had encouraged him to expect, Gen. 27:31. When he understood that Jacob had obtained it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 27:38

And Esau said unto his father, hast thou but one blessing, my father ?.... He seems to speak diminutively of what had been given to Jacob, calling it one blessing: whereas there were many, and of different sorts, both temporal and spiritual; but it may be Esau had not so clear and comprehensive a view of what was contained in Jacob's blessing; or at least was willing to think and hope that there was not so much given, but there might be some behind for him, and that his father had a greater... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 27:39

And Isaac his father answered and said unto him ,.... Being willing to bestow what he could upon him, without lessening or breaking in upon the grant made to Jacob: behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above : this agrees with part of the blessing of Jacob, only the clauses are inverted, and no mention made of corn and wine; the land of Edom not being so fat and fruitful as the land of Canaan. Castalio renders the words very differently,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 27:40

And by thy sword shalt thou live ,.... By what he could get by it; his land being so poor that he could not live upon it, but must be obliged to such methods for a livelihood; or his country being surrounded with enemies, his posterity would be obliged to defend themselves by the sword, and other weapons of war: and shalt serve thy brother ; which is the sense and language of the oracle, Genesis 25:23 ; and which Isaac perhaps now remembered, and had a clear understanding of it, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 27:40

By thy sword shalt thou live - This does not absolutely mean that the Edomites should have constant wars; but that they should be of a fierce and warlike disposition, gaining their sustenance by hunting, and by predatory excursions upon the possessions of others. Bishop Newton speaks on this subject with his usual good sense and judgment: "The elder branch, it is here foretold, should delight more in war and violence, but yet should be subdued by the younger. By thy sword shalt thou live,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 27:38

Verse 38 38.Hast thou but one blessing ? Esau seems to take courage; but he neglects the care of his soul, and turns, like a swine, to the pampering of his flesh. He had heard that his father had nothing left to grant; because, truly, the full and entire grace of God so rested upon Jacob, that out of his family there was no happiness. Wherefore, if Esau sought his own welfare, he ought to have drawn from that fountain, and rather to have subjected himself to his brother, than to have cut... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 27:39

Verse 39 39.Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth. At length Esau obtains what he had asked. For, perceiving himself to be cast down from the rank and honor of primogeniture, he chooses rather to have prosperity in the world, separated from the holy people, than to submit to the yoke of his younger brother. But it may be thought that Isaac contradicts himself, in offering a new benediction, when he had before declared, that he had given to his son Jacob all that was placed at... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 27:40

Verse 40 40.By thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother. It is to be observed that events are here predicted which were never fulfilled in the person of Esau; and therefore, that the prophecy is concerning things at that time far distant. For Jacob was so far from having obtained dominion over his brother, that on his return from Padan-aram, he suppliantly tendered him his obedience; and the breaking off of the yoke which Isaac here mentions, is referred to a very remote period.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 27:30-40

The stolen blessing: a domestic drama.-3. Isaac and Esau, or the hunter's lamentation. I. Isaac's STARTLING DISCOVERY . 1. Unexpectedly made . The return of Esau from the hunting-field with a dish of venison was a sudden and most unpleasant revelation to the aged patriarch, showing that in some inexplicable manner he had been out-maneuvered, and, as it were, constrained against his will to bestow the blessing upon Jacob. So in common life it is not infrequently seen that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 27:38

And ESAU said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? Not as desiring either the reversal of the patriarchal sentence upon Jacob, which he appears to have understood to be irrevocable, or an extension of its gracious provisions, so as to include him as well as Jacob; but as soliciting such a benediction as would place him, at least in respect of temporalities, on a level with the favorite of Rebekah, either because he did not recognize the spiritual character of the covenant... read more

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