And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son ,.... Who was in the tent with her, and for whom she had the strongest affection: saying, behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother ; heard the conversation that passed between them, and particularly what Isaac had given in charge to Esau: saying , as follows: read more
Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat ,.... Fetch him venison out of the field, and dress it in a savoury manner, and bring it to him: that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death ; the phrase "before the Lord" is here added, which yet perhaps might be expressed by Isaac, though before omitted by the historian, and has a very considerable emphasis in it; for this solemn blessing was given not only in the presence of the Lord, and before him as a witness, but by... read more
The stolen blessing: a domestic drama. 1. Issac and Rebekah , or plotting and counterplotting . I. THE SCHEME OF ISAAC . 1. Its sinful object . The heavenly oracle having with no uncertain sound proclaimed Jacob the theocratic heir, the bestowment of the patriarchal benediction on Esau was clearly an unholy design. That Isaac, who on Mount Moriah had evinced such meek and ready acquiescence in Jehovah's will, should in old age, from partiality towards his firstborn,... read more
And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, —i.e. her favorite, in contrast to Esau, Isaac's son ( Genesis 27:5 )— saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison ( vide on Genesis 27:3 ), and make me savory meat, that I may eat (literally, and I shall eat ), and bless thee —the lengthened form of the future in this and the preceding verb (cf. וְאֹכֵלָה in Genesis 27:4 ) is expressive of Isaac's self-excitement and emphatic... read more
- Isaac Blessing His SonsThe life of Isaac falls into three periods. During the first seventy-five years he is contemporary with his father. For sixty-one years more his son Jacob remains under the paternal roof. The remaining forty-four years are passed in the retirement of old age. The chapter before us narrates the last solemn acts of the middle period of his life.Genesis 27:1-4Isaac was old. - Joseph was in his thirtieth year when he stood before Pharaoh, and therefore thirty-nine when... read more
Genesis 27:6. Rebekah spake unto Jacob Rebekah is here contriving to procure the blessing for Jacob, which was designed for Esau. If the end were good, the means were bad, and no way justifiable. If it were not a wrong to Esau to deprive him of the blessing, he himself having forfeited it by selling the birthright, yet it was a wrong to Isaac to take advantage of his infirmity to impose upon him: it was a wrong to Jacob, whom she taught to deceive by putting a lie in his mouth. If Rebekah,... read more
Jacob receives Isaac’s blessing (26:34-28:9)The custom in ancient times was for the father of the household to confirm the birthright on his firstborn son by giving his special blessing just before he died. People considered this blessing to be more than just a promise; they saw it as a prophecy that carried God’s favour. Isaac knew that God’s will was for Jacob, not Esau, to receive the firstborn’s blessing (see 25:23). Yet he was determined to give the blessing to Esau, even though Esau, by... read more
"And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless thee before Jehovah before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids from the goats; and I will... read more
Genesis 27:5-6, &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 disposition. To which end she incites her son Jacob to an act of deceit, endeavouring to absolve him from all guilt or blame, if he consent: Upon me be thy curse, my son, Genesis 27:13.; as much as to... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 27:6-17
Rebekah is here contriving to procure for Jacob the blessing which was designed for Esau; and here, I. The end was good, for she was directed in this intention by the oracle of God, by which she had been governed in dispensing her affections. God had said it should be so, that the elder should serve the younger; and therefore Rebekah resolves it shall be so, and cannot bear to see her husband designing to thwart the oracle of God. But, II. The means were bad, and no way justifiable. If it was... read more