And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father. Who he perceived was displeased with the daughters of Canaan, or that they were "evil in his eyes" F9 רעות בעיני "malae in oculis", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Schmidt. , offensive to him, and disapproved of by him, because of their ill manners: Rebekah is not mentioned, whose displeasure he cared not for. read more
Then went Esau unto Ishmael ,.... Not to Ishmael in person, for he was now dead, Genesis 25:17 , and had been dead as is reckoned about fourteen years before this, but to the house of Ishmael: and took unto the wives which he had ; the daughters of Heth, and who seem by this to be both alive at this time: Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son ; the same with Bashemath, Genesis 36:3 ; as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it, this person having two names, and is further... read more
Then went Esau unto Ishmael - Those who are apt to take every thing by the wrong handle, and who think it was utterly impossible for Esau to do any right action, have classed his taking a daughter of Ishmael among his crimes; whereas there is nothing more plain than that he did this with a sincere desire to obey and please his parents. Having heard the pious advice which Isaac gave to Jacob, he therefore went and took a wife from the family of his grandfather Abraham, as Jacob was desired to... read more
Jacob and Esau, or diverging paths. I. JACOB 'S JOURNEY TO PADAN - ARAM . 1. The path of duty . Entered on in obedience to his mother's wish and his father's commandment, it was an e vide nce of filial piety. It is the token of a good son that he "hears the instruction of his father, and forsakes not the taw of his mother" ( Proverbs 1:8 ). Sons come to mature age should respect and, where not inconsistent with allegiance to God, yield submission to parental... read more
Life with, and life without, God. The divergence of the two representative men is seen in this short statement of their marriage relations. 1. Domestic life under the blessing of God and apart from that blessing. 2. The true blessing is the blessing of Abraham, the blessing which God has already provided, promised, and secured. 3. The heir of the blessing must be sent away and learn by experience how to use it. 4. The disinherited man, who has scorned his opportunity,... read more
When (literally, and) Esau saw that Issue had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge ,—literally, in his blessing him (forming a parenthesis), and he commanded him— saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; and that (literally, and ) Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone (or went) to Padan-aram; and Esau seeing that (more correctly, saw that ) the... read more
- Jacob’s Journey to Haran3. קהל qâhāl, “congregation.”9. מחלת māchălat, Machalath, “sickness, or a harp.”19. לוּז lûz, Luz, “almond.”The blessing of his sons was the last passage in the active life of Isaac, after which he retires from the scene. Jacob now becomes the leading figure in the sacred history. His spiritual character has yet come out to view. But even now we can discern the general distinction in the lives of the three patriarchs. Abraham’s is a life of authority and decision;... read more
Genesis 28:9. Esau went unto Ishmael That is, the family of Ishmael, for Ishmael himself, no doubt, was dead before this time, (see Genesis 25:17,) and took Mahalath to be his wife. It is probable that he thought by this means to ingratiate himself with his father, and so to get another and a better blessing. But, alas! he mends one fault by committing another, and taking a third wife, when he had one too many before. 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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 28:6-9
This passage concerning Esau comes in in the midst of Jacob's story, either, 1. To show the influence of a good example. Esau, though the greater man, now begins to think Jacob the better man, and disdains not to take him for his pattern in this particular instance of marrying with a daughter of Abraham. The elder children should give to the younger an example of tractableness and obedience; it is bad if they do not: but it is some alleviation if they take the example of it from them, as Esau... read more