Genesis 27:30-40

"And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also made savory food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau. And Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him, yea, and he shall be blessed. When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with grain and new wine have I sustained him: and what then shall I do for thee, my son? And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father, And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. And his father answered and said unto him, Behold, of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling. And of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother, when thou shalt break loose, Thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck."

This blessing was not even a pale copy of the one given to Jacob; even in the mention of "dew from heaven," etc., there was a double meaning, and in its use concerning Esau, it meant that he would dwell far away from such blessings. One may have nothing but pity for the weeping Esau and the bitterness that filled his heart. Nothing breaks men's hearts like being compelled, at last, to accept the consequences of their actions. See Revelation 6:15-17.

"This verse (Genesis 27:36) skillfully places the words for birthright and blessing side by side,"[19] showing with what diligence Esau had attempted to contrive a difference in the two in the mind of his father, in which he had apparently succeeded. It was the height of wickedness for Esau to suppose that with the "sale" of his birthright he did not also convey the patriarchal blessing that went with it. We believe those scholars are in error who assert, "The first loss had been largely his own (Esau's) fault, but this time, he was indeed supplanted."[20] This episode reveals how, "A higher hand prevailed above the acts of sinful men, bringing the counsel and will of Jehovah to eventual triumph, in opposition to human thought and will."[21]

The blessing of Esau did allow one small hope, that, on occasions, Edom would be able to throw off the yoke of Israel. "An example of this was in the reign of Joram, king of Judah (2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-10)."[22] Another occasion is mentioned in the Book of Obadiah (Obadiah 1:1:10). Still another, perhaps, is seen in the fact that Herod the Great was descended from Esau; and he was ruling Israel ruthlessly in the days of Christ.