GENESIS CHAPTER 27 ------------------ Verse 1, According to Gill, Isaac is generally thought to be about 137 years old at this time, which would be the same age as his brother, Ishmael, when he died (Gen 25:17), however he lived on to be 180 years and died at that age (Gen 35:28). Isaac's eyes were dim, which shows also that he was old, but is mentioned here because of what happens, in that he blesses Jacob rather than Esau, which would probably have never happened had his sight been good. Even though Esau had taken wives of the Canaanites, which brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah, yet they still lived close and Isaac had every intention to bestow the blessing on him as the first born ("his eldest son"). Isaac still had affection for him calling him "My son." Esau answers him. Verse 2, Isaac knew that he was getting old and that his brother had died when he was 137 years of age, and now Isaac is wanting to bless his first born. Verse 3-4, Isaac wants Esau to fix him venison, which thing he loved, before he gave him his blessing, which involved the promise of Messiah, and many times done under a spirit of prophecy, declaring what would happen to them in times to come. Isaac however, had forgotten, or Rebekah had not told him, that God had told her that the elder shall serve the younger (Ge 25:23). Verses 5-7, Of course Rebekah had heard what Isaac had told Esau and when Esau had departed to hunt for venison, Rebekah went to Jacob and related what had happened to him concerning the blessing. We must realize that it is God's intention the Jacob receive the blessing, however we never need to use trickery so that God's purpose will come to pass, and we can never use the doctrine of the "Sovereignty of God" to justify sin, nor can we use the doctrine of "Election" to justify not coming to Christ in faith "for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin" (Ro 14:23). Verse 8, Rebekah almost seems to be in a panic. She knows that the blessing is of extreme importance and also that God has promised that Jacob was the chosen one; but rather than trust that God would somehow work it out, she came up with a plan and told Jacob to obey her every command concerning her plan. Verses 9-10, Rebekah commands Jacob to fetch two kids of goats that they may trick Isaac into thinking he is Esau and that the meat is venison. Verses 11-12, Jacob raises concern that since Esau is a hairy man, and he is smooth, that his father may feel him, since his sight is dim, and know of the trick and curse him rather than bless him. Verse 13, Rebekah would take full responsibility for what might happen. Verse 14, Jacob brings the kids to his mother and his mother prepared the meat, just as Isaac loved it. Verses 15-17, Rebekah disguises Jacob, so that Isaac will think that he is Esau, and gives the meat to Jacob. Gill comments that goats hair is not much unlike human hair. Verses 18-20, Jacob comes to Isaac, pretending to be Esau and just lies to Isaac about who he is and that the reason he returned so soon with the venison was that God had blessed him in his hunt. Isaac was probably a little suspicious. Jacob calls God, the "Lord thy God" not the "Lord my God." Some say that Esau was an idolator and that this was all part of the plot, however there is no real proof of that and it may be that Jacob could not call the Lord his God, while a lie was in his mouth. Verse 21, Isaac must have had some doubts about him being Esau, because he wants him to come near, so that he might feel his skin to make sure that it was Esau. Their voices were different (see next verse). Verse 22, "And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice [is] Jacob's voice, but the hands [are] the hands of Esau." Verse 23, The plot succeeded and Isaac blessed Jacob (in purpose of his mind, because the blessing is in verses 28 and 29). Verse 24, He still questions Jacob about him being TRULY Esau, because of the difference in their voices. Perhaps he came to think that Esau voice had changed like Jacob's from the hunt. Sometimes our voices do change (cold, etc.) and it was more likely that Esau's voice had changed rather than Jacob's hands to change. Jacob lies again to his father, saying that he is Esau. Verses 25-27, After eating the venison, and smelling his raiment, Isaac was convinced that it was truly his son Esau. Verses 28-29, Isaac blesses Jacob, thinking that it was Esau. "Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed [be] every one that curseth thee, and blessed [be] he that blesseth thee." But God had said that Esau would serve Jacob and not Jacob serve Esau, as Isaac thought in this blessing. Verses 30-32, Esau comes to Isaac very soon after Jacob had left and Isaac questions him as to who he is and learns that he had been tricked. Verse 33, One might think that Isaac would have been mad, but instead he "trembled very exceedingly." Marginal notes: trembled...: Heb. trembled with a great trembling greatly. Was this a trembling from anger, or was he afraid of Esau? Or, was he trembling because he realized the divine will of God concerning Jacob and that God in His divine providence had given the blessing to Jacob, (not to excuse what Rebekah and Jacob had done) remembering what God had told Rebekah, and realizing that intending to bless Esau, he was going against the revealed will of God. He probably also remembered that Esau had sold his birthright for one morsel of meat, and that he was giving Esau a blessing for one morsel of meat. Notice Isaac's words: "and have blessed him? yea, [and] he shall be blessed." Compare: Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. It was a prophetic blessing that he gave to both of his sons. Verse 34, Esau sought a blessing bitterly with tears. Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Notice how Esau sought the blessing in this verse, verse 36 and verse 38. "he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry" "Bless me, [even] me also, O my father." "he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing." "Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?" "Hast thou but one blessing, my father?" "bless me, [even] me also, O my father." And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. Verse 35, Isaac confirms that Jacob has taken the blessing from Esau, though he did it with subtilty, which was an characteristic of the devil (Gen 3:1). This shows us that God's people sometimes act like the devil. Thank God we are saved by grace. Verse 36, Esau continues his cry about Jacob. Jacob's name means "supplanter." Verse 37, Isaac confirms that the blessing is upon Jacob, realizing the providence and will of God in the matter. "Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him." Isaac asks Esau, "and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?" Verse 38, Esau continues his lament and desires a blessing. Verses 39-40, The blessing which Isaac gives to Esau is prophetic in nature. "Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck." "shalt serve thy brother": 2Sa 8:14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. ( David was a descendant of Jacob. ) "thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.": 2Ch 21:8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king. ( During the reign of Jehoram. ) Verse 41, Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing that he received. Esau is resolved in his mind to kill Jacob. Verses 42-45, Rebekah learns of Esau's words which must have been spoken aloud and overheard. She must have known that Esau was an impulsive man acting more from passion than thought. Notice her words: "And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away." Her brother, Labon, dwelt in Haran which is a city located in Mesopotamia in Padanaram. Verse 46, Rebekah is weary with the wives that Esau has taken and if Jacob does the same thing then her life will seem worthless. She relates this to Isaac and Isaac calls Jacob and charges him concerning taking a wife. "Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan." (28:1)