VERSE 1 Now it came about, when Isaac was old and his eyes were too dim to see, that he called his older son Esau and said to him, "My son (ynIB. wyl'ae rm,aYOw: ldoG"h; AnB. wf'[e-ta, ar'q.YIw: taor>me wyn"y[e !"yh,k.Tiw: qx'c.yI !qez"-yKi yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah + part ki that + Qal perf.3m.s. zaqen beome old + proper noun Isaac + Qal impf.3f.p. kahah be dim + noun f. dual constr.w/3m.s.suff. ayin eye + prep min w/Qal infin.constr. ra-ah see + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qara call + d.o. marker + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ben son + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. gadol great; "older" + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep el w/3m.s.suff. + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben son])."

And he said to him, "Here I am (ynINEhi wyl'ae rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep el w/3m.s.suff. + interj hinneh w/1s.suff.])."

VERSE 2 Isaac said, "Behold now, I am old and I do not know the day of my death (ytiAm ~Ay yTi[.d;y" al{ yTin>q;z" an"-hNEhi rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + interj hinneh + interj. na now + Qal perf.1s. zaqen be old + neg lo + Qal perf.1s. yada know + noun m.s.abs. yom day + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. maweth death]).

VERSE 3 "Now then, please take your gear, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me (ÎdyIc'Ð ¿hd'yceÀ yLi hd'Wcw> hd,F'h; acew> ^T,v.q;w> ^y>l.T, ^yl,ke an"-af' hT'[;w> [waw w/adv attah now + Qal imper.m.s. nasha take + interj na now + noun m.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. keli utensil; "your gear" + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. teli quiver + waw w/noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. qeshet bow + waw w/Qal imper.m.s. yatsa go out + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. shadeh field + waw w/Qal imper.m.s. tsudh hunt + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + noun f.s.abs. tsedah food; "game"]);

VERSE 4 and prepare a savory dish for me such as I love (yTib.h;a' rv,a]K; ~yMi[;j.m; yli-hfe[]w [waw w/Qal imper.m.s. ashah do; "prepare" + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + noun m.p.abs. mate-am tasty food + prep kaph w/rel pro asher + Qal perf.1s. ahab love], and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die [tWma' ~r,j,B. yvip.n: ^k.r,b'T. rWb[]B; hl'keaow> yLi ha'ybih'w> [waw w/Hiphil imper.m.s. bo go, come; "bring" + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + waw w/Qal impf.1s. akal eat + prep ba-abur "so that" + Piel impf.3f.s.w/2m.s.suff. barak bless + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. nephesh soul + prep beth w/part terem before + Qal impf.1s. muth die])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-4

1. Isaac was born in the year 1846 BC and died at 180 years of age (Gen. 35:28) in the year 1666 BC (ten years before Jacob and family entered Egypt).
2. He married Rebekah when he was 40 years of age (Gen. 25:20), and the twins were born 20 years later (Gen. 25:26).
3. If the marriage of Esau at age 40 (26:34) and the flight of Jacob took place in the same year, then Isaac was age 100 when he was deceived by his wife and his son.
4. Abraham was described as "old" at the time of the miracle that brought Isaac into the world (cf. 18:11).
5. His only disability at the time was sexual impotence.
6. Isaac at age 100 (1776 BC) suffered from premature blindness.
7. Commentators imagine that Isaac was on his death bed when this all took place and throw out an age of 130 plus with no textual support.
8. They imagine the same thing with Abraham in connection with his efforts to secure a wife for his son Isaac (i.e., that he died before the servant returned!).
9. It appears that they totally disregard the numerical citations regarding these men provided in the book of Genesis.
10. Isaac’s "old" is relative in that he lived for another eighty years albeit blind and therefore limited in his activities.
11. In the opening scene, Isaac, imagining that his physical death is near, summons his oldest and favorite son Esau, in order to confer the patriarchal blessing (v. 1; cf. Gen. 50:24-25).
12. It is odd, and not in accord with tradition, for the father to summon only one son to his bedside, especially since in this case both sons were twins.
13. Why did Isaac break with convention?
14. Even the lesser son was entitled to receive some sort of blessing (cf. vv. 34, 38).
15. Isaac’s action here is irregular and done apart from any public announcement.
16. Isaac’s action establishing succession was anything but public and so was quite irregular.
17. In fact, his under the table action with the summing of Esau was reprehensible.
18. Isaac calls Esau to his bedside and proclaims that he is "old and [does] not know the day of [his] death."
19. Why does he do this, and does he really believe that his death is imminent?
20. Perhaps Isaac is simply being melodramatic and says what any family head would say in connection with rapidly failing health in order to make their farewells.
21. We can safely presume that Isaac was under a lot of pressure of soul with respect to the Esau-Jacob prophecy.
22. With Esau’s marriage and the misery it had brought to his parents there was a stirring up of the conflict bringing further tensions in the family.
23. Here is as man orchestrating a deathbed blessing when there was no pressing need to do so.
24. However we take his words in v. 2, they do not reflect well on Isaac’s intention to bless Esau and to exclude Jacob from the event.
25. The reader knows that Isaac’s favors Esau because Isaac acquired a palate for wild game and Esau was an skilled hunter (25:28).
26. Once again it is brought to our attention that Isaac’s love of a certain type of cuisine overrides his devotion to doctrine.
27. The doctrine he refused to line up with is the doctrine of the supremacy of Jacob over Esau as contained in the oracle granted to Rebekah while she was still pregnant with the twins (25:23).
28. Isaac seeks here to overturn the oracle by blessing Esau on the sly.
29. So Isaac sends Esau out to hunt game for a "savory dish/stew" that was his favorite cuisine (vv. 3-4).
30. Esau had done this for his father many times, but this time he is promised patriarchal succession upon his successful return.
31. The term "savory dish" occurs only in this chapter (vv. 7, 9, 14, 17, 31) and in Proverbs 23 (vv. 3,6).
32. Isaac favored Esau primarily because he loved his cooking.
33. This was the primary basis for their bond as father and son.
34. Whatever Isaac’s early opinion of the oracle of the twins was his affections grew toward his oldest son when he grew up and demonstrated his skills as a hunter and cook.
35. For physical pleasure Isaac was willing to overlook Esau’s sins and the divinely inspired oracle.
36. Isaac has a very strong desire in the opening scene to bless Esau which is indicated by his use of the term "my soul" instead of simply saying, "I."
37. Again, Isaac does all this on the sly as he initiates this apart from his wife’s knowledge and especially apart from Jacob’s knowledge (or so he thought).
38. As God’s chosen representative Isaac is playing God rather than acting as God’s representative in bestowing the blessing of succession.
39. In this dramatic episode it is Isaac and Esau pitted against Rebekah and Jacob.
40. Will Rebekah and Jacob triumph as Yahweh had promised?
41. The onset of premature blindness for the patriarch foreshadowed his blind spot for Esau.
42. His blindness is divine discipline for being stubborn and resistant to the revealed will of God.

Rebekah’s Scheme to Usurp the Blessing for Her Son (vv. 5-10)

VERSE 5 Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau (AnB. wf'[e-la, qx'c.yI rBed;B. t[;m;vo hq'b.rIw> [waw w/proper noun Rebekah + Qal part.f.s.abs. shama listen + prep beth w/Piel infin.constr. dabar speak + proper noun Isaac + prep el + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ben son]).

So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game to bring home (aybih'l. dyIc; dWcl' hd,F'h; wf'[e %l,YEw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. halak walk, go + proper noun Esau + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. shadeh field + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. tsudh hunt + noun m.s.abs. tsayid game + prep lamedh w/Hiphil infin.constr. bo]),

VERSE 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Behold, I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying (rmoale ^yxia' wf'[e-la, rBed;m. ^ybia'-ta, yTi[.m;v' hNEhi rmoale Hn"B. bqo[]y:-la, hr'm.a' hq'b.rIw> [waw w/proper noun Rebekah + Qal perf.3f.s. amar say + prep el + proper noun Jacob + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.s.suff. ben son + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say + interj hinneh + Qal perf.1s. shama hear + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. abh father + Piel part.m.s.abs. dabar speak + prep el + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ach brother + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say]),

VERSE 7 'Bring me some game and prepare a savory dish for me, that I may eat, and bless you in the presence of the LORD before my death (ytiAm ynEp.li hw"hy> ynEp.li hk'k.r,b'a]w: hl'keaow> ~yMi[;j.m; yli-hfe[]w: dyIc; yLi ha'ybih' [Hiphil imper.m.s. bo bring + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + noun m.s.abs. tsayid game + waw w/Qal imper.m.s. ashah + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + noun m.p.abs. mat-am savory dish + waw w/Qal impf.1s. akal eat + waw w/Piel impf.1s.w/2m.s.suff. barak bless + prep lamedh w/noun both p.constr. paneh face + proper noun Yahweh + prep lamedh w/noun both p.constr. paneh face + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. maweth death]).'

VERSE 8 "Now therefore, my son, listen to me as I command you (%t'ao hW"c;m. ynIa] rv,a]l; yliqoB. [m;v. ynIb. hT'[;w> [waw w/adv attah now + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben son + Qal imper.m.s. shama hear + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. qol voice + prep lamedh w/rel.pro. asher + pro.1s. ani I + Piel part.f.s.abs. tsawah command + d.o. marker w/2m.s.suff.]).

VERSE 9 "Go now to the flock and bring me two choice young goats from there (~ybijo ~yZI[i yyEd'G> ynEv. ~V'mi yli-xq;w> !aCoh;-la, an"-%l, [Qal imper.m.s. halak go + interj na now + prep el + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. tson flock + waw w/Qal imper.m.s. laqach take prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + prep min w/adv sham + adj.m. dual constr. shenayim two + noun m.p.constr. gedi kid, goat + noun f.p.abs. ez she-goat + adj.m.p.abs. tob good] , that I may prepare them as a savory dish for your father, such as he loves [bhea' rv,a]K; ^ybia'l. ~yMi[;j.m; ~t'ao hf,[/a,w> [waw w/Qal impf.1s. ashah "prepare" + d.o. maker w/3m.p.suff. + noun m.p.abs. mat-am savory dish + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. abh father + prep kaph w/rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.3m.s. ahabh love]).

VERSE 10 "Then you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death (AtAm ynEp.li ^k.r,b'y> rv,a] rbu[]B; lk'a'w> ^ybia'l. t'abehew> [waw w/Hiphil perf.2m.s. bo go + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal perf.3m.s. akal eat + prep ba-abur so that + rel.pro. asher + Piel impf.3m.s.w/2m.s.suff. barak bless + prep lamedh w/noun both constr. paneh face + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. maweth death])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 5-10

1. Isaac’s stubborn insistence on conferring the blessing of succession on Esau was outsmarted by his wife and his son.
2. Blind Isaac did not take the necessary precaution of total privacy when he called Esau to his bedside early one day.
3. He did not entertain the possibility that the secretive conversation between him and Esau was being eavesdropped.
4. This second scene sets the stage for the foiling of Isaac’s willful scheme to install Esau as the heir.
5. Rebekah somehow learns of the summoning of Esau to her husband’s bedside and positions herself so she can hear their conversation.
6. Once Esau leaves she moves into action calling her son Jacob by her side.
7. Her decisiveness and energy are once again in evidence (cf. chap. 24).
8. What she witnessed stirred her up seeing that her husband was not willing to follow convention and summon the sons to his bedside.
9. She reacts to her husband’s underhanded behavior by engaging in an even more painful ruse on her blind husband.
10. She relates the conversation she heard to her son Jacob (vv. 6-7).
11. Notice how Jacob is called "her son," whereas in v. 5 Esau is called "his son," reminding us of the rift that divides husband and wife.
12. She omits almost all Isaac’s words about hunting and focuses on the savory dish as a prelude to the blessing.
13. She adds "in the presence Yahweh’ and changes "my soul bless you" to simply "bless you."
14. The mention of Yahweh serves to show the importance of what Isaac proposes to do.
15. The second change serves to minimize Isaac’s very strong aspiration to bless his firstborn.
16. If all this was of God why should Jacob participate in an attempt to sabotage it?
17. It was a case of like mother like son.
18. Having Jacob’s full attention she summons all the matriarchal authority she can muster.
19. It is very unusual for the verb "command" (v.8) to be used with a feminine subject (cf. Esther 4:5).
20. In v. 8 we have the only example of the feminine participle of tsawah in the OT.
21. The plan she proposed was that she would prepare the stew and Jacob would fetch the two goats and deliver the stew to his father.
22. She apparently felt that she was best suited to prepare a stew that would rival and mimics Esau’s.

Jacob’s Dilemma and Rebekah’s Resolve (vv. 11-17)

VERSE 11 Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, "Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man (ql'x' vyai ykinOa'w> r[if' vyai yxia' wf'[e !he AMai hq'b.rI-la, bqo[]y: rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Jacob + prep el + proper noun Rebekah + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. em mother + interj. hen behold + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ach brother + noun m.s.abs. ish man + adj.m.s.abs. shair hairy + waw w/pro.1s. anoki I + noun m.s.abs. ish man + adj.m.s.abs. chalaq smooth]).

VERSE 12 "Perhaps my father will feel me, then I will be as a deceiver in his sight, and I will bring upon myself a curse and not a blessing (adv ulay perhaps + Qal impf.3m.s.w/1s.suff. mashash feel + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal perf.1s. hayah + prep beth w/noun f. dual constr.w/3m.s.suff. ayin eye + prep kaph w/Pilpel part.m.s. ta-a deceive + waw w/Hiphil perf.1s. bo go + prep al w/1s.suff. + noun f.s.abs. qelalah curse + waw w/neg lo + noun f.s.abs. berakah blessing])."

VERSE 13 But his mother said to him, "Your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me (yli-xq; %lew> yliqoB. [m;v. %a; ynIB. ^t.l'l.qi yl;[' AMai Al rm,aTow: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. amar say + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. em mother + prep al w/1s.suff. + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. qelalah curse + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben son + adv ak only + Qal imper.m.s. shama hear + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. qol voice + waw w/Qal imper.m.s. halak go + Qal imper.m.s. laqach take + prep lamedh w/1s.suff.])."

VERSE 14 So he went and got them, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made savory food such as his father loved (wybia' bhea' rv,a]K; ~yMi[;j.m; AMai f[;T;w: AMail. abeY"w: xQ;YIw: %l,YEw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. halak walk + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. laqach take + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. bo go + prep lamed w/noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. em mother + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. ashah do + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. em mother + noun m.p.abs. mate-am savory food + prep kaph w/rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.3m.s. ahab love + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father]).

VERSE 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son (!j'Q'h; Hn"B. bqo[]y:-ta, vBel.T;w: tyIB'B; HT'ai rv,a] tdomux]h; ldoG"h; Hn"B. wf'[e ydeg>Bi-ta, hq'b.rI xQ;Tiw: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. laqach take + proper noun Rebekah + d.o. marker + noun m.p.constr. begedh garment + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.s.suff. ben son + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. gadol "elder" + def.art.w/adj.f.p.abs. chamudh desireable + rel.pro. asher + prep eth w/3f.s.suff. + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. bayith house + waw w/Hiphil impf.3f.s. labash dress;l "put them on" + d.o. marker + proper noun Jacob + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.s.suff. ben son + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. qatan small, little; "younger"]).

VERSE 16 And she put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck (wyr'aW"c; tq;l.x, l[;w> wyd'y"-l[; hv'yBil.hi ~yZI[ih' yyEd'G> tro[o taew> [waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.p.constr. udh skin + noun m.p.constr. gedi kid + def.art.w/noun f.p.abs. ez goat + Hiphil perf.3f.s. labesh dress + prep al + noun f. dual constr.w/3m.s.suff. yadh hand + waw w/prep al + noun f.s.constr. cheleqah smoothness + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s. tsaww-ar neck]).

VERSE 17 She also gave the savory food and the bread, which she had made, to her son Jacob (Hn"B. bqo[]y: dy:B. ht'f'[' rv,a] ~x,L,h;-ta,w> ~yMi[;j.M;h;-ta, !TeTiw: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. nathan give + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. mate-am savory food + waw w/d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. lechem bread + rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.3f.s. ashah + prep beth w/noun f.s.constr. yad hand + proper noun Jacob + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.s.suff. ben son]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 11-17

1. Jacob does not base his doubts on moral principals but on fear of exposure.
2. He readily goes along with his mother’s scheme, but sees a glaring problem with its execution.
3. Mother and son did not leave room for divine intervention and so in a state of controlled panic they acted in a sinful manner.
4. What Rebekah and Jacob collude in is an inappropriate way to treat a blind man much less one’s husband and parent.
5. Jacob reminds his mother that Esau is "hairy" and that he is smoothed-skin.
6. The procedure for the conferring of the blessing of the birthright involved the father touching his son on the exposed areas of this body such as hand, forearm and nap of the neck.
7. Jacob’s fear is that Isaac will readily realize that the son he is with is not the son he intended to bless and that the whole thing could boomerang resulting in the cursing of the imposture, Jacob (v. 12).
8. Deut. 27:18 invokes a curse on anyone who takes advantage of a blind person.
9. Again, Jacob is not concerned about the right or wrong of his actions only that he might get caught.
10. Rebekah in her haste might have overlooked this all-important detail but Jacob quickly sees it as an insurmountable obstacle.
11. Or, she had already anticipated the problem and knew the solution.
12. In response to Jacob’s concerns Rebekah drops her politeness and retorts, "Your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me" (v.11).
13. Her response to Jacob’s objection is remarkable for what it does not say.
14. It says nothing about dressing Jacob up in goatskin and Esau’s clothes.
15. She instead focuses on the subject of Jacob being cursed if exposed.
16. She tells Jacob that she is the one who will suffer if they are found out.
17. The shifting of the curse is strictly hypothetical as it is unlikely that the would-be curse is transferable.
18. She certainly realized that the one whom Isaac blesses would receive an irrevocable blessing.
19. Her plan depends on this understanding.
20. Jacob no doubt knew that blessing and cursing could not be diverted.
21. He proceeds ahead with his mother’s words, "Just obey me. Go and get it for me."
22. Here her words reveal her growing impatience (cf. v. 8-9).
23. Notice in vv. 14-17 that in the preparation process regarding the deceptive props that Rebekah does almost everything.
24. Three verbs/words describe Jacob’s actions: "he went and got/took and brought them to his mother."
25. Rebekah for her part copies Esau’s stew and while that is cooking she takes the skins of the goats and makes coverings for Jacob’s hands and neck.
26. This in itself required some skill in order to fool even a blind "old" man.
27. Isaac no longer able to depend upon his sense of sight still had intact his sense of hearing, feel, smell and taste, all of which are featured in the verses that follow.
28. Rebekah launches Jacob into dangerous waters hoping that the weak link(s) in her Machiavellian scheme will not be detected until it is too late (v. 17).

Isaac’s Senses Fooled (vv. 18-27)

VERSE 18 Then he came to his father and said, "My father." And he said, "Here I am. Who are you, my son (ynIB. hT'a; ymi yNIN<hi rm,aYOw: ybia' rm,aYOw: wybia'-la, aboY"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. bo go, come + prep el + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + interj hinneh behold + interrog mi who + pro.2m.s. attah you + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben son])?"

VERSE 19 Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you told me (yl'ae T'r>B;DI rv,a]K; ytiyfi[' ^r,koB. wf'[e ykinOa' wybia'-la, bqo[]y: rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Jacob + prep el + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.suff. abh father + pro.1s. anoki I + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. bekor firstborn + Qal perf.1s. ashah do + prep kaph w/rel.pro. asher + Piel perf.2m.s. dabar speak + prep el /w1s.suff.]).

Get up, please, sit and eat of my game, that you may bless me (^v,p.n: yNIk;r]b'T. rWb[]B; ydIyCemi hl'k.a'w> hb'v. an"-~Wq [Qal imper.m.s. qum rise + interj na now, please + Qal imper.m.s. yashasb sit + waw w/Qal imper.m.s. akal eat + prep min w/noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. tsayid game + prep ba-abur "that" + Piel impf.3f.s.w/1s.suff. barak bless + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. nephesh soul])."

VERSE 20 Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have it so quickly, my son (ynIB. acom.li T'r>h;mi hZ<-hm; AnB.-la, qx'c.yI rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Isaac + prep el + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ben son + interog mah + adj.m.s.abs. zeth this + Piel perf.2m.s. machar hasten + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. matsa find + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben son])?"

And he said, "Because the LORD your God caused it to happen to me (yn"p'l. ^yh,l{a/ hw"hy> hr'q.hi yKi rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + part ki because + Hiphil perf.3m.s. qarah happen + proper noun Yahweh + noun m.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. Elohim God + prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr.w/1s.suff. paneh face])."

VERSE 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come close, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not (al{-~ai wf'[e ynIB. hz< hT'a;h; ynIB. ^v.mua]w: aN"-hv'G> bqo[]y:-la, qx'c.yI rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Isaac + prep el + proper noun Jacob + Qal imper.m.s. nagash draw near + waw w/Qal impf.1s.w/2m.s.suff. mush feel + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben son + def.art.w/pro.2m.s.s attah you + adj.m.s.abs. zeh this + part im if + neg lo])."

VERSE 22 So Jacob came close to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau (wf'[e ydey> ~yId;Y"h;w> bqo[]y: lAq lQoh; rm,aYOw: WhVemuy>w: wybia' qx'c.yI-la, bqo[]y: vG:YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. nagash draw near + proper noun Jacob + prep el + proper noun Isaac + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s.w/3m.s.suff. mashash feel + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. qol voice + noun m.s.abs. qol voice + proper noun Jacob + waw w/def.art.w/noun f. dual abs. yad hand + noun f. dual constr. yad hand + proper noun Esau])."

VERSE 23 He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him (Whker>b'y>w: tro[if. wyxia' wf'[e ydeyKi wyd'y" Wyh'-yKi AryKihi al{w> [waw w/neg lo + Hiphil perf.3m.s.w/3m.s.suff. nakar recognize + part ki + Qal perf.3p. hayah + noun f. dual constr.w/3m.suff. yad hand + prep kaph w/noun f. dual constr. yad + proper noun Esau + adj.f.p.abs. sha-ir hairy + waw w/Piel impf.3m.s.w/3m.s.suff. barak bless]).

VERSE 24 And he said, "Are you really my son Esau (wf'[e ynIB. hz< hT'a; rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + pro.2m.s. attah you + adj.m.s.abs. zeh this + proper noun Esau])?"

And he said, "I am (ynIa' rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun ani I])."

VERSE 25 So he said, "Bring it to me, and I will eat of my son's game, that I may bless you (yvip.n: ^k.r,b'T. ![;m;l. ynIB. dyCemi hl'k.aow> yLi hv'GIh; rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + Hiphil imper.m.s. nagash draw near + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + waw w/Qal impf.1s. akal eat + prep min w/noun m.s.constr. tsayid game + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben son + prep leme-an in order that + Piel impf.3f.s.w/2m.s.suff. barak bless + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. nephesh soul])."

And he brought it to him, and he ate; he also brought him wine and he drank (T.v.YEw: !yIy: Al abeY"w: lk;aYOw: Al-vG<Y:w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. nagash draw near + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. akal eat + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. bo go + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. + noun m.s.abs. yayin wine + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. shathah drink]).

VERSE 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, "Please come close and kiss me, my son (ynIB. yLi-hq'v.W aN"-hv'G> wybia' qx'c.yI wyl'ae rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep el w/3m.s.suff. + proper noun Isaac + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + Qal imper.m.s. nagash draw near + interj na + waw w/Qal imper.m.s. nashaq kiss + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben])."

VERSE 27 So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he blessed him and said (rm,aYOw: Whker]b'y>w: wyd'g"B. x;yre-ta, xr;Y"w: Al-qV;YIw: vG:YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. nagash draw near + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. nashaq kiss + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. riach smell + d.o. marker + noun m.s.abs. reach fragrance, smell + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. begged garment + waw w/Piel impf.3m.s.w/3m.suff. barak + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say], "See, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed [hw"hy> Akr]Be rv,a] hd,f' x;yreK. ynIB. x;yre haer> [Qal imper.m.s. ra-ah see + noun m.s.abs. reach scent + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben + prep kaph w/noun m.s.abs. reach scent + noun m.s.as. shadeh field + rel.pro. asher + Piel perf.3m.s.w/3m.s.suff. barak bless + proper noun Yahweh]);

ANALYSIS: VERSES 18-27

1. Jacob enters Isaac’s room dressed in his brother’s clothes with his exposed hands and neck skillfully covered with goat skin and bringing a bowl of savory stew.
2. He addresses his father saying, "My father."
3. Isaac taken aback says, "Who are you my son?" arousing suspicion that something is amiss as it was too early for Esau to have completed his assignments.
4. It took time to track down game and prepare the food.
5. Jacob lies to his father claiming "I am Esau your firstborn" (v. 19).
6. Jacob’s reply is overdone, falsely identifying himself as "your firstborn."
7. He enjoins his father to get up and partake of the food with a view to pronouncing the blessing.
8. Isaac’s suspicion is due to the obvious fact that his son has accomplished his mission much too fast for even a skilled hunter like Esau.
9. Jacob deals with this the only way he can on the spur of the moment and claims that the God of his father blessed him with an quick and easy hunt (v. 20b).
10. Throwing the name of God into a conversation is a device to further the duplicity.
11. But Isaac is wary and unconvinced so he tells his son to "come near, that I may touch you."
12. Isaac figures that if there is something amiss and that the one who stands before him is an imposture he will easily be able to expose the fraud by touching the exposed skin of this person and that will tell him everything he needs to know (v. 21).
13. Jacob extends his hands and his father feels his hairy hands but still is suspicious due to the voice that sounds the world like Jacob’s (v. 22).
14. Rebekah’s disguise proved adequate, but the voice was not at all that of Esau’s so Isaac remained unconvinced as noted by the phrase in v. 23a, "He did not recognize him."
15. Isaac remains in a quandary, but nevertheless blesses him (cf. v. 23c).
16. What does this signify?
17. It does not refer to the patriarchal blessing as that follows later after Isaac partakes of the stew.
18. It probably refers to the standard Hebrew greeting.
19. In v. 24 Isaac inquires yet a third time as to the identity of the one who stands before him.
20. Yet again Jacob lies claiming to be Esau.
21. Isaac remains bewildered so he asks for the stew figuring that he will be able to dispel his doubts by the taste test (cf. v.25)
22. He ate his fill satisfied the stew was the very same as that which he had eaten on many occasions.
23. After eating Isaac invites his son to "come close" which introduces the smell test (vv. 26-27).
24. The wine further served to dull Isaac’s senses and put him in a mellow mood.
25. The smell test (the final test) proved the determining factor in favor of the ruse perpetrated on the blind "old" man as seen in Isaac’s declaration in v. 27: "See, the smell of my son is like the smell of the field which the LORD has blessed."
26. Isaac falls for the scam because in the end he dismissed the anomaly of the sound test.
27. Rebekah’s plan did not call for voice imitation and this should have been the factor that kept Isaac from blessing his son.
28. He should have sought outside confirmation but did not probably due to the fact that he had decided to carry out the blessing event in a secretive fashion.
29. Touch, taste and smell were sufficient to fool Isaac and he proceeds to pronounce the birthright blessing on the imposture standing before him.

Patriarchal Blessing (vv. 28-29)

VERSE 28 Now may God give you of the dew of heaven, And of the fatness of the earth, And an abundance of grain and new wine (vroytiw> !g"D' brow> #r,a'h' yNEm;v.miW ~yIm;V'h; lJ;mi ~yhil{a/h' ^l.-!T,yIw> [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. nathan give + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. Elohim + prep min w/noun m.s.abs. tal dew + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. shamayim heaven + waw w/min w/noun m.p.constr. shaman fatness; only here and in v. 39 + waw w/noun m.s.abs. rob abundance + noun m.s.abs. dagan grain + waw w/noun m.s.abs. tirosh new wine]);

VERSE 29 May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, And may your mother's sons bow down to you (^M,ai ynEB. ^l. WWx]T;v.yIw> ^yx,a;l. rybig> hwEh/ ~yMiaul. ^l. ÎWwx]T;v.yIw>Ð ¿WxT;v.yIw>À ~yMi[; ^Wdb.[;y: [Qal impf.3m.p.w/2m.s.suff. abad serve + noun m.p.abs. am people + waw w/Hishtaphel impf.3m.s. shachah bow down + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + noun m.p.abs. le-om people; "nations" + Qal imper.m.s. hayah + noun m.s.abs. gebor mighty man + prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ach brother + waw w/Hishtaphel impf.3m.p. shachah bow down + prep lamedh w/2m.suff. + noun m.p.constr. ben + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. em mother]).

Cursed be those who curse you, And blessed be those who bless you (%WrB' ^yk,r]b'm.W rWra' ^yr,r>ao [ Qal part.m.p.constr.w/2m.suff. arar curse + Qal pass.part.m.s.abs. arar curse + waw w/Piel part.m.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. barak bless + Qal pass.part.m.s.abs. barak])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 28-29

1. Isaac bamboozled by his wife and son proceeds to confer the birthright blessing upon Jacob.
2. The blessing is given in poetic verse.
3. What he thinks he is conferring upon Esau is actually in the first part of this blessing is actually more appropriate for a person like Jacob than a nomadic type like Esau.
4. This is seen in the emphasis on blessing the earth/soil which comes with abundant rainfall as poetically indicated by the phrase "the dew of heaven" (cf. v. 39 where this blessing is denied Esau in his future environs).
5. The notion is that where there is abundant dew there is abundant moisture for the open uncultivated plain (see Deut. 32:2; 33:13, 28; Ps. 133:3; Hos. 14:5; Hag. 1:10; Zech. 8:12).
6. "The fatness of the earth" refers to agriculture fecundity as illustrated by "an abundance of grain and new wine."
7. As far as we know Isaac was the first of the patriarchs to engage in farming.
8. For "grain and new wine" as products of Canaan see: Duet. 7:13; 28:51; 33:28; 2Kgs 18:32; Hos. 7:14; Joel 1:10).
9. This part of the prophetic blessing awaits Israelite occupation of the land of promise.
10. It is contingent upon Jacob and his descendants being faithful to the will of God.
11. The second part of the blessing of the designated heir has to do with political dominance of the chosen people over other peoples and nations (v. 29).
12. This second part of the blessing clearly harks back to the oracle of 25:23.
13. The verb "serve" links the two verses.
14. Also "peoples/nations" occur in both citations.
15. Intended for Esau, the prediction begins to find fulfillment in the Conquest generation and during the rule of King David and Solomon.
16. Its ultimate realization comes during the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ.
17. "Be master over your brothers" echoes "The older will serve the younger" (25:23).
18. Isaac still vainly imagines that he is permitted to overturn the clear language of the oracle given to Rebekah favoring Jacob the younger son as he thinks he is blessing Esau!
19. The prayer/wish "may your mother’s sons bow down to you" is a continuation of the immediately previous phrase "be master of your brothers."
20. Jacob had but one brother yet this covers any possible future sons of Rebekah of which there were none.
21. It is of special interest to note that there is nothing in this particular patriarchal blessing that promises land or innumerable descendants or messianic blessing to the nations as we have previously seen in the covenant given to Abraham.
22. Only in the third and final part of the blessing do we have a promise that harks back to the original Abrahamic covenant of chap. 12.
23. The cursing and blessing clause is here enhanced from the individual who blesses or curses to the many who engage in cursing or blessing of the favored one.
24. Here the cursing is placed first ahead of the blessing in contrast to 12:3.
25. This anticipates that the future race will have many enemies as well as some friends.
26. It has been thought that the bowing down aspect of "your mother’s sons" finds fulfillment in the future story of Joseph but this is not clear.
27. Clearly, Isaac desires this blessing to be upon Esau his favored son at this juncture in the story.
28. The promises found herein are extremely positive in nature and placed Jacob in the position of the favored one, which normally would have gone to the firstborn.
29. Esau’s across-the-board negative volition disqualified him before God.
30. Isaac unwittingly confers on Jacob the blessings reserved for the chosen race and God let it all happen in this fashion knowing what Isaac would do under extreme distress.
31. However inappropriate these proceedings were on both parties part the blessing on Jacob would stand irrevocable.

Isaac Salvages His Phase 2 (vv. 30-33)

VERSE 30 Now it came about, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had hardly gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting (AdyCemi aB' wyxia' wf'[ew> wybia' qx'c.yI ynEP. taeme bqo[]y: ac'y" acoy" %a; yhiy>w: bqo[]y:-ta, %reb'l. qx'c.yI hL'Ki rv,a]K; yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + prep kaph w/rel.pro. asher + Piel perf.3m.s. kalah finish + proper noun Isaac + prep lamedh w/Piel infin.constr. barak bless + d.o. marker + proper noun Jacob + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + adv ak "as soon as" + Qal infin.constr. yatsa go out + Qal perf.3m.s. yatsa + proper noun Jacob + prep min w/prep eth + noun both p.constr. paneh face + proper noun Isaac + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + waw w/proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ach brother + Qal perf.3m.s. bo + prep min w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. tsayid hunting]).

VERSE 31 Then he also made savory food, and brought it to his father; and he said to his father (ybia' ~quy" wybia'l. rm,aYOw: wybia'l. abeY"w: ~yMi[;j.m; aWh-~G: f[;Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. ashah do + conj gam also + pro.3m.s. hu he + noun m.p.abs. mat-am savory food + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. bo go + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.uff. abh father], "Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me [^v,p.n: yNIk;r]b'T. rWb[]B; AnB. dyCemi lk;ayOw> ybia' ~quy" [Qal impf.3m.s. qum rise + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. akal eat + prep min w/noun m.s.constr. tsayid game + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ben son + pre ba-adur "that" + Piel impf.3f.s.w/1s.suff. barak bless + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. nephesh "me"])."

VERSE 32 Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you (hT'a'-ymi wybia' qx'c.yI Al rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. + proper noun Isaac + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + interrog mi + pro.2m.s.s attah you])?"

And he said, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau (wf'[e ^r>kob. ^n>Bi ynIa] rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + pro.1s. ani I + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ben son + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. bekor firstborn + proper noun Esau]) ."

VERSE 33 Isaac trembled violently and said, "Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me (yli abeY"w: dyIc;-dC'h; aWh aApae-ymi rm,aYOw: daom.-d[; hl'doG> hd'r'x] qx'c.yI dr;x/Y<w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. charah tremble, quake, shake + proper noun Isaac + noun f.s.abs. charadah quaking+ adj.f.s.abs. gadol great + par adh even adv me-odh "violently" + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + interrog mi who + conj epo then + pro.3m.s. hu he + def.art.w/Qal part.m.s.abs. tsudh hunt + noun m.s.ab.s tsayid game + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. bo bring + prep lamedh w/1s.suff.])?

I ate it just before you came and I blessed him-- and indeed he will be blessed (hy<h.yI %WrB'-~G: Whker]b'a]w" aAbT' ~r,j,B. lKomi lk;aow" [waw w/Qal impf.1s. akal eat + prep min w/noun m.s.abs. kol all "all before" + prep beth w/adv terem before + Qal impf.2m.s. bo come + waw w/Piel impf.1s.w/3m.s.suff. barak bless + conj gam + Qal pass.part.m.s.abs. barak + Qal impf.3m.s. hayah])!"

ANALYSIS: VERSES 30-33

1. These verse and the ones to follow exhibit profound emotional distress on the part of Isaac and his son Esau.
2. In v. 30 the narrator tells us that by the narrowest of margins the blessing of Jacob almost came to naught.
3. Esau’s arrival on the scene was just a few minutes before the Isaac had finished blessing Jacob.
4. Had Esau arrived just a little earlier he would have exposed the ploy and presumably Isaac would have suspended the blessing of Jacob.
5. But when he arrived all appeared normal and quiet.
6. Esau promptly prepares the savory stew and brings it to his father (v. 31).
7. This took some time but finally he comes into his father’s presence in a very upbeat mood (v. 31).
8. Esau enters with great anticipation and foregoes the familiar and polite "My father" for "Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me."
9. Isaac is so taken aback by Esau’s words that he acts as if he did not recognize him.
10. Esau’s mood changes to one of mild bewilderment and replies, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau."
11. Uncontrollable consternation grips Isaac resulting in his whole bodily constitution shaking (v. 33).
12. He rightly senses that something horribly wrong has transpired.
13. The verb "trembled" (charad) denotes alarm and fear and here it is pared with the cognate noun "trembling" (charadah) with the adjective "great" (gadol).
14. If this were not enough, there follows the adverbial clause "even exceedingly" (adh me-odh).
15. "Violently" incorporates the noun, the adjective, and the adverb in the NAS.
16. An alternate translation: "And Isaac was gripped by uncontrollable trembling."
17. Isaac’s state of mind is here presented in the most expressive fashion the Hebrew is capable of.
18. He blurts out a question which he knew the answer to (v.33).
19. Did Isaac know who the pretender was?
20. Yes, he knew who had tricked him, yet he in this greatest of all moments in his life did not allow his feelings of betrayal override what he knew was the right thing to do.
21. He knew it was Jacob after all and it was in this very short span of time that he shifted his allegiance to the divinely appointed heir.
22. For the very first time in forty years he embraced the truth of the oracle of the twins in his statement "he shall be blessed."
23. There and then he repudiated the primacy of Esau his long time favorite for God’s favorite son.
24. He went up against all those years of favoritism and stubborn insistence and accepted the event for what it was—divine intervention.
25. He could have revoked the blessing on grounds of foul play, but he didn’t because when push came to shove he sided with the truth as painful as it may have been.
26. For this action and this action alone he is celebrated among those "who found approval" (cf. Heb. 11:20 "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.").
27. Isaac’s resolve under the most stressful of circumstances constituted a faith based decision.
28. However convoluted the whole process was the blessing bestowed on Jacob stands irrevocable because it was in accord with the divine will.

Esau Seeks the Blessing (vv. 34-38)

VERSE 34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father (ybia' ynIa'-~g: ynIker]B' wybia'l. rm,aYOw: daom.-d[; hr'm'W hl'doG> hq'['c. q[;c.YIw: wybia' yreb.DI-ta, wf'[e [;mov.Ki [prep kaph w/Qal infin.constr. shama hear + proper noun Esau + d.o. marker + noun m.p.constr. dabar word + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. tsa-aq cry + noun f.s.abs. tse-aqah outcry + adj.f.s.abs. gadol great + waw w/adj.f.s.abs. mar bitter + part adh + adv me-odh + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + Pie limper.m.s.w/1s.suff. barak bless + conj gam also + pro.1s. ani I + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father])!"

VERSE 35 And he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing (^t,k'r>Bi xQ;YIw: hm'r>miB. ^yxia' aB' rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + Qal perf.3m.s. bo come + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ach brother + prep beth w/noun f.s.abs. miremah deceit + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. laqach take + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. berakah blessing])."

VERSE 36 Then he said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times (~yIm;[]p; hz< ynIbeq.[.Y:w: bqo[]y: Amv. ar'q' ykih] rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + interrog. ha w/part ki + Qal perf.3m.s. qara call + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. shem name + proper noun Jacob + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s.w/1s.suff. aqab supplant; only here + adj.m.s.abs. zeh this + noun f. dual abs. pa-am step; "these two times" in the translations])?

He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing (ytik'r>Bi xq;l' hT'[; hNEhiw> xq'l' ytir'koB.-ta, [d.o. marker + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. bekorah birthright + Qal perf.3m.s. laqach take + waw w/interj hinneh behold + adv atah now + Qal perf.3m.s. laqach take + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. berakah blessing]).

" And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me (rm;aYOw: hk'r'B. yLi T'l.c;a'-al{h] [Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + interrog ha w/neg lo + Qal perf.2m.s. atsal lay aside, reserve + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + noun f.s.abs. berakah blessing]?"

VERSE 37 But Isaac replied to Esau, "Behold, I have made him your master (%l' rybiG> !he wf'[el. rm,aYOw: qx'c.yI ![;Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. anah reply + proper noun Isaac + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep lamedh w/proper noun Esau + interj hen behold + noun m.s.abs. gebor man; "master" + Qal perf.1s.w/3m.s.suff. shim appoint + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. "your"], and all his relatives I have given to him as servants [~ydIb'[]l; Al yTit;n" wyx'a,-lK'-ta,w> [waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.pconstr.w/3m.s.suff. ach brother; "relatives" + Qal perf.1s. nathan give + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. + def.art.w/prep lamedh w/noun m.p.abs. ebedh servant]; and with grain and new wine I have sustained him [wyTik.m;s. vroytiw> !g"d'w> [waw w/noun m.s.abs. dagan grain + waw w/noun m.s.abs. tirosh new wine + Qal perf.1s.w/3m.s.suff. samak lean upon, support, sustaine]).

Now as for you then, what can I do, my son (ynIB. hf,[/a, hm' aApae hk'l.W [waw w/prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + part epo then + interrog mah what? + Qal impf.1s. ashah do + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben son])?"

VERSE 38 Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father (ybia' ^l.-awhi tx;a; hk'r'b.h; wybia'-la, wf'[e rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s amar say + proper noun Esau + prep el + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. berakah blessing + adj.f.s.abs. echad one + pro.3f.s. hi he + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father])?

Bless me, even me also, O my father (ybia' ynIa'-~g: ynIker]B' [Pie limper.m.s.w/1s.suff. barak bless + conj gam also + pro.1s. ani I + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father])."

So Esau lifted his voice and wept (&.b.YEw: Alqo wf'[e aF'YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. nasha lift up + proper noun Esau + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. bakah weep]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 34-38

1. Here as above the Hebrew construction has the verb "to scream/cry" (tsa-aq) is followed by the cognate noun "outcry" (tse-aqah) followed by the superlative use of the adjective "great" (gadol).
2. Esau’s shriek expressed one who was suddenly overcome with exceeding bitterness (mar plus adverb me-odh).
3. "He screamed with a great outcry and exceeding bitterness…"
4. Esau’s buoyancy shifts to extreme distress.
5. He pathetically begs his father to bless him.
6. Isaac makes no attempt to rescind the blessing conferred even though trickery was involved.
7. The blessing is irrevocable and he implies this is the case when he responds to Esau’s plea in v. 35 saying that "your blessing has been taken away" by "your brother" who did it "deceitfully."
8. Isaac refuses to overturn the blessing knowing that it is the will of God for Jacob to have the preeminence, the shabby circumstances notwithstanding.
9. Esau continues to attack the actions of his brother to sway his father so he can receive a blessing (v.36).
10. The name Jacob, says Esau reflects Jacob’s character.
11. Jacob (Ya-aqobh) and the noun translated "supplanted" (aqabh) constitutes a Hebrew pun.
12. This verb for deceit is used in connection with Jacob in Hos. 12:3 where it is used of Jacob the "heel-grabber" ("In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his maturity he contended with God.").
13. Esau protests that Jacob has taken advantage of him two times taking away his birthright and now his blessing.
14. Esau stretches the truth as he willingly gave up his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew.
15. On that occasion Jacob was calculating and manipulative.
16. But Esau’s was the greater sin.
17. On the occasion of the patriarchal blessing of succession the blessing went to Jacob because Jacob was the believing son.
18. But this reality was beyond Esau’s capacity to appreciate.
19. Esau was party to Isaac’s ploy to confer the birthright blessing on him a part from the youngest son’s knowledge in contradiction to a proper deathbed farewell.
20. And now Esau is left with nothing.
21. Esau seems more interested in the blessing than the birthright.
22. He makes a second plea for any blessing that might be held in reserve.
23. Isaac restates the essence of the blessing conferred on Jacob (v. 37a).
24. Isaac makes a minor change when he changes "may your mother’s sons bow down before you," to "all his relatives/brothers I have given to him as servants."
25. This prophetically refers to Israelite conquest of the surrounding nations (some of which had Abraham as their ancestor) during the period of the Conquest on into the monarchy.
26. He mentions the promise of agricultural abundance as well.
27. The whole tenor of the blessing placed Esau at a disadvantage.
28. Isaac concludes the conversation with the forlorn "Now as for you, what can I do my son?"
29. Esau for a third and final time begs for blessing even if it is just one item that he can take for his own (v. 38).
30. With this he breaks down an cries like a baby.
31. He desires divine blessing but he is unwilling to repent and believer (cf. Heb. 12:17 "For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected (by Isaac and God), for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it (the blessing not repentance) with tears.").
32. Esau’s efforts to sway his father were rebuffed as Isaac had finally came to his senses and did the divinely prescribed thing.
33. He honored the true heir and lined up with the oracle he had resisted all those years.

The Oracle of Esau (vv. 39-40)

VERSE 39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him, "Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling (^b,v'Am hy<h.yI #r,a'h' yNEm;v.mi hNEhi wyl'ae rm,aYOw: wybia' qx'c.yI ![;Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. anah answer + proper noun Isaac + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep el w/3m.s.suff. + interj hinneh + prep min w/noun m.p.constr. shaman fat; "the fertility" + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. erets land + Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. moshab seat; dwelling], And away from the dew of heaven from above [l['me ~yIm;V'h; lJ;miW [waw w/prep min w/noun m.s.abs. tal dew + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. shamayim heaven + prep min w/noun m.s.abs. al "from above"]).

VERSE 40 "By your sword you shall live (hy<x.ti ^B.r>x;-l[;w> [waw w/prep al + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. chereb sword + Qal impf.2m.s. chayah live]),

And your brother you shall serve (dbo[]T; ^yxia'-ta,w [waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. abh brother + Qal impf.2m.s. abad serve]);

But it shall come about when you become restless (dyrIT' rv,a]K; hy"h'w> [waw w/Qal perf.3m.s. hayah + prep kaph w/rel. asher + Hiphil impf.2m.s. rud roam]),

That you will break his yoke from your neck (^r,aW"c; l[;me AL[u T'q.r;p'W [waw w/Qal perf.2m.s. paraq tear away + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ol yoke +prep al w/3m.s.suff. + prep min w/prep al from upon + noun m.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. tsawwa-ar neck])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 39-40

1. What follows from Isaac’s mouth is a prophecy regarding the Edomite people.
2. Little in it could be called a blessing but more a declaration of the fortunes of a people who had no genuine regard for the God of Jacob.
3. The first part of the oracle informs the reader that Esau and his descendants would wind up living in an arid land.
4. It reverses the blessing bestowed on Jacob and his descendants with the use of the preposition min ("away from") with the nouns "fertility/fat" and "dew."
5. The KJV has it wrong when they translate "dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth…"
6. We know the true sense here not based on the grammar but on the simple fact that the Edomites lived in a area southeast of the Dead Sea in the rugged cliffs.
7. This is as land with little annual rainfall and a land that is not conducive to agricultural productivity meaning an arid wilderness
8. The oracle informs that Esau’s descendants would engage in warfare and plunder ("By your sword you shall live").
9. Whatever gains the Edomites achieved in their history placed them under the curse of "he who lives by the sword will die by the sword."
10. The OT describes the Edomites as a militant warlike nation.
11. As such they existed in hostility to Israel (cf. Num. 20:18; 1Sam. 14:47; 1Kgs. 11:14-17; 2Kgs. 14:7-10; Ps. 60:8-9).
12. During David’s reign the Edom became part of the Israelite empire, but later it regained its independence which satisfies the "your brother you shall serve" and "when you become restless you will break his yoke from your neck."
13. The prophetic oracle ends with a sliver of hope.
14. Of course this wasn’t at all what Esau wanted to hear but he and he alone brought these things upon himself.

Esau’s Hatred and Rebekah’s Manipulations (vv. 41-46)

VERSE 41 So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself (ABliB. wf'[e rm,aYOw: wybia' Akr]Be rv,a] hk'r'B.h;-l[; bqo[]y:-ta, wf'[e ~jof.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. shatam hate + proper noun Esau + d.o. marker + proper noun Jacob + prep al because + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. berakah blessing + rel.pro asher + Piel perf.3m.s.w/3m.s.suff. barak bless + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Esau + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. lebh heart], "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob [yxia' bqo[]y:-ta, hg"r>h;a;w> yxia' bqo[]y:-ta, yxia' bqo[]y:-ta, hg"r>h;a;w> ybia' lb,ae ymey> Wbr>q.yI [Qal impf.3m.p. qarab draw near + noun m.p.constr. yom day + noun m.s.abs. ebel mourning + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.1s. harag slay + d.o. marker + proper noun Jacob + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ach brother]."

VERSE 42 Now when the words of her elder son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she sent and called her younger son Jacob, and said to him (wyl'ae rm,aTow: !j'Q'h; Hn"B. bqo[]y:l. ar'q.Tiw: xl;v.Tiw: ldoG"h; Hn"B. wf'[e yreb.DI-ta, hq'b.rIl. dG:YUw: [waw w/Hophal impf.3m.s. nagad make known + prep lamedh w/proper noun Rebekah + d.o. marker + noun m.p.constr. dabar word + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.s. ben son + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. gadol "elder" + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. shalach send away; "reported" + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. qara call + prep lamedh w/proper noun Jacob + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.s.s.suff. ben son + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. qatan young + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. amar say + prep el w/3m.s.suff.], "Behold your brother Esau is consoling himself concerning you by planning to kill you [^g<r>h'l. ^l. ~xen:t.mi ^yxia' wf'[e hNEhi [interj hinneh + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ach brother + Hithpael part.m.s.abs. nacham comfort, console; repent + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr.w/2m.s.suff. harag slay]).

VERSE 43 "Now therefore, my son, obey my voice, and arise, flee to Haran, to my brother Laban (hn"r'x' yxia' !b'l'-la, ^l.-xr;B. ~Wqw> yliqoB. [m;v. ynIb. hT'[;w> [waw w/adv attah now + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ben son + Qal imper.m.s. shama hear + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. qol voice + waw w/Qal imper.m.s. qum rise + Qal imper.m.s. barach flee + prep lamed w/2m.s.suff. + prep el + proper noun Haran + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ach brother + proper noun Laban])!

VERSE 44 "Stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury subsides (^yxia' tm;x] bWvT'-rv,a] d[; ~ydIx'a] ~ymiy" AM[i T'b.v;y"w> [waw w/Qal perf.2m.s. yashab dwell + prep im w/3m.s.suff. + noun m.p.abs. yom day + adj.m.p.abs. echad few + prep adh until + rel.pro. asher + Qal impf.3f.s. shubh (re)turn; "subsides" + noun m.s.constr. chemah heat; "fury" + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ach brother]),

VERSE 45 until your brother's anger against you subsides and he forgets what you did to him (t'yfi['-rv,a] tae xk;v'w> ^M.mi ^yxia'-@a; bWv-d[; [adv adh until + Qal infin.constr. shub (re)turn + noun m.s.abs. aph anger + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ach brother + prep min w/2m.s.suff. + waw w/Qal perf.3m.s. shakach forget + d.o. marker + rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.2m.s.s ashah do + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff.];

Then I will send and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day (dx'a, ~Ay ~k,ynEv.-~G: lK;v.a, hm'l' ~V'mi ^yTix.q;l.W yTix.l;v'w> [waw w/Qal perf.1s. shalach send away + waw w/Qal perf.1s.w/2m.s.suff. laqach take, fetch + prep min w/adv sham there + interrog mah what? + Qal impf.1s. shakal be breaved + conj gam + adj.m. dual constr.w/2m.s.suff. shenayim two + noun m.s.abs. yom day + adj.m.s.abs. echad one])?"

VERSE 46 Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth (txe tAnB. ynEP.mi yY:x;b. yTic.q; qx'c.yI-la, hq'b.rI rm,aTow: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. amar say + proper noun Rebekah + prep el to + proper noun Isaac + Qal perf.1s. quts loath; "tired" + prep beth w/noun m.p.constr.w/1s.suff. chayyim living + prep min w/noun both pl.constr. paneh = "because" + noun f.p.constr. bath + proper noun Heth]; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me (~yYIx; yLi hM'l' #r,a'h tAnB.mi hL,aeK' txe-tAnB.mi hV'ai bqo[]y: x;qel{-~ai [part im if + Qal part.m.s.abs. laqach take + proper noun Jacob + noun f.s.abs. ishshah wife + prep min w/noun f.p.constr. bath daughter + proper noun Heth + prep kaph w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + prep min w/noun f.p.constr. bath + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz + part w/interrog lammah what? + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + noun m.p.abs. chay living/life])?"

ANALYSIS: VERSES 41-46

1. Esau’s state of mind after he had been rebuffed turned really nasty.
2. The term "bore a grudge" (satam) is used of settled hatred (cf. 50:12; Ps. 55:3; Job 16:9; 30:21).
3. He resented to the point of planning murder the favored status of his brother Jacob.
4. So Esau planned secretly to kill Jacob but he was willing to postpone the deed until such time as Isaac had died.
5. It seems everyone in the immediate household was certain that Isaac was about to pass from the scene.
6. We do not know from the text why he was unwilling to do the deed while his father was still alive.
7. It could be that the bound between them was such that he was unwilling to inflict such pain on his father while he was still living.
8. The words "Esau said to himself" is literally "said in his heart."
9. For a while at least he kept his murderous intent to himself, but somehow his intent became known by others and Rebekah caught wind of it (v. 42).
10. How we are left to surmise; perhaps he bragged about it to the wrong person who it turn told Rebekah.
11. For whatever reasons Rebekah does not inform Jacob as to the timing of the deed by merely that Jacob is targeted to be murdered.
12. Once again she acts out of panic and being the manipulative wife and mother she sponsors a course of action to save her son’s life in disregard of any spiritual considerations.
13. Trust in God was not in her frame of reference as clearly seen in the episode that led to Esau’s wrath.
14. She orders her forty year old son to obey her and rise and flee to Haran and take refuge in her brother Laban’s house (v. 43).
15. Ever manipulative and domineering she ignores her husband’s counsel and sets in motion a plan to save the heir of the covenant.
16. She assures Jacob that time heals all wounds and that his separation from her will only be for "a while" or "a few days."
17. This expression also occurs in 29:20 and Dan. 11:20 (plural noun ‘day’ with plural adjective ‘one’).
18. Her overly optimistic assessment of the time it would take to assuage Esau’s anger turned proved way off the mark.
19. Jacob wound up staying with his uncle in Padam-Aram 20 years!
20. By the time he returned to the land of promise Rebekah was deceased and Isaac was still living.
21. Rebekah’s mindset appears totally devoid of divine providence.
22. This is evidenced by the fact that she imagines the impossible, namely that Jacob will be certainly murdered if he doesn’t flee for this life then and there and that as a result Esau will be a fugitive subject to execution for murder.
23. She failed at every point to faith-rest the oracle of 25:23, the doctrinal implications of the Abrahamic Covenant and the resent prophetic content of her husband’s blessing upon Jacob.
24. With her rose colored glasses firmly in place she encourages her son that his time in Haran will be very brief and congenial and that she will send for him when Esau cools down.
25. When she does get around to telling her husband of the necessity of Jacob’s exile in Haran she totally ignores the primary reason for his leaving but rather tells her blind husband that Jacob needs to go to Haran to get a wife (v.46)!
26. Rebekah cleverly lays out her rationale to persuade her husband to do what she thinks is best.
27. She appeals to her husband on what they both agree on, namely that the women of Heth are bad news and not at all good candidates for wives for their sons (cf. 26:35).
28. Her speech to her husband in v. 46 is quite dramatic and colorful.
29. "I loath my life because of the daughters of Heth" (alternate translation) once again demonstrates how much she detested Esau’s wives as the term used here is very strong (qutz).
30. The phrases "I am tired of living" and "what good will life be to me?" points to a person who is maladjusted.
31. She does not refer to them as the wives of Esau but rather as "the daughters of Heth" and "the daughters of the land."
32. She is probably being somewhat melodramatic so as to persuade her husband to take action and forestall another marriage fiasco.
33. She is certain that this will spur Isaac to sent Jacob away to avoid marriage to one of "the daughters of the land."
34. Again, she does not say a thing to her husband about the primary and immediate reason for sending Jacob away.
35. She does not actually tell her husband to send Jacob away but leaves the decision to him after planting the seed.
36. After this there is no more mention of Rebekah in the narrative of Genesis (she is listed as one who was buried in the family burial plot).
37. Our final impression of her is that she was a shadow of her youth (cf. chap. 24).