Genesis 27:1--28:9
[A.M. 2244. B.C. 1760.]
almost <03543> [dim.]
older son ........ son <01121 01419> [eldest son.]
could ..... time <03045 03117> [I know not.]
take ... weapons <05375 03627> [take, I.]
hunt <06679 06718> [take me. Heb. hunt.]
eat <0398> [that I may eat.]
The blessing, says Dr. A. Clarke, which Isaac was to confer on his son, was a species of divine right, and must be communicated with appropriate ceremonies. As eating and drinking were used among the Asiatics on almost all religious occasions, and especially in making and confirming covenants, it is reasonable to suppose, that something of this kind was essentially necessary on this occasion; and that Isaac could not convey the right, till he had eaten of the meat provided for the purpose by him who was to receive the blessing.
<05315> [that my.]
presence .... Lord before <06440 03068> [before the.]
two <08147> [two.]
tasty <04303> [savoury.]
{Matammim,} from {taam,} to taste or relish: how dressed is uncertain, but its name declares it nature.
hairy man ............ skin <0376 08163> [hairy man.]
touch <04959> [feel.]
mocking <08591> [a deceiver.]
think ....... bring <05869 0935> [and I shall.]
curse <07045> [Upon.]
mother <0517> [mother.]
best clothes <02532 0899> [goodly raiment. Heb. desirable.]
The Septuagint translates it "a goodly robe," which was a long garment that great men used to wear, (Lu 20:46; 15:22.) The priest afterwards in the law had "holy garments" to minister in, (Ex 28:2-4.) Whether the first-born before the law had such to minister in is not certain: for, had they been common garments, why did not Esau himself or his wives keep them? But being, in likelihood, holy robes, received from their ancestors, the mother of the family kept them in sweet chests, from moths and the like; whereupon it is said, (ver. 27,) "Isaac smelled the smell of his garments."
skins <05785> [skins.]
Travellers inform us, that the Eastern goats have long, fine, and beautiful hair, of the most delicate silky softness; indeed the animals generally in those hot countries are not covered with so thick a coat of hair as they are in more northerly regions; so that Isaac might easily be deceived, when his eyes were dim, and his feeling no less impaired than his sight.
Esau <06215> [I am.]
me <05315> [that thy.]
Lord <03068> [Because.]
<06440> [to me. Heb. before me.]
Come closer <05066> [Come.]
touch <04184> [may feel.]
voice <06963> [The voice.]
How wonderful, says Mr. Scott, is that difference which there is betwixt the faces and the voices of the several individuals of the human species! Scarcely any two of the innumerable millions are exactly alike in either, and yet the difference cannot be defined or described! The power, wisdom, and kindness of our Creator should be admired and adored in this remarkable circumstance; for they are very visible. This description of Jacob is not unaptly accommodated to the character of a hypocrite: his voice, his language, is that of a Christian; his hands, or conduct, that of an ungodly man: but the judgment will proceed from God, the Judge of all, at the last day, as in the present case, not by the voice, but by the hands.
hands ........ hands <03027> [his hands.]
blessed <01288> [he blessed.]
[I am.]
<05315> [that my.]
blessed ................... blessed <01288> [blessed.]
scent ............ smells .... scent .... open field <07381 07704> [the smell of a field.]
A field where aromatic plants, flowers, fruits, and spices grew in abundance, with which these garments (see ver. 15) of Esau might probably have been perfumed by being laid up with them.
Lord <03068> [which.]
dew <02919> [of the dew.]
<04924> [the fatness.]
plenty <07230> [plenty.]
nations <05971> [Let people.]
will be lord <01376 01933> [be lord.]
curse .... cursed <0779> [cursed.]
eat <0398> [eat.]
shake violently <02729 01419 03966> [trembled very exceedingly. Heb trembled with a great trembling greatly.]
hunted <06679> [taken. Heb. hunted. thou camest.]
blessed ....... blessed <01288> [yea.]
wailed <06817> [he cried.]
Jacob <03290> [Jacob. i.e., a supplanter.]
took away ......... taken away <03947> [he took.]
made <07760> [I have.]
grain <01715> [with.]
provided <05564> [sustained. or, supported.]
home <04186> [Behold.]
<04924> [the fatness. or, of the fatness.]
It is here foretold, says Bp. Newton, that as to temporal advantages, the two brothers should be much alike. (See ver. 28.) Esau had cattle, beasts, and substance in abundance, and he went to dwell in Mount Seir of his own accord. When the Israelites desired leave to pass through the territories of Edom, the country abounded with fruitful fields and vineyards. (Nu 20:17.)
sword <02719> [thy sword.]
serve <05647> [serve.]
tear off <06561> [that thou.]
hated <07852> [hated.]
time <03117> [The days.]
kill <02026> [then.]
planning ...... killing <05162 02026> [comfort himself.]
do what ... say <08085> [obey.]
Haran <02771> [Haran.]
subsides <03117 0259> [a few days.]
send <07971> [then I.]
Why <04100> [why.]
deeply <06973> [I am.]
<06440> [because.]
Jacob <03290> [if Jacob.]
blessed <01288> [blessed.]
marry <03947> [Thou shalt.]
immediately <06965> [Arise.]
Paddan Aram <06307> [Padan-aram.]
Laban <03837> [Laban.]
God <0410> [God.]
fruitful <06509> [and make.]
large <06951> [a multitude. Heb. an assembly.]
blessing <01293> [the blessing.]
living as a temporary resident <04033> [wherein thou art a stranger. Heb. of thy sojournings.]
God <0430> [which.]
sent Jacob ......................... Jacob <07971 03290> [sent away Jacob.]
Whoever observes Jacob's life, after he had surreptitiously obtained his father's blessing, will perceive that he enjoyed very little worldly felicity. His brother purposed to murder him, to avoid which he was forced to flee from his father's house; his uncle Laban deceived him, as he had deceived his father, and treated him with great rigour; after a servitude of 21 years, he was obliged to leave him in a clandestine manner, not without danger of being brought back, or murdered by his enraged brother; no sooner were these fears over, than he experienced the baseness of his son Reuben, in defiling his bed; he had next to bewail the treachery and cruelty of Simeon and Levi toward the Shechemites; then he had to feel the loss of his beloved wife; he was next imposed upon by his own sons, and had to lament the supposed untimely end of Joseph; and to complete all, he was forced by famine to go into Egypt, and there died, in a strange land. So just, wonderful, and instructive are all the ways of Providence!
Paddan Aram <06307> [Padan-aram.]
Esau <06215> [Esau.]
find ............... marry <03947> [Thou.]
women <01323> [the daughters.]
displeasing <05869 07451> [pleased not. Heb. were evil in the eyes.]
Ishmael .............. Ishmael <03458> [unto Ishmael.]
Mahalath <04258> [Mahalath. called also, Bashemath.]
sister <0269> [the sister.]
