Genesis 27:29

Let peoples, &c. The first half of this verse seems to refer to conquest over foreign foes; the second half to pre-eminence among the kindred races. The complete fulfilment of this prediction cannot have taken place before the times of David (cf. 2 Samuel 8) and Solomon. The "peoples" and "nations," who "served" and "bowed down," were the Canaanites; the "brethren" and the "mother's sons" were the Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, and Amalekites.

lord … brethren These words recall the oracle given to Rebekah in Genesis 25:23. The irony of the situation is that Isaac, predicting, as he supposes, Esau's predominance over Jacob, seems to be reversing the decree, "the elder shall serve the younger." In reality he ratifies and endorses it.

thy brethren The word is here poetically used in the sense of "kindred." The blessing impersonates the nation in the individual. It prefigures kindred races in the individual's brethren: see note on Genesis 27:40. This blessing, as applied to Jacob, was fulfilled in the subjugation of Edom, Moab, and Ammon in the reign of David.

Cursed be every one For this formula concluding a blessing, cf. Genesis 12:3, and Numbers 24:9. Words of good omen end the utterance.