_A.M. 2244. B.C. 1760._ We have here, (1,) _ Isaac's purpose to entail the blessing upon Esau, Genesis 27:1._ (2,) _ Rebekah's plot to procure it for Jacob, Genesis 27:6._ (3,) _ Jacob's obtaining of the blessings, Genesis 27:18._ (4,) _ Esau's resentment of this. In which we have, 1, His impor... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Isaac was old_ A hundred and thirty-seven years old; but he lived forty years after this. _And his eyes were dim_ Whereby God brought about his own purpose of bestowing the blessing on Jacob. _He called Esau, his eldest son_ With a view to declare him his heir. The promise of the Messiah, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_I know not the day of my death_ How soon I may die; a declaration which every man may make, and which every man ought well to consider, and lay to heart. It is great mercy and wisdom in God to conceal from us the time of our dissolution. Hereby foreboding fear on the one hand, and vain presumption... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take me some venison_ In this Isaac designed, not so much the refreshment of his own spirits, as the receiving a fresh instance of his son's filial duty and affection to him, before he bestowed the designed favour upon him. _That my soul may bless thee before I die_ May confer my solemn, extraordin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rebekah spake unto Jacob_ Rebekah is here contriving to procure the blessing for Jacob, which was designed for Esau. If the end were good, the means were bad, and no way justifiable. If it were not a wrong to Esau to deprive him of the blessing, he himself having forfeited it by selling the birthri... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon me be thy curse_ That is, I will warrant the success; or, if the issue turn out ill, I will stand between thee and all danger. This she speaks in confidence of a good issue, probably through faith in God's promises; the accomplishment of which, however, she seeks in an indirect and crooked way... [ Continue Reading ]
_The skins of the kids of goats_ It is observed by Bochart, that, in the eastern countries, goats' hair is very like the human.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jacob said, I am Esau_ Who would have thought this plain man could have played such a part? His mother having put him in the way of it, he applies himself to those methods which he had never accustomed himself to, but had always conceived an abhorrence of. But lying is soon learned. I wonder ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord thy God brought it to me_ Is this Jacob? It is certainly written not for our imitation, but our admonition. Here we see how one lie draws on another. _Let him that standeth, take heed lest he fall._ Now let us see how Isaac gave Jacob his blessing.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come near, that I may feel thee_ He had some suspicion from his voice, and too quick return, that it was not Esau.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He smelled the smell of his raiment_ Probably scented with odoriferous flowers and other perfumes, with which they could easily be supplied from Arabia, famed for aromatic herbs. _The smell of my son is as the smell of a field_ The grateful odour of my son's apparel resembles that of a field which... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let nations bow down to thee_ When the Canaanites were subdued in the times of Joshua and the judges, and made tributary to the Israelites; and more especially when the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites became subject to them, in the time of David, this prophecy was fulfilled; but, lik... [ Continue Reading ]
_Isaac trembled very exceedingly_ Being perplexed and astonished to consider herein God's overruling providences, and how strangely his purpose of giving the blessing to Esau had been disappointed. Those that follow the choice of their own affections, rather than the dictates of the divine will, inv... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fatness of the earth_ Mount Seir, the heritage of Esau, was a fertile place, refreshed with dews and showers. _By thy sword shalt thou live_ That is, thou shalt be warlike, and live upon spoil. This was remarkably fulfilled both in Esau himself, and his posterity. He was a cunning hunter, a man... [ Continue Reading ]
_Esau said in his heart_ What he afterward uttered in words, _The days of mourning for my father are at hand_ According to the course of nature. Isaac, however, lived forty-four years after this. _Thy brother doth comfort himself_ With thoughts of revenge, (which is sweet to all enraged mind,) and w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tarry with him a few days_ Which proved to be above twenty years. _Why should I be deprived of you both in one day?_ Of one by murder, and the other by the hand of justice, (Genesis 9:6,) or by some remarkable stroke of divine vengeance, Acts 28:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
_If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth_ As Esau has done. More artifice still. This was not the thing she was afraid of. But if we use guile once, we shall be very ready to use it again. It should be carefully observed, that, although a blessing came on Jacob's posterity by his vile lying an... [ Continue Reading ]