ISAAC WAS OLD] He was about 120, and both he and Esau thought that his death was at hand (Genesis 27:2; Genesis 27:41). According to Genesis 35:27 he lived sixty years longer; and Jacob and Esau, their old strife put away, were present at his burial: but it must be noted that that passage is from a... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB BY SUBTILTY OBTAINS THE BLESSING Urged on by his mother, Jacob attempts by unworthy means to secure the blessing of the firstborn with all the privileges it involved. But the wrongdoing of the actors in the story was soon followed by the suffering which assuredly waits on sin. To quote Delitzs... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT MY SOUL MAY BLESS THEE BEFORE I DIE] In purposing to give the blessing to Esau, his firstborn son, Isaac was acting in opposition to the expressed decree of God: see Genesis 25:23. 5-14. Rebekah knew that the blessing was to be Jacob's; she therefore used this device to prevent an injustice fr... [ Continue Reading ]
HAIRY MAN] see Genesis 25:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOODLY RAIMENT] RV 'the goodly raiment,' his better clothes which were at home in his tent. 28, 29. The blessing as here recorded refers first to the fruitful land the supposed Esau would inherit, and then to his lordship over his brethren and other tribes. In Genesis 28:3, which belongs to the Pri... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEW OF HEAVEN] greatly valued in hot climates where rain often does not fall from April to September.... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, _and_ HE SHALL BE BLESSED] Isaac evidently feels that the purposes of God are not to be thwarted by his own preferences, and does not withdraw the blessing from Jacob.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPPLANTED] see on Genesis 25:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE THE FATNESS] rather, 'Shall be away from the fatness.' Read thus, the prophecy is in agreement with the general barrenness of Edom or Seir, where the descendants of Esau dwelt.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALT SERVE THY BROTHER] Throughout OT. history we read of the subjugation of the Edomites to Israel, varied by their throwing off the yoke in troublous times: see 2 Samuel 8:14; 1 Kings 11; 1 Kings 11 1 Chronicles 18:13; 2 Chronicles 21; 2 Chronicles 21. About 100 b.c. the Maccabean prince, John Hy... [ Continue Reading ]
DAYS OF MOURNING] see on Genesis 27:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
TARRY WITH HIM A FEW DAYS] It was twenty years before Jacob returned from Haran; and Rebekah, so far as we know, never saw him again.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEPRIVED ALSO OF YOU BOTH] of Jacob by death, and of Esau through punishment as a murderer.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse must be read in connexion with Genesis 28:1; Genesis 27:46; - Genesis 28:9 are from the Priestly source and continue the narrative of Genesis 26:34, without any reference to Genesis 27:1. Rebekah suggests to Isaac as the reason for Jacob's departure that it was desirable that Jacob, as th... [ Continue Reading ]