CHAPTER XXVII _Isaac, grown old and feeble, and apprehending the approach of_ _death, desires his son Esau to provide some savoury meat for_ _him, that having eaten of it he might convey to him the_ _blessing connected with the right of primogeniture_, 1-4. _Rebekah hearing of it, relates the m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:2. _I KNOW NOT THE DAY OF MY DEATH_] From his present weakness he had reason to suppose that his death could not be at any great distance, and therefore would leave no act undone which he believed it his duty to perform. He who lives not in reference to eternity, lives not at all.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:3. _THY WEAPONS_] The original word כלי _keley_ signifies _vessels_ and _instruments_ of any kind; and is probably used here for a _hunting spear, javelin, sword, c_. _QUIVER_] תלי _teli_, from תלה _talah_, to _hang_ or _suspend_. Had not the _Septuagint_ translated the word φαρετ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:4. _SAVOURY MEAT_] מטעמים _matammim_, from טעם _taam_, to _taste_ or _relish_; how dressed we know not, but its name declares its nature. _THAT I MAY EAT_] The blessing which Isaac was to confer on his son was a species of Divine right, and must be communicated with appropriate ce... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:5. _AND REBEKAH HEARD_] And was determined, if possible, to frustrate the design of Isaac, and procure the blessing for her favourite son. Some pretend that she received a _Divine_ _inspiration_ to the purpose; but if she had she needed not to have recourse to _deceit_, to help forw... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:12. _I SHALL BRING A CURSE UPON ME_] For even in those early times the _spirit_ of that law was understood, Deuteronomy 27:18: _Cursed is he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way_; and Jacob seems to have possessed at this time a more tender conscience than his mother.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:13. _UPON ME BE THY CURSE, MY SON_] Onkelos gives this a curious turn: _It has been revealed to me by prophecy that the_ _curses will not come upon thee, my son_. What a dreadful responsibility did this woman take upon her at this time! The sacred writer states the facts as they wer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:15. _GOODLY RAIMENT_] Mr. Ainsworth has a sensible note on this place. "The priest in the law had _holy garments_ to minister in, Exodus 28:2, which the Septuagint there and in this place term την στολην, THE _robe_, and στολην αγιαν, _the holy robe_. Whether the first-born, before... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:19. _I AM ESAU THY FIRST-BORN_] Here are many palpable falsehoods, and such as should neither be imitated nor excused. "Jacob," says Calmet, "imposes on his father in three different ways. 1. By his words: I am _thy first-born Esau_. 2. By his _actions_; he gives him _kids' flesh_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:23. _AND HE DISCERNED HIM NOT, BECAUSE HIS HANDS WERE_ _HAIRY_] From this circumstance we may learn that Isaac's _sense_ _of feeling_ was much impaired by his present malady. When he could not discern the _skin of a kid_ from the _flesh of his son_, we see that he was, through his i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:27. _THE SMELL OF MY SON_ IS _AS THE SMELL OF A FIELD_] The smell of these garments, the _goodly raiment which had been laid up_ _in the house_, was probably occasioned by some aromatic herbs, which we may naturally suppose were laid up with the clothes; a custom which prevails in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:28. _GOD GIVE THEE OF THE DEW OF HEAVEN_] Bp. Newton's view of these predictions is so correct and appropriate, as to leave no wish for any thing farther on the subject. "It is here foretold, and in Genesis 27:39, of these two brethren, that as to situation, and other temporal adv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:29. _LET PEOPLE SERVE THEE_] "However alike their temporal advantages were to each other," says Bp. Newton, "in all spiritual gifts and graces the younger brother was to have the superiority, was to be the happy instrument of conveying the blessing to all nations: _In thee and in t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:33. _AND ISAAC TREMBLED_] The marginal reading is very literal and proper, _And Isaac trembled with a great trembling_ _greatly_. And this shows the deep concern he felt for his own deception, and the iniquity of the means by which it had been brought about. Though Isaac must have h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:35. _HATH TAKEN AWAY THY BLESSING._] This blessing, which was a different thing from the birthright, seems to consist of _two_ _parts_: 1. The dominion, generally and finally, over the other part of the family; and, 2. Being the progenitor of the Messiah. But the former is more e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:36. _IS NOT HE RIGHTLY NAMED JACOB?_] Genesis 25:26, Genesis 25:26. _HE TOOK AWAY MY BIRTHRIGHT_] So he might say with considerable propriety; for though he _sold_ it to Jacob, yet as Jacob had taken advantage of his perishing situation, he considered the act as a species of robber... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:37. _I HAVE MADE HIM THY LORD_] Genesis 27:28, Genesis 27:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:40. _BY THY SWORD SHALT THOU LIVE_] This does not absolutely mean that the Edomites should have constant wars; but that they should be of a fierce and warlike disposition, gaining their sustenance by _hunting_, and by predatory excursions upon the possessions of others. Bishop Newt... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:41. _THE DAYS OF MOURNING FOR MY FATHER ARE AT HAND_] Such was the state of Isaac's health at that time, though he lived more than forty years afterwards, that his death was expected by all; and Esau thought that would be a favourable time for him to avenge himself on his brother Ja... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:42. _DOTH COMFORT HIMSELF_, PURPOSING _TO KILL THEE._] מתנחם לך _mithnachem lecha_, which Houbigant renders _cogitat super te_, he thinks or meditates to kill thee. This sense is natural enough here, but it does not appear to be the meaning of the original; nor does Houbigant himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:44. _TARRY WITH HIM A FEW DAYS_] It was probably _forty_ years before he returned, and it is likely Rebekah saw him no more; for it is the general opinion of the Jewish rabbins that she died before Jacob's return from Padan-aram, whether the period of his stay be considered _twenty_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:45. _WHY SHOULD I BE DEPRIVED ALSO OF YOU BOTH_] If Esau should kill Jacob, then the nearest akin to Jacob, who was by the patriarchial law, Genesis 9:6, the avenger of blood, would kill Esau; and both these deaths might possibly take place in the same day. This appears to be the m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 27:46. _I AM WEARY OF MY LIFE_] It is very likely that Rebekah kept many of the circumstances related above from the knowledge of Isaac; but as Jacob could not go to Padan-aram without his knowledge, she appears here quite _in her own character_, framing an excuse for his departure, a... [ Continue Reading ]