5 Rebekah was eavesdropping as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. As soon as Esau had gone off to the country to hunt game for his father,
6 Rebekah spoke to her son Jacob. "I just overheard your father talking with your brother, Esau. He said, 7 'Bring me some game and fix me a hearty meal so that I can eat and bless you with God's blessing before I die.' 8 "Now, my son, listen to me. Do what I tell you. 9 Go to the flock and get me two young goats. Pick the best; I'll prepare them into a hearty meal, the kind that your father loves. 10 Then you'll take it to your father, he'll eat and bless you before he dies." 11 "But Mother," Jacob said, "my brother Esau is a hairy man and I have smooth skin. 12 What happens if my father touches me? He'll think I'm playing games with him. I'll bring down a curse on myself instead of a blessing." 13 "If it comes to that," said his mother, "I'll take the curse on myself. Now, just do what I say. Go and get the goats." 14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother and she cooked a hearty meal, the kind his father loved so much. 15 Rebekah took the dress-up clothes of her older son Esau and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She took the goatskins and covered his hands and the smooth nape of his neck. 17 Then she placed the hearty meal she had fixed and fresh bread she'd baked into the hands of her son Jacob.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 27:5-17
Commentary on Genesis 27:1-5
(Read Genesis 27:1-5)
The promises of the Messiah, and of the land of Canaan, had come down to Isaac. Isaac being now about 135 years of age, and his sons about 75, and not duly considering the Divine word concerning his two sons, that the elder should serve the younger, resolved to put all the honour and power that were in the promise, upon Esau his eldest son. We are very apt to take measures rather from our own reason than from Divine revelation, and thereby often miss our way.
Commentary on Genesis 27:6-17
(Read Genesis 27:6-17)
Rebekah knew that the blessing was intended for Jacob, and expected he would have it. But she wronged Isaac by putting a cheat on him; she wronged Jacob by tempting him to wickedness. She put a stumbling-block in Esau's way, and gave him a pretext for hatred to Jacob and to religion. All were to be blamed. It was one of those crooked measures often adopted to further the Divine promises; as if the end would justify, or excuse wrong means. Thus many have acted wrong, under the idea of being useful in promoting the cause of Christ. The answer to all such things is that which God addressed to Abraham, I am God Almighty; walk before me and be thou perfect. And it was a very rash speech of Rebekah, "Upon me be thy curse, my son." Christ has borne the curse of the law for all who take upon them the yoke of the command, the command of the gospel. But it is too daring for any creature to say, Upon me be thy curse.