Jacob Obtains Isaac's Blessing

271 And it cometh to pass that Isaac 'is' aged, and his eyes are too dim for seeing, and he calleth Esau his elder son, and saith unto him, 'My son;' and he saith unto him, 'Here 'am' I.' 2 And he saith, 'Lo, I pray thee, I have become aged, I have not known the day of my death; 3 and now, take up, I pray thee, thy instruments, thy quiver, and thy bow, and go out to the field, and hunt for me provision, 4 and make for me tasteful things, 'such' as I have loved, and bring in to me, and I do eat, so that my soul doth bless thee before I die.' 5 And Rebekah is hearkening while Isaac is speaking unto Esau his son; and Esau goeth to the field to hunt provision—to bring in;

6 and Rebekah hath spoken unto Jacob her son, saying, 'Lo, I have heard thy father speaking unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7 Bring for me provision, and make for me tasteful things, and I do eat, and bless thee before Jehovah before my death. 8 'And now, my son, hearken to my voice, to that which I am commanding thee: 9 Go, I pray thee, unto the flock, and take for me from thence two good kids of the goats, and I make them tasteful things for thy father, 'such' as he hath loved; 10 and thou hast taken in to thy father, and he hath eaten, so that his soul doth bless thee before his death. 11 And Jacob saith unto Rebekah his mother, 'Lo, Esau my brother 'is' a hairy man, and I a smooth man, 12 it may be my father doth feel me, and I have been in his eyes as a deceiver, and have brought upon me disesteem, and not a blessing;' 13 and his mother saith to him, 'On me thy disesteem, my son; only hearken to my voice, and go, take for me.' 14 And he goeth, and taketh, and bringeth to his mother, and his mother maketh tasteful things, 'such' as his father hath loved; 15 and Rebekah taketh the desirable garments of Esau her elder son, which 'are' with her in the house, and doth put on Jacob her younger son; 16 and the skins of the kids of the goats she hath put on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck, 17 and she giveth the tasteful things, and the bread which she hath made, into the hand of Jacob her son.

18 And he cometh in unto his father, and saith, 'My father;' and he saith, 'Here 'am' I; who 'art' thou, my son?' 19 And Jacob saith unto his father, 'I 'am' Esau thy first-born; I have done as thou hast spoken unto me; rise, I pray thee, sit, and eat of my provision, so that thy soul doth bless me.' 20 And Isaac saith unto his son, 'What 'is' this thou hast hasted to find, my son?' and he saith, 'That which Jehovah thy God hath caused to come before me.' 21 And Isaac saith unto Jacob, 'Come nigh, I pray thee, and I feel thee, my son, whether thou 'art' he, my son Esau, or not.' 22 And Jacob cometh nigh unto Isaac his father, and he feeleth him, and saith, 'The voice 'is' the voice of Jacob, and the hands hands of Esau.' 23 And he hath not discerned him, for his hands have been hairy, as the hands of Esau his brother, and he blesseth him, 24 and saith, 'Thou art he—my son Esau?' and he saith, 'I 'am'.' 25 And he saith, 'Bring nigh to me, and I do eat of my son's provision, so that my soul doth bless thee;' and he bringeth nigh to him, and he eateth; and he bringeth to him wine, and he drinketh. 26 And Isaac his father saith to him, 'Come nigh, I pray thee, and kiss me, my son;' 27 and he cometh nigh, and kisseth him, and he smelleth the fragrance of his garments, and blesseth him, and saith, 'See, the fragrance of my son 'is' as the fragrance of a field which Jehovah hath blessed;

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 27:1-27

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.

Commentary on Genesis 27:18-29

(Read Genesis 27:18-29)

Jacob, with some difficulty, gained his point, and got the blessing. This blessing is in very general terms. No mention is made of the distinguishing mercies in the covenant with Abraham. This might be owing to Isaac having Esau in his mind, though it was Jacob who was before him. He could not be ignorant how Esau had despised the best things. Moreover, his attachment to Esau, so as to disregard the mind of God, must have greatly weakened his own faith in these things. It might therefore be expected, that leanness would attend his blessing, agreeing with the state of his mind.