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;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 27:1-5
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.