mh_parser/vol_split/1 - Genesis/Chapter 27.xml

<div2 id="Gen.xxviii" n="xxviii" next="Gen.xxix" prev="Gen.xxvii" progress="19.13%" title="Chapter XXVII">
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<h2 id="Gen.xxviii-p0.1">G E N E S I S</h2>
<h3 id="Gen.xxviii-p0.2">CHAP. XXVII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Gen.xxviii-p1">In this chapter we return to the typical story of
the struggle between Esau and Jacob. Esau had profanely sold the
birthright to Jacob; but Esau hopes he shall be never the poorer,
nor Jacob the richer, for that bargain, while he preserves his
interest in his father's affections, and so secures the blessing.
Here therefore we find how he was justly punished for his contempt
of the birthright (of which he foolishly deprived himself) with the
loss of the blessing, of which Jacob fraudulently deprives him.
Thus this story is explained, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.16-Heb.12.17" parsed="|Heb|12|16|12|17" passage="Heb 12:16,17">Heb.
xii. 16, 17</scripRef>, "Because he sold the birthright, when he
would have inherited the blessing he was rejected." For those that
make light of the name and profession of religion, and throw them
away for a trifle, thereby forfeit the powers and privileges of it.
We have here, I. Isaac's purpose to entail the blessing upon Esau,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.1-Gen.27.5" parsed="|Gen|27|1|27|5" passage="Ge 27:1-5">ver. 1-5</scripRef>. II. Rebekah's
plot to procure it for Jacob, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.6-Gen.27.17" parsed="|Gen|27|6|27|17" passage="Ge 27:6-17">ver.
6-17</scripRef>. III. Jacob's successful management of the plot,
and his obtaining the blessing, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.18-Gen.27.29" parsed="|Gen|27|18|27|29" passage="Ge 27:18-29">ver. 18-29</scripRef>. IV. Esau's resentment of this,
in which, 1. His great importunity with his father to obtain a
blessing, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.30-Gen.27.40" parsed="|Gen|27|30|27|40" passage="Ge 27:30-40">ver. 30-40</scripRef>. 2.
His great enmity to his brother for defrauding him of the first
blessing, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.41-Gen.27.46" parsed="|Gen|27|41|27|46" passage="Ge 27:41-46">ver. 41</scripRef>,
&amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxviii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27" parsed="|Gen|27|0|0|0" passage="Ge 27" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxviii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.1-Gen.27.5" parsed="|Gen|27|1|27|5" passage="Ge 27:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.27.1-Gen.27.5">
<h4 id="Gen.xxviii-p1.9">Rebekah's Contrivance. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxviii-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1760.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxviii-p2">1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old,
and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his
eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him,
Behold, <i>here am</i> I.   2 And he said, Behold now, I am
old, I know not the day of my death:   3 Now therefore take, I
pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the
field, and take me <i>some</i> venison;   4 And make me
savoury meat, such as I love, and bring <i>it</i> to me, that I may
eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.   5 And Rebekah
heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field
to hunt <i>for</i> venison, <i>and</i> to bring <i>it.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p3">Here is, I. Isaac's design to make his
will, and to declare Esau his heir. The promise of the Messiah and
the land of Canaan was a great trust, first committed to Abraham,
inclusive and typical of spiritual and eternal blessings; this, by
divine direction, he transmitted to Isaac. Isaac, being now old,
and

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not knowing, or not understanding, or
not duly considering, the divine oracle concerning his two sons,
that the elder should serve the younger, resolves to entail all the
honour and power that were wrapped up in the promise upon Esau his
eldest son. In this he was governed more by natural affection, and
the common method of settlements, than he ought to have been, if he
knew (as it is probable he did) the intimations God had given of
his mind in this matter. Note, We are very apt to take our measures
rather from our own reason than from divine revelation, and thereby
often miss our way; we think the wise and learned, the mighty and
noble, should inherit the promise; but God sees not as man sees.
See <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.16.6-1Sam.16.7" parsed="|1Sam|16|6|16|7" passage="1Sa 16:6,7">1 Sam. xvi. 6, 7</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p4">II. The directions he gave to Esau,
pursuant to this design. He calls him to him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.1" parsed="|Gen|27|1|0|0" passage="Ge 27:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. For Esau, though married, had not
yet removed; and, though he had greatly grieved his parents by his
marriage, yet they had not expelled him, but it seems were pretty
well reconciled to him, and made the best of it. Note, Parents that
are justly offended at their children yet must not be implacable
towards them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p5">1. He tells him upon what considerations he
resolved to do this now (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.2" parsed="|Gen|27|2|0|0" passage="Ge 27:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>): "<i>I am old,</i> and therefore must die shortly,
yet <i>I know not the day of my death,</i> nor when I must die; I
will therefore do that at this time which must be done some time."
Note, (1.) Old people should be reminded by the growing infirmities
of age to do quickly, and with all the little might they have, what
their hand finds to do. See <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.13.1" parsed="|Josh|13|1|0|0" passage="Jos 13:1">Josh.
xiii. 1</scripRef>. (2.) The consideration of the uncertainty of
the time of our departure out of the world (about which God has
wisely kept us in the dark) should quicken us to do the work of the
day in its day. The heart and the house should both be set, and
kept, in order, because <i>at such an hour as we think not the Son
of man comes;</i> because we <i>know not the day of our death,</i>
we are concerned to mind the business of life.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p6">2. He bids him to get things ready for the
solemnity of executing his last will and testament, by which he
designed to make him his heir, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.3-Gen.27.4" parsed="|Gen|27|3|27|4" passage="Ge 27:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>. Esau must go a hunting, and
bring some venison, which his father will eat of, and then bless
him. In this he designed, not so much the refreshment of his own
spirits, that he might give the blessing in a lively manner, as it
is commonly taken, but rather the receiving of a fresh instance of
his son's filial duty and affection to him, before he bestowed this
favour upon him. Perhaps Esau, since he had married, had brought
his venison to his wives, and seldom to his father, as formerly
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.25.28" parsed="|Gen|25|28|0|0" passage="Ge 25:28"><i>ch.</i> xxv. 28</scripRef>), and
therefore Isaac, before he would bless him, would have him show
this piece of respect to him. Note, It is fit, if the <i>less be
blessed of the greater,</i> that the greater should be served and
honoured by the less. He says, <i>That my soul may bless thee
before I die.</i> Note, (1.) Prayer is the work of the soul, and
not of the lips only; as the soul must be employed in blessing God
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.1" parsed="|Ps|103|1|0|0" passage="Ps 103:1">Ps. ciii. 1</scripRef>), so it must
be in blessing ourselves and others: the blessing will not come to
the heart if it do not come from the heart. (2.) The work of life
must be done before we die, for it cannot be done afterwards
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.9.10" parsed="|Eccl|9|10|0|0" passage="Ec 9:10">Eccl. ix. 10</scripRef>); and it is
very desirable, when we come to die, to have nothing else to do but
to die. Isaac lived above forty years after this; let none
therefore think that they shall die the sooner for making their
wills and getting ready for death.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxviii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.6-Gen.27.17" parsed="|Gen|27|6|27|17" passage="Ge 27:6-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.27.6-Gen.27.17">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxviii-p7">6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying,
Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
  7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may
eat, and bless thee before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxviii-p7.1">Lord</span>
before my death.   8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice
according to that which I command thee.   9 Go now to the
flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I
will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
  10 And thou shalt bring <i>it</i> to thy father, that he may
eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.   11 And
Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother <i>is</i>
a hairy man, and I <i>am</i> a smooth man:   12 My father
peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver;
and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.   13
And his mother said unto him, Upon me <i>be</i> thy curse, my son:
only obey my voice, and go fetch me <i>them.</i>   14 And he
went, and fetched, and brought <i>them</i> to his mother: and his
mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.   15 And
Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which
<i>were</i> with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her
younger son:   16 And she put the skins of the kids of the
goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:   17
And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had
prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p8">Rebekah is here contriving to procure for
Jacob the blessing which was designed for Esau; and here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p9">I. The end was good, for she was directed
in this intention by the oracle of God, by

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which she had been governed in dispensing her affections. God had
said it should be so, that the elder should <i>serve the
younger;</i> and therefore Rebekah resolves it shall be so, and
cannot bear to see her husband designing to thwart the oracle of
God. But,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p10">II. The means were bad, and no way
justifiable. If it was not a wrong to Esau to deprive him of the
blessing (he himself having forfeited it by selling the
birthright), yet it was a wrong to Isaac, taking advantage of his
infirmity, to impose upon him; it was a wrong to Jacob too, whom
she taught to deceive, by putting a lie into his mouth, or at least
by putting one into his right hand. It would likewise expose him to
endless scruples about the blessing, if he should obtain it thus
fraudulently, whether it would stand him or his in any stead,
especially if his father should revoke it, upon the discovery of
the cheat, and plead, as he might, that it was nulled by an
<i>error personæ—a mistake of the person.</i> He himself also was
aware of the danger, lest (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.12" parsed="|Gen|27|12|0|0" passage="Ge 27:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), if he should miss of the blessing, as he might
probably have done, he should bring upon himself his father's
curse, which he dreaded above any thing; besides, he laid himself
open to that divine curse which is pronounced upon him that
<i>causeth the blind to wander out of the way,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.27.18" parsed="|Deut|27|18|0|0" passage="De 27:18">Deut. xxvii. 18</scripRef>. If Rebekah, when she
heard Isaac promise the blessing to Esau, had gone, at his return
from hunting, to Isaac, and, with humility and seriousness, put him
in remembrance of that which God had said concerning their
sons,—if she further had shown him how Esau had forfeited the
blessing both by selling his birthright and by marrying strange
wives, it is probable that Isaac would have been prevailed upon
knowingly and wittingly to confer the blessing upon Jacob, and
needed not thus to have been cheated into it. This would have been
honourable and laudable, and would have looked well in the history;
but God left her to herself, to take this indirect course, that he
might have the glory of bringing good out of evil, and of serving
his own purposes by the sins and follies of men, and that we might
have the satisfaction of knowing that, though there is so much
wickedness and deceit in the world, God governs it according to his
will, to his own praise. See <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.12.16" parsed="|Job|12|16|0|0" passage="Job 12:16">Job xii.
16</scripRef>, <i>With him are strength and wisdom, the deceived
and the deceiver are his.</i> Isaac had lost the sense of seeing,
which, in this case, could not have been imposed upon, Providence
having so admirably well ordered the difference of features that no
two faces are exactly alike: conversation and commerce could
scarcely be maintained if there were not such a variety. Therefore
she endeavours to deceive, 1. His sense of tasting, by dressing
some choice pieces of kid, seasoning them, serving them up, so as
to make him believe they were venison: this it was no hard matter
to do. See the folly of those that are nice and curious in their
appetite, and take a pride in humouring it. It is easy to impose
upon them with that which they pretend to despise and dislike, so
little perhaps does it differ from that to which they give a
decided preference. Solomon tells us that dainties are <i>deceitful
meat;</i> for it is possible for us to be deceived by them in more
ways than one, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.23.32" parsed="|Prov|23|32|0|0" passage="Pr 23:32">Prov. xxiii.
32</scripRef>. 2. His sense of feeling and smelling. She put Esau's
clothes upon Jacob, his best clothes, which, it might be supposed,
Esau would put on, in token of joy and respect to his father, when
he was to receive the blessing. Isaac knew these, by the stuff,
shape, and smell, to be Esau's. If we would obtain a blessing from
our heavenly Father, we must come for it in the garments of our
elder brother, clothed with his righteousness, who is the
first-born among many brethren. Lest the smoothness and softness of
Jacob's hands and neck should betray him, she covered them, and
probably part of his face, with the skins of the kids that were
newly killed, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.16" parsed="|Gen|27|16|0|0" passage="Ge 27:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>.
Esau was rough indeed when nothing less than these would serve to
make Jacob like him. Those that affect to seem rough and rugged in
their carriage put the beast upon the man, and really shame
themselves, by thus disguising themselves. And, <i>lastly,</i> it
was a very rash word which Rebekah spoke, when Jacob objected the
danger of a curse: <i>Upon me be thy curse, my son,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.13" parsed="|Gen|27|13|0|0" passage="Ge 27:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. Christ indeed, who is
mighty to save, because mighty to bear, has said, <i>Upon me be the
curse, only obey my voice;</i> he has borne the burden of the
curse, the curse of the law, for all those that will take upon them
the yoke of the command, the command of the gospel. But it is too
daring for any creature to say, <i>Upon me be the curse,</i> unless
it be that curse causeless which we are sure <i>shall not come,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Prov.26.2" parsed="|Prov|26|2|0|0" passage="Pr 26:2">Prov. xxvi. 2</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxviii-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.18-Gen.27.29" parsed="|Gen|27|18|27|29" passage="Ge 27:18-29" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.27.18-Gen.27.29">
<h4 id="Gen.xxviii-p10.9">The Fraud of Jacob. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxviii-p10.10">b. c.</span> 1760.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxviii-p11">18 And he came unto his father, and said, My
father: and he said, Here <i>am</i> I; who <i>art</i> thou, my son?
  19 And Jacob said unto his father, I <i>am</i> Esau thy
firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray
thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.  
20 And Isaac said unto his son, How <i>is it</i> that thou hast
found <i>it</i> so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxviii-p11.1">Lord</span> thy God brought <i>it</i> to me.
  21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I
may feel thee, my son, whether thou <i>be</i> my very son Esau or
not.   22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he
felt him, and said, The voice <i>is</i> Jacob's voice, but the
hands <i>are</i> the hands of Esau.   23 And he discerned him
not,

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because his hands were hairy, as his
brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.   24 And he said,
<i>Art</i> thou my very son Esau? And he said, I <i>am.</i>  
25 And he said, Bring <i>it</i> near to me, and I will eat of my
son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought
<i>it</i> near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and
he drank.   26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near
now, and kiss me, my son.   27 And he came near, and kissed
him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and
said, See, the smell of my son <i>is</i> as the smell of a field
which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxviii-p11.2">Lord</span> hath blessed:  
28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of
the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:   29 Let people serve
thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and
let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed <i>be</i> every one
that curseth thee, and blessed <i>be</i> he that blesseth thee.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p12">Observe here, I. The art and assurance with
which Jacob managed this intrigue. Who would have thought that this
plain man could have played his part so well in a design of this
nature? His mother having put him in the way of it, and encouraged
him in it, he dexterously applied himself to those methods which he
had never accustomed himself to, but had always conceived an
abhorrence of. Note, Lying is soon learnt. The psalmist speaks of
those who, <i>as soon as they are born, speak lies,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.58.3 Bible:Jer.9.5" parsed="|Ps|58|3|0|0;|Jer|9|5|0|0" passage="Ps 58:3,Jer 9:5">Ps. lviii. 3; Jer. ix. 5</scripRef>. I
wonder how honest Jacob could so readily turn his tongue to say
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.19" parsed="|Gen|27|19|0|0" passage="Ge 27:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), <i>I am
Esau thy first-born;</i> nor do I see how the endeavour of some to
bring him off with that equivocation, <i>I am made thy
first-born,</i> namely by purchase, does him any service; for when
his father asked him (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.24" parsed="|Gen|27|24|0|0" passage="Ge 27:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>), <i>Art thou my very son Esau?</i> he said, <i>I
am.</i> How could he say, <i>I have done as thou badest me,</i>
when he had received no command from his father, but was doing as
his mother bade him? How could he say, <i>Eat of my venison,</i>
when he knew it came, not from the field, but from the fold? But
especially I wonder how he could have the assurance to father it
upon God, and to use his name in the cheat (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.20" parsed="|Gen|27|20|0|0" passage="Ge 27:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>): <i>The Lord thy God brought it
to me.</i> Is this Jacob? Is this Israel indeed, without guile? It
is certainly written, not for our imitation, but for our
admonition. <i>Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he
fall.</i> Good men have sometimes failed in the exercise of those
graces for which they have been most eminent.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p13">II. The success of this management. Jacob
with some difficulty gained his point, and obtained the
blessing.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p14">1. Isaac was at first dissatisfied, and
would have discovered the fraud if he could have trusted his own
ears; for <i>the voice was Jacob's voice,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.22" parsed="|Gen|27|22|0|0" passage="Ge 27:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. Providence has ordered a
strange variety of voices as well as faces, which is also of use to
prevent our being imposed upon; and the voice is a thing not easily
disguised nor counterfeited. This may be alluded to to illustrate
the character of a hypocrite. His voice is Jacob's voice, but his
hands are Esau's. He speaks the language of a saint, but does the
works of a sinner; but the judgment will be, as here, by the
hands.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p15">2. At length he yielded to the power of the
cheat, <i>because the hands were hairy</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.23" parsed="|Gen|27|23|0|0" passage="Ge 27:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), not considering how easy it
was to counterfeit that circumstance; and now Jacob carries it on
dexterously, sets his venison before his father, and waits at table
very officiously, till dinner is done, and the blessing comes to be
pronounced in the close of this solemn feast. That which in some
small degree extenuates the crime of Rebekah and Jacob is that the
fraud was intended, not so much to hasten the fulfilling, as to
prevent the thwarting, of the oracle of God: the blessing was just
going to be put upon the wrong head, and they thought it was time
to bestir themselves. Now let us see how Isaac gave Jacob his
blessing, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.26-Gen.27.29" parsed="|Gen|27|26|27|29" passage="Ge 27:26-29"><i>v.</i>
26-29</scripRef>. (1.) He embraced him, in token of a particular
affection to him. Those that are blessed of God are kissed with the
kisses of his mouth, and they do, by love and loyalty, <i>kiss the
Son,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.12" parsed="|Ps|2|12|0|0" passage="Ps 2:12">Ps. ii. 12</scripRef>. (2.) He
praised him. <i>He smelt the smell of his raiment, and said, See,
the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath
blessed,</i> that is, like that of the most fragrant flowers and
spices. It appeared that God had blessed him, and therefore Isaac
would bless him. (3.) He prayed for him, and therein prophesied
concerning him. It is the duty of parents to pray for their
children, and to bless them in the name of the Lord. And thus, as
well as by their baptism, to do what they can to preserve and
perpetuate the entail of the covenant in their families. But this
was an extraordinary blessing; and Providence so ordered it that
Isaac should bestow it upon Jacob ignorantly and by mistake, that
it might appear he was beholden to God for it, and not to Isaac.
Three things Jacob is here blessed with:—[1.] Plenty (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.28" parsed="|Gen|27|28|0|0" passage="Ge 27:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>), heaven and earth
concurring to make him rich. [2.] Power (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.29" parsed="|Gen|27|29|0|0" passage="Ge 27:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>), particularly dominion over his
brethren, namely, Esau and his posterity. [3.] Prevalency with God,
and a great interest in Heaven: "<i>Cursed by every one that
curseth thee and blessed be he that blesseth thee.</i> Let God be a
friend to all thy friends, and an enemy to all thy enemies." More
is certainly comprised in this blessing than appears <i>prima
facie—at first sight.</i> It must amount

<pb id="Gen.xxviii-Page_166" n="166"/>

to
an entail of the promise of the Messiah, and of the church; this
was, in the patriarchal dialect, <i>the blessing:</i> something
spiritual, doubtless, is included in it. <i>First,</i> That from
him should come the Messiah, who should have a sovereign dominion
on earth. It was that top-branch of his family which people should
serve and nations bow down to. See <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.24.19" parsed="|Num|24|19|0|0" passage="Nu 24:19">Num. xxiv. 19</scripRef>, <i>Out of Jacob shall come he
that shall have dominion,</i> the <i>star</i> and <i>sceptre,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.24.17" parsed="|Num|24|17|0|0" passage="Nu 24:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. Jacob's
dominion over Esau was to be only typical of this, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.10" parsed="|Gen|49|10|0|0" passage="Ge 49:10"><i>ch.</i> xlix. 10</scripRef>. <i>Secondly,</i>
That from him should come the church, which should be particularly
owned and favoured by Heaven. It was part of the blessing of
Abraham, when he was first called to be the father of the faithful
<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.9" osisRef="Bible:Gen.12.3" parsed="|Gen|12|3|0|0" passage="Ge 12:3"><i>ch.</i> xii. 3</scripRef>), <i>I
will bless those that bless thee;</i> therefore, when Isaac
afterwards confirmed the blessing to Jacob, he called it <i>the
blessing of Abraham,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.10" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.4" parsed="|Gen|28|4|0|0" passage="Ge 28:4"><i>ch.</i>
xxviii. 4</scripRef>. Balaam explains this too, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p15.11" osisRef="Bible:Num.24.9" parsed="|Num|24|9|0|0" passage="Nu 24:9">Num. xxiv. 9</scripRef>. Note, It is the best and most
desirable blessing to stand in relation to Christ and his church,
and to be interested in Christ's power and the church's
favours.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxviii-p15.12" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.30-Gen.27.40" parsed="|Gen|27|30|27|40" passage="Ge 27:30-40" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.27.30-Gen.27.40">
<h4 id="Gen.xxviii-p15.13">The Blessing Pronounced on Jacob and
Esau. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxviii-p15.14">b. c.</span> 1760.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxviii-p16">30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had
made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out
from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came
in from his hunting.   31 And he also had made savoury meat,
and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my
father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless
me.   32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who <i>art</i>
thou? And he said, I <i>am</i> thy son, thy firstborn Esau.  
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where
<i>is</i> he that hath taken venison, and brought <i>it</i> me, and
I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea,
<i>and</i> he shall be blessed.   34 And when Esau heard the
words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter
cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, <i>even</i> me also, O my
father.   35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and
hath taken away thy blessing.   36 And he said, Is not he
rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he
took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my
blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
  37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have
made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for
servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what
shall I do now unto thee, my son?   38 And Esau said unto his
father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me,
<i>even</i> me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and
wept.   39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him,
Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the
dew of heaven from above;   40 And by thy sword shalt thou
live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when
thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from
off thy neck.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p17">Here is, I. The covenant-blessing denied to
Esau. He that made so light of the birthright <i>would now have
inherited the blessing, but he was rejected, and found no place of
repentance</i> in his father, <i>though he sought it carefully with
tears,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.17" parsed="|Heb|12|17|0|0" passage="Heb 12:17">Heb. xii. 17</scripRef>.
Observe, 1. How carefully he sought it. He prepared the savoury
meat, as his father had directed him, and then begged the blessing
which his father had encouraged him to expect, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.31" parsed="|Gen|27|31|0|0" passage="Ge 27:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. When he understood that Jacob
had obtained it surreptitiously, he <i>cried with a great and
exceedingly bitter cry,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.34" parsed="|Gen|27|34|0|0" passage="Ge 27:34"><i>v.</i>
34</scripRef>. No man could have laid the disappointment more to
heart than he did; he made his father's tent to ring with his
grief, and again (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.38" parsed="|Gen|27|38|0|0" passage="Ge 27:38"><i>v.</i>
38</scripRef>) <i>lifted up his voice and wept.</i> Note, The day
is coming when those that now make light of the blessings of the
covenant, and sell their title to them for a thing of nought, will
in vain be importunate for them. Those that will not so much as ask
and seek now will knock shortly, and cry, <i>Lord, Lord.</i>
Slighters of Christ will then be humble suitors to him. 2. How he
was rejected. Isaac, when first made sensible of the imposition
that had been practised on him, <i>trembled exceedingly,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.33" parsed="|Gen|27|33|0|0" passage="Ge 27:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. Those that
follow the choice of their own affections, rather than the dictates
of the divine will, involve themselves in such perplexities as
these. But he soon recovers himself, and ratifies the blessing he
had given to Jacob: <i>I have blessed him, and he shall be
blessed;</i> he might, upon very plausible grounds, have recalled
it, but now, at last, he is sensible that he was in an error when
he designed it for Esau. Either himself recollecting the divine
oracle, or rather having found himself more than ordinarily filled
with the Holy Ghost when he gave the blessing to Jacob, he
perceived that God did, as it were, say Amen to it. Now, (1.) Jacob
was hereby confirmed in his possession of the blessing, and
abundantly satisfied of the validity of it, though he obtained it
fraudulently; hence too he had reason to hope that God graciously

<pb id="Gen.xxviii-Page_167" n="167"/>

overlooked and pardoned his misconduct. (2.)
Isaac hereby acquiesced in the will of God, though it contradicted
his own expectations and affection. He had a mind to give Esau the
blessing, but, when he perceived the will of God was otherwise, he
submitted; and this he did <i>by faith</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.20" parsed="|Heb|11|20|0|0" passage="Heb 11:20">Heb. xi. 20</scripRef>), as Abraham before him, when he
had solicited for Ishmael. May not God do what he will with his
own? (3.) Esau hereby was cut off from the expectation of that
special blessing which he thought to have preserved to himself when
he sold his birthright. We, by this instance, are taught, [1.] That
<i>it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of
God that showeth mercy,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.7" osisRef="Bible:Rom.9.16" parsed="|Rom|9|16|0|0" passage="Ro 9:16">Rom. ix.
16</scripRef>. The apostle seems to allude to this story. Esau had
a good will to the blessing, and ran for it; but God that showed
mercy designed it for Jacob, <i>that the purpose of God according
to election might stand,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.8" osisRef="Bible:Rom.9.11" parsed="|Rom|9|11|0|0" passage="Ro 9:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. The Jews, like Esau, hunted <i>after the law of
righteousness</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.9" osisRef="Bible:Rom.9.31" parsed="|Rom|9|31|0|0" passage="Ro 9:31"><i>v.</i>
31</scripRef>), yet missed of the blessing of righteousness,
<i>because they sought it by the works of the law</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.10" osisRef="Bible:Rom.9.32" parsed="|Rom|9|32|0|0" passage="Ro 9:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>); while the Gentiles,
who, like Jacob, sought it by faith in the oracle of God, obtained
it by force, with that violence which the kingdom of heaven
suffers. See <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.11" osisRef="Bible:Matt.11.12" parsed="|Matt|11|12|0|0" passage="Mt 11:12">Matt. xi. 12</scripRef>.
[2.] That those who undervalue their spiritual birthright, and can
afford to sell it for a morsel of meat, forfeit spiritual
blessings, and it is just with God to deny them those favours they
were careless of. Those that will part with their wisdom and grace,
with their faith and a good conscience, for the honours, wealth, or
pleasures, of this world, however they may pretend a zeal for the
blessing, have already judged themselves unworthy of it, and so
shall their doom be. [3.] That those who lift up hands in wrath
lift them up in vain. Esau, instead of repenting of his own folly,
reproached his brother, unjustly charged him with taking away the
birthright which he had fairly sold to him (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.12" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.36" parsed="|Gen|27|36|0|0" passage="Ge 27:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>), and conceived malice against
him for what he had now done, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.13" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.41" parsed="|Gen|27|41|0|0" passage="Ge 27:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef>. Those are not likely to speed
in prayer who turn those resentments upon their brethren which they
should turn upon themselves, and lay the blame of their
miscarriages upon others, when they should take shame to
themselves. [4.] That those who seek not till it is too late will
be rejected. This was the ruin of Esau, he did not come in time. As
there is an accepted time, a time when God will be found, so there
is a time when he will not answer those that call upon him, because
they neglected the appointed season. See <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.14" osisRef="Bible:Prov.1.28" parsed="|Prov|1|28|0|0" passage="Pr 1:28">Prov. i. 28</scripRef>. The time of God's patience and
our probation will not last always; the day of grace will come to
an end, and the door will be shut. Then many that now despise the
blessing will seek it carefully; for then they will know how to
value it, and will see themselves undone, for ever undone, without
it, but to no purpose, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p17.15" osisRef="Bible:Luke.13.25-Luke.13.27" parsed="|Luke|13|25|13|27" passage="Lu 13:25-27">Luke xiii.
25-27</scripRef>. O that we would therefore, in this our day,
<i>know the things that belong to our peace!</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p18">II. Here is a common blessing bestowed upon
Esau.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p19">1. This he desired: <i>Bless me also,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.34" parsed="|Gen|27|34|0|0" passage="Ge 27:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>. <i>Hast thou
not reserved a blessing for me?</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.36" parsed="|Gen|27|36|0|0" passage="Ge 27:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>. Note, (1.) The worst of men
know how to wish well to themselves; and even those who profanely
sell their birthright seem piously to desire the blessing. Faint
desires of happiness, without a right choice of the end and a right
use of the means, deceive many into their own ruin. Multitudes go
to hell with their mouths full of good wishes. The desire of the
slothful and unbelieving kills them. Many will seek to enter in, as
Esau, who shall not be able, because they do not strive, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.13.24" parsed="|Luke|13|24|0|0" passage="Lu 13:24">Luke xiii. 24</scripRef>. (2.) It is the folly
of most men that they are willing to take up with any good
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.4.6" parsed="|Ps|4|6|0|0" passage="Ps 4:6">Ps. iv. 6</scripRef>), as Esau here,
who desired but a second-rate blessing, a blessing separated from
the birthright. Profane hearts think any blessing as good as that
from God's oracle: <i>Hast thou but one?</i> As if he had said, "I
will take up with any: though I have not the blessing of the
church, yet let me have some blessing."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p20">2. This he had; and let him make his best
of it, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.39-Gen.27.40" parsed="|Gen|27|39|27|40" passage="Ge 27:39,40"><i>v.</i> 39,
40</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p21">(1.) It was a good thing, and better than
he deserved. It was promised him, [1.] That he should have a
competent livelihood—<i>the fatness of the earth, and the dew of
heaven.</i> Note, Those that come short of the blessings of the
covenant may yet have a very good share of outward blessings. God
gives good ground and good weather to many that reject his
covenant, and have no part nor lot in it. [2.] That by degrees he
should recover his liberty. If Jacob must rule (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.29" parsed="|Gen|27|29|0|0" passage="Ge 27:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>), Esau must serve; but he has
this to comfort him, he shall <i>live by his sword.</i> He shall
serve, but he shall not starve; and, at length, after much
skirmishing, he shall break the yoke of bondage, and wear marks of
freedom. This was fulfilled (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.8.20 Bible:2Kgs.8.22" parsed="|2Kgs|8|20|0|0;|2Kgs|8|22|0|0" passage="2Ki 8:20,22">2
Kings viii. 20, 22</scripRef>) when the Edomites revolted.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p22">(2.) Yet it was far short of Jacob's
blessing. For him God had reserved some better thing. [1.] In
Jacob's blessing <i>the dew of heaven</i> is put first, as that
which he most valued, and desired, and depended upon; in Esau's
<i>the fatness of the earth</i> is put first, for it was this that
he had the first and principal regard to. [2.] Esau has these, but
Jacob has them from God's hand: <i>God give thee the dew of
heaven,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.28" parsed="|Gen|27|28|0|0" passage="Ge 27:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>.
It was enough to Esau to have the possession; but Jacob desired it
by promise, and to have it from covenant-love. [3.] Jacob shall
have dominion over his brethren: hence the Israelites often ruled
over the Edomites. Esau shall have dominion, that is, he shall gain
some power and interest, but shall never have dominion over his
brother: we never find that the Jews were sold into the hands of
the Edomites, or that they oppressed them. But the great difference
in

<pb id="Gen.xxviii-Page_168" n="168"/>

that there is nothing in Esau's blessing
that points at Christ, nothing that brings him or his into the
church and covenant of God, without which the fatness of the earth,
and the plunder of the field, will stand him in little stead. Thus
Isaac by faith blessed them both according as their lot should be.
Some observe that Jacob was blessed with a <i>kiss</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.27" parsed="|Gen|27|27|0|0" passage="Ge 27:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>), so was not Esau.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxviii-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.41-Gen.27.46" parsed="|Gen|27|41|27|46" passage="Ge 27:41-46" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.27.41-Gen.27.46">
<h4 id="Gen.xxviii-p22.4">Jacob's Life Threatened by
Esau. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxviii-p22.5">b. c.</span> 1760.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxviii-p23">41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing
wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The
days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my
brother Jacob.   42 And these words of Esau her elder son were
told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and
said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth
comfort himself, <i>purposing</i> to kill thee.   43 Now
therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my
brother to Haran;   44 And tarry with him a few days, until
thy brother's fury turn away;   45 Until thy brother's anger
turn away from thee, and he forget <i>that</i> which thou hast done
to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I
be deprived also of you both in one day?   46 And Rebekah said
to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth:
if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these
<i>which are</i> of the daughters of the land, what good shall my
life do me?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p24">Here is, I. The malice Esau bore to Jacob
upon account of the blessing which he had obtained, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.41" parsed="|Gen|27|41|0|0" passage="Ge 27:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef>. Thus he went in the way
of Cain, who slew his brother because he had gained that acceptance
with God of which he had rendered himself unworthy. Esau's hatred
of Jacob was, 1. A causeless hatred. He hated him for no other
reason but because his father blessed him and God loved him. Note,
The happiness of saints is the envy of sinners. Whom Heaven
blesses, hell curses. 2. It was a cruel hatred. Nothing less would
satisfy him than to slay his brother. It is the blood of the saints
that persecutors thirst after: <i>I will slay my brother.</i> How
could he say that word without horror? How could he call him
<i>brother,</i> and yet vow his death? Note, The rage of
persecutors will not be tied up by any bonds, no, not the strongest
and most sacred. 3. It was a politic hatred. He expected his father
would soon die, and then titles must be tried and interests
contested between the brothers, which would give him a fair
opportunity for revenge. He thinks it not enough to <i>live by his
sword himself</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.40" parsed="|Gen|27|40|0|0" passage="Ge 27:40"><i>v.</i>
40</scripRef>), unless his brother die by it. He is loth to grieve
his father while he lives, and therefore puts off the intended
murder till his death, not caring how much he then grieved his
surviving mother. Note, (1.) Those are bad children to whom their
good parents are a burden, and who, upon any account, long for the
days of mourning for them. (2.) Bad men are long held in by
external restraints from doing the mischief they would do, and so
their wicked purposes come to nought. (3.) Those who think to
defeat God's purposes will undoubtedly be disappointed themselves.
Esau aimed to prevent Jacob, or his seed, from having the dominion,
by taking away his life before he was married; but who can disannul
what God has spoken? Men may fret at God's counsels, but cannot
change them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p25">II. The method Rebekah took to prevent the
mischief.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p26">1. She gave Jacob warning of his danger,
and advised him to withdraw for a while, and shift for his own
safety. She tells him what she heard of Esau's design, that he
comforted himself with the hope of an opportunity to kill his
brother, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.42" parsed="|Gen|27|42|0|0" passage="Ge 27:42"><i>v.</i> 42</scripRef>.
Would one think that such a bloody barbarous thought as this could
be a comfort to a man? If Esau could have kept his design to
himself his mother would not have suspected it; but men's impudence
in sin is often their infatuation; and they cannot accomplish their
wickedness because their rage is too violent to be concealed, and a
bird of the air carries the voice. Observe here, (1.) What Rebekah
feared—lest she <i>should be deprived of them both in one day</i>
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.45" parsed="|Gen|27|45|0|0" passage="Ge 27:45"><i>v.</i> 45</scripRef>), deprived,
not only of the murdered, but of the murderer, who either by the
magistrate, or by the immediate hand of God, would by sacrificed to
justice, which she herself must acquiesce in, and not obstruct: or,
if not so, yet thenceforward she would be deprived of all joy and
comfort in him. Those that are lost to virtue are in a manner lost
to all their friends. With what pleasure can a child be looked upon
that can be looked upon as no other than a child of the devil? (2.)
What Rebekah hoped—that, if Jacob for a while kept out of sight,
the affront which his brother resented so fiercely would by degrees
go out of mind. The strength of passions is weakened and taken off
by the distances both of time and place. She promised herself that
his brother's anger would turn away. Note, Yielding pacifies great
offences; and even those that have a good cause, and God on their
side, must yet use this with other prudent expedients for their own
preservation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxviii-p27">2. She impressed Isaac with an apprehension
of the necessity of Jacob's going among her relations upon another
account, which was to take a wife, <scripRef id="Gen.xxviii-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.46" parsed="|Gen|27|46|0|0" passage="Ge 27:46"><i>v.</i> 46</scripRef>. She would not tell him of
Esau's wicked design against the life of Jacob, lest it should
trouble him; but

<pb id="Gen.xxviii-Page_169" n="169"/>

prudently took another way
to gain her point. Isaac saw as uneasy as he was to Esau's being
unequally yoked with Hittites; and therefore, with a very good
colour of reason, she moves to have Jacob married to one that was
better principled. Note, One miscarriage should serve as a warning
to prevent another; those are careless indeed that stumble twice at
the same stone. Yet Rebekah seems to have expressed herself
somewhat too warmly in the matter, when she said, <i>What good will
my life do me if Jacob marry a Canaanite?</i> Thanks be to God, all
our comfort is not lodged in one hand; we may do the work of life,
and enjoy the comforts of life, though every thing do not fall out
to our mind, and though our relations be not in all respects
agreeable to us. Perhaps Rebekah spoke with this concern because
she saw it necessary, for the quickening of Isaac, to give speedy
orders in this matter. Observe, Though Jacob was himself very
towardly, and well fixed in his religion, yet he had need to be put
out of the way of temptation. Even he was in danger both of
following the bad example of his brother and of being drawn into a
snare by it. We must not presume too far upon the wisdom and
resolution, no, not of those children that are most hopeful and
promising; but care must be taken to keep them out of harm's
way.</p>
</div></div2>