27:5 Rebekah was listening. Isaac neither provided spiritual leadership in the home nor listened to his wife’s counsel—factors that strongly contributed to his family difficulties. Isaac’s behavior contrasts with that of Abraham (21:8–14).

Esau went. Though birthright and blessing were not identical, they were related because both pertained to the inheritance. Esau reneged on the oath he had made with Jacob (25:33), but the original act of unbelief in selling his inheritance was decisive (Heb. 12:16, 17).