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The Stolen Blessing

27 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could not see,(A) he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.”

And he answered, “Here I am.”

He said, “Look, I am old and do not know the day of my death. So now take your hunting gear, your quiver and bow, and go out in the field to hunt some game for me.(B) Then make me a delicious meal that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I can bless you before I die.”(C)

Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau. So while Esau went to the field to hunt some game to bring in, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Listen! I heard your father talking with your brother Esau. He said, ‘Bring me game and make a delicious meal for me to eat so that I can bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ Now, my son, listen to me and do what I tell you. Go to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, and I will make them into a delicious meal for your father—the kind he loves. 10 Then take it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies.”

11 Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin.(D) 12 Suppose my father touches me. Then I will be revealed to him as a deceiver and bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself.”

13 His mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go get them for me.”

14 So he went and got the goats and brought them to his mother, and his mother made the delicious food his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of her older son Esau, which were in the house, and had her younger son Jacob wear them. 16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands and the smooth part of his neck. 17 Then she handed the delicious food and the bread she had made to her son Jacob.

18 When he came to his father, he said, “My father.”

And he answered, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”

19 Jacob replied to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may bless me.”

20 But Isaac said to his son, “How did you ever find it so quickly, my son?”

He replied, “Because the Lord your God made it happen for me.”

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau or not?”

22 So Jacob came closer to his father Isaac. When he touched him, he said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. 24 Again he asked, “Are you really my son Esau?”

And he replied, “I am.”

25 Then he said, “Bring it closer to me, and let me eat some of my son’s game so that I can bless you.” Jacob brought it closer to him, and he ate; he brought him wine, and he drank.

26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come closer and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came closer and kissed him. When Isaac smelled[a] his clothes, he blessed him and said:

Ah, the smell of my son
is like the smell of a field
that the Lord has blessed.
28 May God give to you—
from the dew of the sky(E)
and from the richness of the land(F)
an abundance of grain and new wine.(G)
29 May peoples serve you(H)
and nations bow in homage to you.
Be master over your relatives;
may your mother’s sons bow in homage to you.
Those who curse you will be cursed,
and those who bless you will be blessed.(I)

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau arrived from his hunting. 31 He had also made some delicious food and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father get up and eat some of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.”

32 But his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?”

He answered, “I am Esau your firstborn son.”

33 Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably. “Who was it then,” he said, “who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed!”

34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, my father!” (J)

35 But he replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

36 So he said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob?[b](K) For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

37 But Isaac answered Esau, “Look, I have made him a master over you, have given him all of his relatives as his servants, and have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then can I do for you, my son?”

38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” And Esau wept loudly.[c]

39 His father Isaac answered him,

Look, your dwelling place will be
away from the richness of the land,
away from the dew of the sky above.
40 You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you rebel,[d]
you will break his yoke from your neck.

Esau’s Anger

41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42 When the words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she summoned her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Listen, your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you. 43 So now, my son, listen to me. Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran, 44 and stay with him for a few days until your brother’s anger subsides— 45 until your brother’s rage turns away from you and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose you both in one day?”

46 So Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m sick of my life because of these Hethite girls.(L) If Jacob marries someone from around here,[e] like these Hethite girls, what good is my life?” (M)

Footnotes

  1. 27:27 Lit smelled the smell of
  2. 27:36 = He Grasps the Heel
  3. 27:38 Lit Esau lifted up his voice and wept
  4. 27:40 Hb obscure
  5. 27:46 Lit someone like these daughters of the land

27 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, here am I.

And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;

And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

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 it 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 is a hairy man, and I am 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 be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them 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 were 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.

18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; 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 is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.

21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.

24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it 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 is as the smell of a field which the Lord 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 be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

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 art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.

33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and 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, even me also, O my father.

35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, 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, even 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.

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, purposing to kill thee.

43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; 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 that 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 which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Isaac Blesses Jacob

27 Now it came to pass, when Isaac was (A)old and (B)his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”

And he answered him, “Here I am.”

Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I (C)do not know the day of my death. (D)Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me [a]savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul (E)may bless you before I die.”

Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ‘Bring me game and make [b]savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ Now therefore, my son, (F)obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make (G)savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. 10 Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he (H)may bless you before his death.”

11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, (I)Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man. 12 Perhaps my father will (J)feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring (K)a curse on myself and not a blessing.”

13 But his mother said to him, (L)Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” 14 And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother (M)made [c]savory food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took (N)the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 So he went to his father and said, “My father.”

And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”

19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, (O)that your soul may bless me.”

20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”

And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.”

21 Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I (P)may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because (Q)his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.

24 Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?”

He said, “I am.

25 He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so (R)that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” 27 And he came near and (S)kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said:

“Surely, (T)the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field
Which the Lord has blessed.
28 Therefore may (U)God give you
Of (V)the dew of heaven,
Of (W)the fatness of the earth,
And (X)plenty of grain and wine.
29 (Y)Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And (Z)let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
(AA)Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”

Esau’s Lost Hope(AB)

30 Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also had made [d]savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise and (AC)eat of his son’s game, that your soul may bless me.”

32 And his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?”

So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

33 Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—(AD)and indeed he shall be blessed.”

34 When Esau heard the words of his father, (AE)he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!”

35 But he said, “Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.”

36 And Esau said, (AF)“Is he not rightly named [e]Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”

37 Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, (AG)“Indeed I have made him your master, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with (AH)grain and wine I have [f]sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my son?”

38 And Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me—me also, O my father!” And Esau lifted up his voice (AI)and wept.

39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

“Behold, (AJ)your dwelling shall be of the [g]fatness of the earth,
And of the dew of heaven from above.
40 By your sword you shall live,
And (AK)you shall serve your brother;
And (AL)it shall come to pass, when you become restless,
That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Jacob Escapes from Esau

41 So Esau (AM)hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, (AN)“The days of mourning for my father [h]are at hand; (AO)then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42 And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau (AP)comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban (AQ)in Haran. 44 And stay with him a (AR)few days, until your brother’s fury turns away, 45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?”

46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, (AS)“I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; (AT)if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:4 tasty
  2. Genesis 27:7 tasty
  3. Genesis 27:14 tasty
  4. Genesis 27:31 tasty
  5. Genesis 27:36 Supplanter or Deceitful, lit. One Who Takes the Heel
  6. Genesis 27:37 provided support for
  7. Genesis 27:39 fertility
  8. Genesis 27:41 are soon here

Isak välsignar Jakob i stället för Esau

27 När Isak blivit gammal och hans ögon var så svaga att han inte längre kunde se, kallade han en dag till sig sin äldste son Esau. ”Min son”, sa Isak. ”Ja, far”, svarade Esau. Isak fortsatte: ”Jag är en gammal man nu och väntar på att dö vilken dag som helst. Ta din båge och dina pilar och gå ut på fälten och skjut något vilt åt mig. Laga sedan till någon av mina favoriträtter och bär in den till mig så att jag får äta. Sedan ska jag välsigna dig innan jag dör.”

Men Rebecka hörde vad Isak sa till sin son Esau, och när Esau gick ut på fälten för att jaga villebråd, sa hon till sin son Jakob: ”Jag hörde vad din far sa till din bror Esau: ’Skaffa åt mig villebråd och laga till en bit god mat så att jag får äta och sedan välsigna dig inför Herren innan jag dör.’

Gör nu, min son, precis som jag säger till dig. Gå ut till hjorden och hämta hit två fina killingar, så ska jag laga till din fars favoriträtt. 10 Ta därefter maten till din far, för att han ska äta och välsigna dig, innan han dör.”

11 Jakob sa då till sin mor Rebecka: ”Tänk på hur hårig Esau är och hur slät min hud är! 12 Vad händer om min far känner på mig? Han kommer att tro att jag driver med honom och kommer att förbanna mig i stället för att välsigna mig.” 13 ”Låt hans förbannelse komma över mig, min son”, sa Rebecka. ”Gör bara som jag säger. Gå ut och hämta getterna!”

14 Jakob hämtade då de två killingarna till sin mor, och hon lagade till en rätt av dem som Isak tyckte om. 15 Sedan tog hon Esaus, sin äldste sons bästa kläder, som fanns där i huset, och lät Jakob, den yngste sonen, sätta dem på sig. 16 Hon täckte hans händer och bara hals med skinnet från killingarna. 17 Sedan gav hon honom den välsmakande rätten och lite nybakat bröd. 18 Jakob gick till sin far och sa: ”Far!” ”Ja, min son”, svarade Isak. ”Vem är det?”

19 ”Jag är Esau, din förstfödde”, sa Jakob. ”Jag har gjort som du sa till mig. Sitt nu upp och ät av mitt villebråd, så att du kan välsigna mig sedan.” 20 ”Hur kunde du få tag på något så snabbt, min son?” undrade Isak.

”Därför att Herren, din Gud, sände det i min väg”, svarade Jakob.

21 Då sa Isak: ”Kom hit till mig. Jag vill känna på dig, min son, och vara säker på att du är min son Esau!” 22 Jakob gick fram till sin far Isak, så han kunde känna på honom. Isak sa: ”Rösten är Jakobs, men händerna är Esaus.” 23 Men han kände inte igen honom eftersom hans händer var håriga som hans bror Esaus, så han välsignade honom.

24 ”Är du verkligen min son Esau?” undrade Isak igen. ”Ja”, svarade Jakob. 25 ”Kom då hit med maten, min son, så ska jag äta av villebrådet och sedan välsigna dig”, sa Isak. Jakob gick fram till Isak med maten, och Isak åt. Han drack också av vinet som Jakob gav honom.

26 ”Kom närmare, min son, och kyss mig”, sa Isak sedan. 27 Jakob gick fram och kysste honom, och när Isak kände lukten av hans kläder välsignade han honom och sa:

”Doften hos min son är den goda doften från fälten,
    som Herren har välsignat.
28 Gud ska ge dig himlens dagg,
    jordens rikedom och goda skördar av säd och vin.
29 Många folk ska tjäna dig
    och folkslag böja sig ner för dig.
Du ska vara dina bröders herre,
    och din mors söner ska buga sig djupt inför dig.
De som hädar dig ska vara förbannade,
    och de som välsignar dig ska vara välsignade.”

30 När Isak hade välsignat Jakob och denne knappt mer än hunnit lämna rummet, kom Esau tillbaka från sin jakt. 31 Han hade också lagat till en god måltid och gick in till Jakob med den. ”Far, här är jag med viltet”, sa han. ”Sätt dig upp och ät, så att du kan ge mig din välsignelse!” 32 ”Vem är det som kommer?” undrade Isak.

”Det är ju jag, Esau, din förstfödde”, sa Esau. 33 Då blev Isak alldeles förskräckt: ”Men vem var det då som just var här med viltet som jag åt, strax innan du kom?” undrade han. ”Jag gav honom min välsignelse, och då kommer han att vara välsignad.”

34 När Esau hörde vad hans far sa, gav han ett högt och bittert klagorop: ”O, min far, välsigna också mig!”

35 ”Din bror var här och lurade mig. Nu har han stulit din välsignelse”, konstaterade Isak. 36 ”Inte undra på att de kallar honom Jakob[a]! Han har bedragit mig två gånger. Först tog han min förstfödslorätt, och nu har han stulit min välsignelse. Har du inte sparat en enda välsignelse åt mig?” frågade Esau.

37 Då sa Isak: ”Jag har gjort Jakob till din herre, och du och hela hans släkt ska vara hans tjänare. Jag har försett honom med överflöd av säd och vin. Vad finns det kvar som jag kan ge åt dig, min son?” 38 ”Finns det inte en enda välsignelse kvar åt mig? Far, välsigna mig också”, bad Esau och brast i högljudd gråt.

Då svarade hans far Isak:

39 ”Du kommer att bo på ett ställe där det växer dåligt,
    och där ingen dagg faller ner från himlen.
40 Du kommer att leva av ditt svärd
    och tjäna din bror,
men du kommer slutligen att kasta av dig hans ok och bli fri[b].”

41 Esau hatade Jakob för den välsignelse deras far gett honom och sa för sig själv: ”Tiden är nära då vi sörjer vår far, och då ska jag döda Jakob.” 42 Men Rebecka fick reda på vad hennes äldre son Esau hade sagt. Hon sände då bud efter sin yngre son Jakob och berättade för honom att Esau ville hämnas och tänkte döda honom.

43 ”Hör nu på vad jag säger”, sa hon. ”Fly till din morbror Laban i Harran, 44 och stanna hos honom några dagar tills Esaus din brors vrede har lagt sig. 45 När han lugnat ner sig och glömt vad du har gjort, ska jag meddela dig så att du kan komma tillbaka igen. Varför ska jag förlora er båda två på samma dag?[c]

46 Sedan sa Rebecka till Isak: ”Jag är dödstrött på de där hettitiskorna. Jag dör hellre än att jag också ser Jakob gifta sig med en av dessa hettitiska flickor här i landet.”

Footnotes

  1. 27:36 Jakob betyder den som håller i hälen eller bedragaren.
  2. 27:40 Den masoretiska textens innebörd i den sista satsen i versen är något osäker. En mer ordagrann översättning kan vara …göra dig fri och kasta av dig hans ok.
  3. 27:45 Om Esau dödade Jakob skulle han själv dödas, och Rebecka skulle förlora båda sina söner. Det kan också betyda att hon skulle förlora både sin man Isak och sin son Jakob på samma dag, eftersom Esau inväntade faderns död för att kunna mörda Jakob.

Jacob Tricks Isaac

27 When Isaac was old, his ·eyesight was poor [L eyes were dim], so he could not see clearly. One day he called his older son Esau to him and said, “[L My] Son.”

Esau answered, “Here I am.”

Isaac said, “I am old and don’t know ·when I might die [L the day of my death]. So take your weapons, your ·bow and arrows [L quiver and your bow], and go hunting in the field for ·an animal for me to eat [L game for me]. When you prepare the tasty food that I love, bring it to me, and I will eat. Then I will bless you before I die.” So Esau went out in the field to hunt [L for game to bring it].

Rebekah was listening as Isaac said this to his son Esau. She said to her son Jacob, “Listen, I heard your father saying to your brother Esau, ‘·Kill an animal [L Bring me game] and prepare some tasty food for me to eat. Then I will bless you in the presence of the Lord before I die.’ So ·obey [listen to] me, my son, and do what I ·tell [command] you. Go out to our ·goats [L flock] and bring me two ·of the best young ones [choice goats]. I will prepare them just the way your father ·likes [loves] them. 10 Then you will ·take the food [L bring them] to your father, and he will bless you before he dies.”

11 But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “My brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am smooth! 12 If my father ·touches me, he will know I am not Esau [L feels me…]. Then he will not bless me but will place a curse on me because ·I tried to trick him [L he will think I am mocking him].”

13 So ·Rebekah [L his mother] said to him, “·If your father puts a curse on you, I will accept the blame [L Let your curse be on me]. Just do what I said. Go get the goats for me.”

14 So Jacob went out and got ·two goats [L them] and brought them to his mother, and ·she cooked them in the special way [L his mother prepared a tasty meal just as] ·Isaac [L his father] ·enjoyed [loved]. 15 She took the best clothes of her older son Esau that were in the house and put them on the younger son Jacob. 16 She also took the skins of the goats and put them on Jacob’s hands and [L the smoothness of his] neck. 17 Then she gave Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.

18 Jacob went in to his father and said, “[L My] Father.”

And his father said, “Yes, my son. Who are you?”

19 Jacob said to him, “I am Esau, your ·first son [firstborn]. I have done what you told me. Now ·sit up [L get up and sit down] and eat some ·meat of the animal [game] I hunted for you. Then bless me.”

20 But Isaac asked his son, “How did you find ·and kill the animal [L it] so quickly?”

Jacob answered, “Because the Lord your God ·helped me to find it [L went before me].”

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can ·touch [feel] you, my son. Then I will know if you are really my son Esau [L or not].”

22 So Jacob came near to Isaac his father. Isaac ·touched [felt] him and said, “Your voice ·sounds like [L is] Jacob’s voice, but your hands ·are hairy like [L are] the hands of Esau.” 23 Isaac did not ·know it was [recognize] Jacob, because his hands were hairy like Esau’s hands, so Isaac blessed him. 24 Isaac asked, “Are you really my son Esau?”

Jacob answered, “Yes, I am.”

25 Then Isaac said, “Bring ·me the food [L it to me], and I will eat ·it [L my son’s game] and bless you.” So Jacob gave him the food, and he ate. Jacob gave him wine, and he drank. 26 Then Isaac [L his father] said to him, “My son, come near and kiss me.” 27 So Jacob went to his father and kissed him. When Isaac smelled Esau’s clothes, he blessed him and said,

[L See,] The smell of my son
    is like the smell of the field
    that the Lord has blessed.
28 May God give you ·plenty of rain [L the dew of heaven]
    and ·good soil [L the fatness/richness/fertility of the earth]
    so that you will have plenty of grain and new wine.
29 May nations serve you
    and peoples bow down to you.
May you be master over your brothers,
    and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
May everyone who curses you be cursed,
    and may everyone who blesses you be blessed [12:3; Heb. 11:20].”

30 Isaac [L had just] finished blessing Jacob. Then, just as Jacob left his father Isaac, Esau came in from hunting. 31 He also prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. He said [L to his father], “Father, rise and eat ·the food that your son killed for you [L your son’s game] and then bless me.”

32 Isaac his father asked him, “Who are you?”

He answered, “I am your son—your firstborn son—Esau.”

33 Then Isaac trembled ·greatly [violently] and said, “Then who was it that hunted ·the animals [game] and brought me food before you came? I ate it, and I blessed him, and ·it is too late now to take back my blessing [L he will indeed be blessed].”

34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he let out a loud and bitter cry. He said to his father, “Bless me—me, too, my father [Heb. 12:17]!”

35 But Isaac said, “Your brother came and ·tricked [deceived; defrauded] me. He has taken your blessing.”

36 Esau said, “Jacob [C sounds like Hebrew for “heel” or “deceive”; 25:26] is the right name for him. He has ·tricked me [deceived me; L been at my heel] these two times. He took away my ·share of everything you own [birthright], and now he has taken away my blessing.” Then Esau asked, “Haven’t you ·saved [reserved] a blessing for me?”

37 Isaac answered [L and said to Esau], “I gave Jacob the power to be master over you, and all his brothers will be his servants. And I kept ·him strong [sustained him] with grain and new wine. ·There is nothing left to give you [L What can I do for you…?], my son.”

38 But Esau ·continued [L said to his father], “Do you have only one blessing, Father? Bless me, too, Father!” Then Esau ·began to cry out loud [L lifted his voice and wept; Heb. 12:17].

39 Isaac his father said to him,

“You will live far away from the ·best [fatness; richness; fertility of the] land,
    far from the ·rain [L the dew of heaven; 27:28].
40 You will live by using your sword,
    and you will ·be a slave to [serve] your brother.
But when you ·struggle [or become restless],
    you will break ·free from him [L his yoke from your neck; Heb. 11:20].”

41 After that Esau ·hated [held a grudge against] Jacob because of the blessing ·from Isaac [L with which his father blessed him]. He thought ·to himself [L in his heart], “·My father will soon die, and I will be sad for him [L The days of mourning for my father are near]. Then I will kill Jacob [L my brother].”

42 Rebekah ·heard about Esau’s plan to kill Jacob [L was told the words of Esau her oldest son]. So she sent for Jacob [L her younger son] and ·said to [informed] him, “Listen, your brother Esau is ·comforting himself [consoling himself; or wants to execute his anger against you] by planning to kill you. 43 So, my son, ·do what I say [L listen to my voice]. My brother Laban is living in Haran. ·Go to him at once [L Get up and flee to him]! 44 ·Stay [Live; Reside] with him for a while, until your brother ·is not so angry [calms down]. 45 In time, your brother will not be angry, and he will forget what you did to him. Then I will send a servant to bring you back. I don’t want to lose both of my sons on the same day.”

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am ·tired of [weary of my life due to] ·Hittite women [L the daughters of the Hittites]. If Jacob marries one of ·these Hittite women [L the daughters of the Hittites] here in this land, ·I want to die [why would I want to live?].”