以撒为儿子祝福

27 以撒年老的时候,眼睛昏花,几乎看不见。他把大儿子以扫叫来,说:“我儿啊!”以扫说:“我在这里。” 以撒说:“我年老了,不知道还能活多久。 现在,带着你的弓箭去田野为我打些野味来, 照我喜欢的口味,做成美食给我吃,以便我在死前给你祝福。”

利百加听见了以撒跟儿子以扫说的话。以扫出去打猎后, 利百加就对她儿子雅各说:“我听见你父亲对你哥哥以扫说, ‘你去打些野味回来,做成美食给我吃,以便我死之前在耶和华面前给你祝福。’ 现在,孩子,你要听我的话,照我的吩咐去做。 你到羊群里选两头上好的山羊羔,我好照你父亲喜爱的口味做成美食, 10 由你拿去给他吃,让他死前为你祝福。”

11 雅各对母亲利百加说:“哥哥以扫浑身是毛,我的皮肤光滑。 12 如果父亲用手摸我,一定会发觉我骗他,那时候我不但得不到祝福,反会招来咒诅。” 13 他母亲利百加对他说:“孩子啊,有咒诅,我来承担。你只管听我的话,把羊羔牵来。”

14 于是,雅各把羊牵来交给母亲,他母亲就照他父亲喜爱的口味做成美食。 15 利百加又拿了大儿子以扫留在家里最好的衣服,给小儿子雅各穿上, 16 再用山羊皮把雅各光滑的手和脖子都包起来, 17 然后把做好的美味和饼交给雅各。

18 雅各来到父亲跟前,叫了一声:“父亲。”以撒回答说:“我在这里,孩子,你是谁?” 19 雅各对父亲说:“我是你的大儿子以扫,你吩咐我的事,我已经办好了。请你坐起来,吃我打的野味,然后给我祝福。” 20 以撒对他说:“孩子,你怎么这么快就打到野味了?”雅各回答说:“因为你的上帝耶和华让我碰见好机会。” 21 以撒说:“孩子,过来,让我摸摸看你是不是我儿以扫。” 22 雅各挨到父亲跟前,以撒摸着他说:“声音是雅各的声音,手却是以扫的手。” 23 因为雅各手上有毛,与他哥哥以扫的手一样,以撒分辨不出来,就给他祝福。 24 以撒又问:“你真是我的儿子以扫吗?”雅各回答说:“是。” 25 以撒便说:“把野味拿给我,我吃了你打的野味就为你祝福。”雅各递上野味,以撒吃了;雅各又拿酒给他喝,他也喝了。 26 以撒对他说:“孩子,你过来亲吻我。” 27 雅各就挨上前去亲了父亲。以撒闻到他衣服上的气味,就祝福他说:

“我儿子的香气就像蒙耶和华赐福之田地的香气。
28 愿上帝赐你天上的甘霖、肥沃的土地并丰富的五谷和新酒。
29 愿万民都臣服于你,
万国都向你下拜。
愿你成为你弟兄的主人,
愿你母亲的儿子向你下拜。
咒诅你的,愿他受咒诅;
祝福你的,愿他蒙祝福。”

以扫求父亲祝福

30 雅各接受了以撒的祝福才刚离开,他的哥哥以扫就打猎回来了。 31 以扫把野味煮好,拿到父亲跟前,说:“父亲,请起来吃你儿子煮的野味,然后给我祝福。” 32 他父亲以撒问道:“你是谁?”以扫回答说:“我是你的长子以扫。” 33 以撒大为震惊,说:“你没有来之前,拿野味来给我吃的是谁呢?我已经吃了,也给那人祝福了,他将来必蒙祝福。”

34 以扫听了放声痛哭,说:“父亲啊,求你也为我祝福!” 35 以撒说:“你弟弟已经用诡计把你的福分夺去了。” 36 以扫说:“怪不得他叫雅各,他已经骗了我两次,先前把我长子的名分夺去,现在又夺去我的福分!”接着他对父亲说:“难道你没有留下别的祝福可以给我吗?”

37 以撒对以扫说:“我已经立他做你的主人,使他的众弟兄做他的仆人,并给他五谷和新酒。孩子啊,我还能为你做什么呢?” 38 以扫对父亲说:“父亲啊,你只有一个祝福吗?父亲啊,求你也为我祝福!”以扫又放声大哭。 39 以撒对他说:

“你住的地方必远离肥沃的土地,
也不会有天上的甘霖。
40 你必倚靠刀剑生活,
又必服侍你的弟弟。
到你无法忍受的时候,
你必挣脱颈上的重轭。”

雅各逃往舅父家

41 以扫因为父亲把祝福给了雅各,就对雅各怀恨在心,暗自思量说:“父亲已经不久人世,他死后,我要把雅各杀掉!” 42 以扫的计谋传到利百加耳中。她就派人把雅各叫来,对他说:“你哥哥以扫想要杀你泄愤! 43 孩子,听我的话,现在就逃到哈兰你舅舅拉班那里, 44 与他住些日子,一直住到你哥哥的气消了。 45 等他气消了,忘了你对他所做的事,我会派人接你回来。我何必在一天之内失去你们两个呢?” 46 利百加对以撒说:“我被这些赫人女子烦死了。如果雅各也像以扫一样娶那些赫人女子为妻,我活着还有什么意思呢?”

27 8 Jacob getteth the blessing from Esau by his mother’s counsel. 38 Esau by weeping moveth his father to pity him. 41 Esau hateth Jacob and threateneth his death. 43 Rebekah sendeth Jacob away.

And 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 answered him, [a]I am here.

Then he said, Behold, I am now old, and know not the day of my death.

Wherefore now, I pray thee take thine instruments, thy quiver and thy bow, and get thee to the field, that thou mayest [b]take me some venison.

Then make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it me that I may eat, and that my [c]soul may bless thee, before I die.

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

¶ Then Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I have heard thy father talking with Esau thy brother, saying,

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

Now therefore, my son, hear my voice in that which I command thee.

[d]Get thee now to the flock, and bring me thence two good kids of the goats, that I may make pleasant meat of them for thy father, such as he loveth.

10 Then thou shalt bring it to thy father, and he shall eat, to the intent that he may bless thee before his death.

11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is rough, and I am smooth.

12 My father may possibly feel me, and I shall seem [e]to him as a [f]mocker: so shall I bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

13 But his mother said unto him, [g][h]Upon me be thy curse, my son: only hear my voice, and go and bring me them.

14 So he went and set them, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made pleasant meat, such as his father loved.

15 And Rebekah took fair clothes of her elder son Esau, which were in her house, and clothed Jacob her younger son:

16 And she covered his hands and the smooth of his neck with the skins of the kids of the goats.

17 Afterward she put the pleasant meat and bread, which she had prepared, in the hand of her son Jacob.

18 ¶ And when he came to his father, he said, My father. Who answered, I am here: who art thou, my son?

19 And Jacob said to his father, [i]I am Esau thy firstborn, I have done as thou badest me, arise, I pray thee: sit up and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

20 Then Isaac said unto his son, How hast thou found it so quickly my son? Who said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to mine hand.

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

22 Then Jacob came near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, The [j]voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

23 (For he knew him not, because his hands were rough as his brother Esau’s hands: wherefore he blessed him.)

24 Again he said, Art thou that my son Esau? Who answered, [k]Yea.

25 Then said he, Bring it me hither, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it to him, and he ate: also he brought him wine, and he drank.

26 Afterward his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.

27 And he came near and kissed him. Then he smelled the savor of his garments, and blessed him, and said, Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field, which the Lord hath blessed.

28 (A)God give thee therefore of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of wheat and wine.

29 Let people be thy servants, and nations bow down unto thee: be Lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s children honor thee, cursed be he that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

30 ¶ And when Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, then came Esau his brother from his hunting,

31 And he also prepared savory meat, and brought it to 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 But his father Isaac said unto him, Who art thou? And he answered, I am thy son, even thy firstborn Esau.

33 Then Isaac was [l]stricken with a marvelous great fear, and said, Who and where is he that hunted venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten [m]of all before thou camest? and I have blessed him, therefore he shall be blessed.

34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with a great cry and bitter, out of measure, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, my father.

35 Who answered, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing.

36 Then he said, Was he not justly called [n]Jacob? for he hath deceived me these two times: he took my birthright, and lo, now hath he taken my blessing. Also he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

37 Then Isaac answered, and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him [o]thy lord, and all his brethren have I made his servants: and with wheat and wine have I furnished him, and unto thee now what shall I do, my son?

38 Then Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, [p]even me, also my father: and Esau lifted up his voice, and (B)wept.

39 Then Isaac his father answered, and said unto him, Behold, the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling place, and thou shalt have of the dew of heaven from above.

40 And [q]by thy word shalt thou live, and shalt be thy brother’s [r]servant. But it shall come to pass, when thou shalt get the mastery, that thou shalt break his yoke from thy neck.

41 ¶ Therefore Esau hated Jacob, because of the blessing, wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau thought in his mind, (C)The days of mourning for my father will come shortly, [s]then I will slay my brother Jacob.

42 And it was told to Rebekah of the words of Esau her elder son, and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau [t]is comforted against thee, meaning to kill thee:

43 Now therefore my son, hear my voice: arise, and flee thou to Haran to my brother Laban,

44 And tarry with him a while until thy brother’s fierceness be swaged,

45 And till thy brother’s wrath turn away from thee, and he forget the things, which thou hast done to him: then will I send and take thee from thence: why should I be [u]deprived of you both in one day?

46 Also Rebekah said to Isaac, (D)I am weary of my life, for the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of the [v]daughters of Heth like these of the daughters of the land, [w]what availeth it me to live?

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:1 Hebrew, Lo, I.
  2. Genesis 27:3 Hebrew, hunt.
  3. Genesis 27:4 The carnal affection, which he bare to his son made him forget that which God spake to his wife, Gen. 25:23.
  4. Genesis 27:9 This subtlety is blameworthy because she should have tarried till God had performed his promise.
  5. Genesis 27:12 Hebrew, before his eyes.
  6. Genesis 27:12 Or, as though I would deceive him.
  7. Genesis 27:13 Or, I will take the danger on me.
  8. Genesis 27:13 The assurance of God’s decree made her bold.
  9. Genesis 27:19 Although Jacob was assured of this blessing by faith: yet he did evil to seek it by lies, and the more because he abuseth God’s name thereunto.
  10. Genesis 27:22 This declareth that he suspected something, yet God would not have his decree altered.
  11. Genesis 27:24 Hebrew, I am.
  12. Genesis 27:33 In perceiving his error, by appointing his heir against God’s sentence pronounced before.
  13. Genesis 27:33 Or, sufficiently.
  14. Genesis 27:36 In Gen. 25, he was so called because he held his brother by the heel, as though he would overthrow him: and therefore he is here called an overthrower, or deceiver.
  15. Genesis 27:37 For Isaac did this as he was the minister and Prophet of God.
  16. Genesis 27:38 Or, I am also (thy son).
  17. Genesis 27:40 Because thine enemies shall be round about thee.
  18. Genesis 27:40 Which was fulfilled in his posterity the Idumeans: who were tributaries for a time to Israel, and after came to liberty.
  19. Genesis 27:41 Hypocrites only abstain from doing evil for fear of men.
  20. Genesis 27:42 He hath good hope to recover his birthright by killing thee.
  21. Genesis 27:45 For the wicked son will kill the godly: and the plague of God will afterward light on the wicked son.
  22. Genesis 27:46 Which were Esau’s wives.
  23. Genesis 27:46 Hereby she persuaded Isaac to agree to Jacob’s departing.

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 When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called his elder son Esau and said to him, ‘My son’; and he answered, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘See, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and hunt game for me. Then prepare for me savoury food, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.’

Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, ‘I heard your father say to your brother Esau, “Bring me game, and prepare for me savoury food to eat, that I may bless you before the Lord before I die.” Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you. Go to the flock, and get me two choice kids, so that I may prepare from them savoury food for your father, such as he likes; 10 and you shall take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.’ 11 But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, ‘Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a man of smooth skin. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him, and bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.’ 13 His mother said to him, ‘Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my word, and go, get them for me.’ 14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared savoury food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob; 16 and she put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 Then she handed the savoury food, and the bread that she had prepared, to her son Jacob.

18 So he went in 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 as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, so that you may bless me.’ 20 But Isaac said to his son, ‘How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?’ He answered, ‘Because the Lord your God granted me success.’ 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, ‘Come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.’ 22 So Jacob went up to his father Isaac, who felt him and said, ‘The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.’ 23 He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. 24 He said, ‘Are you really my son Esau?’ He answered, ‘I am.’ 25 Then he said, ‘Bring it to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.’ So he brought it to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, ‘Come near and kiss me, my son.’ 27 So he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his garments, and 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 you of the dew of heaven,
    and of the fatness of the earth,
    and plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
    and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
    and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
    and blessed be everyone who blesses you!’

Esau’s Lost Blessing

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared savoury food, and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, ‘Let my father sit up and eat of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.’ 32 His father Isaac said to him, ‘Who are you?’ He answered, ‘I am your firstborn son, Esau.’ 33 Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, ‘Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all[a] before you came, and I have blessed him?—yes, and blessed he shall be!’ 34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, ‘Bless me, me also, father!’ 35 But he said, ‘Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.’ 36 Esau said, ‘Is he not rightly named Jacob?[b] For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright; and look, now he has taken away my blessing.’ Then he said, ‘Have you not reserved a blessing for me?’ 37 Isaac answered Esau, ‘I have already made him your lord, and I have given him all his brothers as servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?’ 38 Esau said to his father, ‘Have you only one blessing, father? Bless me, me also, father!’ And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39 Then his father Isaac answered him:

‘See, away from[c] the fatness of the earth shall your home be,
    and away from[d] the dew of heaven on high.
40 By your sword you shall live,
    and you shall serve your brother;
but when you break loose,[e]
    you shall break his yoke from your neck.’

Jacob Escapes Esau’s Fury

41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, ‘The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.’ 42 But the words of her elder son Esau were told to Rebekah; so she sent and called her younger son Jacob and said to him, ‘Your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran, 44 and stay with him for a while, until your brother’s fury turns away— 45 until your brother’s anger against you turns away, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send, and bring you back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?’

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, ‘I am weary of my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women such as these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?’

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:33 Cn: Heb of all
  2. Genesis 27:36 That is He supplants or He takes by the heel
  3. Genesis 27:39 Or See, of
  4. Genesis 27:39 Or and of
  5. Genesis 27:40 Meaning of Heb uncertain