Isaac bénit Jacob

27 Quand Isaac était devenu vieux, sa vue avait baissé au point qu’il n’y voyait plus. Un jour, il appela Esaü son fils aîné et lui dit : Mon fils !

Celui-ci répondit : Qu’y a-t-il ?

– Me voici devenu vieux, reprit Isaac, et je ne sais pas quand je mourrai. Maintenant donc, je te prie, prends tes armes, ton arc et tes flèches, va courir la campagne et chasse quelque gibier pour moi. Tu m’en apprêteras un de ces bons plats comme je les aime, tu me le serviras, je mangerai, puis je te donnerai ma bénédiction avant de mourir.

Rébecca écoutait ce qu’Isaac disait à son fils Esaü. Quand celui-ci fut parti chasser dans la campagne pour rapporter du gibier, Rébecca dit à son fils Jacob : Ecoute, j’ai entendu ton père dire à ton frère Esaü : « Rapporte-moi du gibier ! Tu m’en feras un bon plat, je mangerai et je te donnerai ma bénédiction devant l’Eternel avant de mourir. » Maintenant donc, mon fils, écoute-moi et fais ce que je vais te dire. Va au troupeau et choisis-moi deux bons chevreaux, j’en préparerai pour ton père un de ces bons plats comme il les aime. 10 Tu le lui apporteras, il en mangera, puis il te donnera sa bénédiction avant de mourir.

11 Jacob répondit à Rébecca, sa mère : Esaü mon frère est couvert de poils et moi pas. 12 Si mon père me touche, il s’apercevra que j’ai voulu le tromper, si bien que j’attirerai sur moi une malédiction au lieu d’une bénédiction.

13 Sa mère répliqua : Dans ce cas, que la malédiction retombe sur moi, mon fils ; fais seulement ce que je t’ai dit. Va me chercher cela.

14 Il alla donc prendre des chevreaux et les apporta à sa mère qui en prépara un bon plat comme son père l’aimait. 15 Puis elle choisit les plus beaux habits d’Esaü, son fils aîné, qui se trouvaient dans la maison, et elle les fit mettre à Jacob, son fils cadet. 16 Elle lui recouvrit, avec la peau des chevreaux, les mains, les bras et la partie du cou dénudée de poils. 17 Puis elle lui remit le bon plat et le pain qu’elle avait préparés.

18 Jacob entra chez son père et dit : Mon père !

Celui-ci répondit : Oui mon fils, qui es-tu ?

19 Et Jacob dit à son père : Je suis Esaü, ton fils aîné. J’ai fait ce que tu m’as demandé. Lève-toi, je te prie, assieds-toi et mange de mon gibier, pour me donner ensuite ta bénédiction.

20 Isaac lui demanda : Comment as-tu fait, mon fils, pour trouver si vite du gibier ?

Jacob répondit : C’est l’Eternel ton Dieu qui l’a mené sur mon chemin.

21 Isaac dit à Jacob : Viens un peu plus près, mon fils, que je te touche pour voir si tu es bien mon fils Esaü.

22 Jacob s’approcha donc d’Isaac, son père le tâta et dit : La voix est celle de Jacob, mais les mains sont celles d’Esaü.

23 Comme les mains de Jacob étaient couvertes de poils comme celles d’Esaü son frère, son père ne le reconnut pas et il lui donna sa bénédiction. 24 Mais auparavant il lui redemanda : Es-tu bien mon fils Esaü ?

Et Jacob répondit : Oui.

25 Alors Isaac lui dit : Sers-moi donc, que je mange du produit de la chasse de mon fils, pour te donner ensuite ma bénédiction.

Jacob le servit et Isaac mangea. Il lui apporta aussi du vin, que son père but.

26 Puis Isaac, son père, lui dit : Approche-toi, viens m’embrasser, mon fils.

27 Jacob s’approcha et l’embrassa. Isaac sentit l’odeur de ses habits, puis il le bénit en ces termes :

Oui, l’odeur de mon fils ╵est comme la senteur ╵d’un champ béni par l’Eternel[a].
28 Que Dieu t’accorde donc ╵la rosée qui descend du ciel, ╵qu’il rende tes terres fertiles,
qu’il te donne avec abondance ╵du froment et du vin.
29 Que des nations te soient ╵assujetties,
que, devant toi, ╵des peuples se prosternent !
Sois le chef de tes frères,
que les fils de ta mère ╵s’inclinent devant toi !
Maudit soit qui te maudira,
béni soit qui te bénira !

Le sort d’Esaü

30 Lorsque Isaac eut fini de bénir Jacob, celui-ci le quitta. Esaü son frère rentra alors de la chasse. 31 Il prépara, lui aussi, un bon plat, l’apporta à son père et lui dit : Mon père, lève-toi, je te prie, et mange du gibier de ton fils, pour me donner ensuite ta bénédiction.

32 Isaac lui demanda : Qui es-tu ?

Il répondit : Je suis ton fils aîné, Esaü.

33 Alors Isaac, en proie à une vive émotion, se mit à trembler et dit : Qui est donc celui qui a pris du gibier et me l’a apporté ? J’ai mangé de tout avant que tu ne viennes et je lui ai donné ma bénédiction ; maintenant il sera béni.

34 Quand Esaü entendit les paroles de son père, il poussa un grand cri plein d’amertume et supplia son père : Moi aussi, mon père, bénis-moi !

35 Isaac lui répondit : Ton frère est venu et il a extorqué ta bénédiction par ruse.

36 Esaü dit : Est-ce parce qu’on l’appelle Jacob (le Trompeur) qu’il m’a trompé par deux fois[b] ? D’abord il a pris mon droit d’aînesse et maintenant voilà qu’il m’enlève ma bénédiction ! Et il ajouta : N’as-tu pas de bénédiction en réserve pour moi ?

37 Isaac lui répondit : Vois, j’ai fait de lui ton maître et je lui ai donné tous ses frères pour serviteurs, je l’ai pourvu de blé et de vin. Que puis-je donc faire pour toi, mon fils ?

38 Esaü dit à son père : Ne possèdes-tu qu’une seule bénédiction, mon père ? Bénis-moi, moi aussi, mon père[c] !

Et il se mit à pleurer à grands cris.

39 Alors Isaac, son père, répondit :

Loin des terrains fertiles ╵tu auras ta demeure
et loin de la rosée ╵qui nous descend du ciel[d].
40 C’est grâce à ton épée ╵que tu pourras survivre,
tu seras assujetti à ton frère. ╵Mais, errant çà et là,
tu briseras le joug ╵imposé par lui à ton cou.

La fuite de Jacob

41 Esaü prit Jacob en haine à cause de la bénédiction qu’il avait reçue de son père et il se dit en lui-même : La mort de mon père n’est pas loin, alors je tuerai Jacob mon frère.

42 On informa Rébecca des propos d’Esaü, son fils aîné ; elle fit venir Jacob son fils cadet, et lui dit : Voici que ton frère Esaü veut te tuer pour se venger de toi. 43 Maintenant donc, mon fils, écoute-moi et fais ce que je te dis : Pars d’ici, fuis chez mon frère Laban, à Harân. 44 Reste chez lui quelque temps, jusqu’à ce que la colère de ton frère s’apaise[e]. 45 Une fois que sa fureur se sera calmée et qu’il aura oublié ce que tu lui as fait, j’enverrai quelqu’un pour te faire revenir de là-bas. Pourquoi devrais-je vous perdre tous les deux en un seul jour ?

46 Rébecca alla dire à Isaac : Je suis dégoûtée de la vie à cause de ces femmes hittites. Si Jacob lui aussi épouse une des filles de ce pays, à quoi bon vivre ?

Footnotes

  1. 27.27 Allusion en Hé 11.20.
  2. 27.36 Jacob fait assonance avec le verbe supplanter, tromper (voir Jr 9.4) et avec le nom talon (voir Gn 25.26).
  3. 27.38 Allusion en Hé 12.17.
  4. 27.39 Le pays d’Edom où résideront les descendants d’Esaü est sec, rocailleux et bien moins fertile que Canaan (Gn 36.8 ; 2 R 8.20).
  5. 27.44 En fait, 20 ans (31.38-41).

27 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see,(A) he called for Esau his older son(B) and said to him, “My son.”

“Here I am,” he answered.

Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death.(C) Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country(D) to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like(E) and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing(F) before I die.”(G)

Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country(H) to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob,(I) “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’(J) Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you:(K) Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats,(L) so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it.(M) 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing(N) before he dies.”

11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man(O) while I have smooth skin. 12 What if my father touches me?(P) I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse(Q) on myself rather than a blessing.”

13 His mother said to him, “My son, let the curse fall on me.(R) Just do what I say;(S) go and get them for me.”

14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it.(T) 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes(U) of Esau her older son,(V) which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.(W) 17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.

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

“Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?”(X)

19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn.(Y) I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game,(Z) so that you may give me your blessing.”(AA)

20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”

“The Lord your God gave me success,(AB)” he replied.

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you,(AC) my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.”

22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac,(AD) who touched(AE) him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau;(AF) so he proceeded to bless him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked.

“I am,” he replied.

25 Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.”(AG)

Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me.”

27 So he went to him and kissed(AH) him(AI). When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes,(AJ) he blessed him and said,

“Ah, the smell of my son
    is like the smell of a field
    that the Lord has blessed.(AK)
28 May God give you heaven’s dew(AL)
    and earth’s richness(AM)
    an abundance of grain(AN) and new wine.(AO)
29 May nations serve you
    and peoples bow down to you.(AP)
Be lord over your brothers,
    and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.(AQ)
May those who curse you be cursed
    and those who bless you be blessed.(AR)

30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”(AS)

32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”(AT)

“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.(AU)

33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me?(AV) I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!(AW)

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

35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully(AZ) and took your blessing.”(BA)

36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]?(BB) This is the second time he has taken advantage of(BC) me: He took my birthright,(BD) and now he’s taken my blessing!”(BE) Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

37 Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine.(BF) So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”

38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.(BG)

39 His father Isaac answered him,(BH)

“Your dwelling will be
    away from the earth’s richness,
    away from the dew(BI) of heaven above.(BJ)
40 You will live by the sword
    and you will serve(BK) your brother.(BL)
But when you grow restless,
    you will throw his yoke
    from off your neck.(BM)

41 Esau held a grudge(BN) against Jacob(BO) because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning(BP) for my father are near; then I will kill(BQ) my brother Jacob.”(BR)

42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau(BS) had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you.(BT) 43 Now then, my son, do what I say:(BU) Flee at once to my brother Laban(BV) in Harran.(BW) 44 Stay with him for a while(BX) until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him,(BY) I’ll send word for you to come back from there.(BZ) Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite(CA) women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land,(CB) from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”(CC)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:36 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.

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 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?