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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?

Gia-cốp gạt Y-sác

27 Khi Y-sác về già thì mắt bị lòa, không còn thấy rõ. Một hôm ông gọi con trưởng là Ê-sau lại bảo, “Con ơi.”

Ê-sau đáp, “Dạ.”

Y-sác bảo, “Cha nay già rồi không biết lúc nào qua đời. Con hãy lấy cung tên đi ra đồng săn thú làm thịt cho cha ăn. Con hãy chuẩn bị món ăn ngon mà cha thích, mang đến đây. Ăn xong, cha sẽ chúc phước cho con trước khi cha qua đời.” Ê-sau liền ra đồng săn.

Khi Y-sác nói chuyện với Ê-sau thì Rê-be-ca nghe lén. Bà liền bảo con mình là Gia-cốp, “Nầy con, mẹ nghe cha con bảo Ê-sau, anh con, như sau ‘Hãy giết thú làm món gì ngon cho cha ăn rồi cha sẽ chúc phước cho con trước mặt CHÚA trước khi cha qua đời.’ Cho nên con hãy nghe mẹ và làm theo điều mẹ dặn. Hãy đi ra bầy bắt hai con dê con tốt nhất. Mẹ sẽ làm món ăn mà cha con thích. 10 Rồi con sẽ mang vào cho cha con ăn để cha chúc phước cho con trước khi qua đời.”

11 Nhưng Gia-cốp đáp, “Anh con có nhiều lông còn da con mịn! 12 Nếu cha sờ vào con, cha sẽ biết đây không phải Ê-sau, rồi không những cha sẽ không chúc phước cho con mà trái lại sẽ nguyền rủa, vì con phỉnh gạt cha.”

13 Rê-be-ca bảo Gia-cốp, “Nếu cha nguyền rủa con thì mẹ sẽ gánh chịu. Bây giờ con cứ làm theo lời mẹ, ra bắt dê đi.”

14 Vậy Gia-cốp đi ra bắt hai con dê mang vào cho mẹ rồi bà nấu món ăn đúng sở thích của Y-sác. 15 Bà lấy áo tốt nhất của Ê-sau để ở trong nhà, mặc vào cho con thứ là Gia-cốp. 16 Bà cũng lấy da dê quấn tay và cổ Gia-cốp; 17 rồi đưa cho Gia-cốp thức ăn ngon và bánh mì bà mới làm.

18 Gia-cốp bưng vào cho cha và nói, “Thưa cha.”

Cha ông hỏi, “Cha đây, con. Con là đứa nào?”

19 Gia-cốp thưa, “Con là Ê-sau, con trưởng nam của cha. Con đã làm điều cha dặn. Bây giờ xin cha hãy ngồi dậy ăn thịt mà con săn được cho cha, rồi cha sẽ chúc phước cho con.”

20 Nhưng Y-sác hỏi, “Sao con săn được thú nhanh vậy?”

Gia-cốp trả lời, “Dạ nhờ CHÚA là Thượng Đế của cha phù hộ nên con săn được thú nhanh như vậy.”

21 Y-sác liền bảo Gia-cốp, “Con ơi, hãy lại gần đây cho cha sờ con để cha biết có đúng là Ê-sau, con cha hay không.”

22 Gia-cốp liền đến gần Y-sác. Y-sác sờ ông rồi nói, “Tiếng nói thì giống tiếng Gia-cốp mà tay thì lại giống tay Ê-sau.” 23 Y-sác không biết đó là Gia-cốp vì tay ông có lông giống như tay Ê-sau nên Y-sác chúc phước cho Gia-cốp.

24 Y-sác hỏi, “Có quả thật con là Ê-sau không?”

Gia-cốp đáp, “Dạ phải.”

Phúc lành dành cho Gia-cốp

25 Y-sác bảo, “Con hãy mang món ăn lại cho cha ăn, rồi cha sẽ chúc phước cho con.” Gia-cốp liền bưng thức ăn vào, rồi Y-sác ăn. Gia-cốp cũng mang rượu cho cha mình uống.

26 Rồi Y-sác bảo, “Con hãy lại gần hôn cha đi.” 27 Gia-cốp liền lại gần hôn cha mình. Khi Y-sác ngửi mùi áo của Ê-sau liền chúc phước,

“Mùi của con ta như mùi của cánh đồng được CHÚA ban phước.
28     Nguyện Thượng Đế ban cho con
    đủ mưa và đất đai phì nhiêu
    để con tràn đầy ngũ cốc và rượu mới.
29 Nguyện các nước sẽ phục vụ con và các dân sẽ cúi lạy con.
Nguyện con cai quản các anh em con và nguyện các con của mẹ con cúi lạy con.

Nguyện kẻ nào nguyền rủa con sẽ bị nguyền rủa,
    kẻ nào chúc phước con sẽ được phước.”

Phúc lành dành cho Ê-sau

30 Y-sác chúc phước cho Gia-cốp xong; và vừa khi Gia-cốp bước ra, thì Ê-sau từ đồng đi săn về. 31 Ông chuẩn bị thức ăn ngon mang vào cho Y-sác. Ông thưa, “Xin mời cha dậy ăn món thịt rừng con của cha đã giết được, rồi chúc phước cho con.”

32 Y-sác hỏi, “Con là đứa nào vậy?”

Ê-sau đáp, “Con là Ê-sau con trưởng nam của cha.”

33 Nghe vậy Y-sác giận run lên và hỏi, “Thế thì đứa nào săn thú mang thức ăn vào cho cha trước khi con vào đây? Cha ăn và đã chúc phước cho nó rồi. Vậy nó sẽ nhận được phước ấy.”

34 Ê-sau nghe vậy thì oà khóc cay đắng. Ông thưa với cha, “Cha ơi, xin cha chúc phước cho con nữa!”

35 Nhưng Y-sác bảo, “Em con đã vào đây phỉnh cha. Nó đã cướp phước lành của con rồi.”

36 Ê-sau bảo, “Cái tên Gia-cốp của nó là đúng lắm, vì nó đã phỉnh con hai lần rồi. Nó đã phỉnh để cướp quyền trưởng nam [a] của con, bây giờ lại lấy luôn phúc lành của con nữa.” Ê-sau tiếp, “Vậy bây giờ cha không còn phước nào dành cho con sao?”

37 Y-sác trả lời, “Cha đã cho Gia-cốp quyền cai trị trên con, mọi anh em nó sẽ làm tôi cho nó. Ta giúp nó có đầy ngũ cốc và rượu mới. Con ơi, cha đâu còn phước nào nữa mà cho con.”

38 Nhưng Ê-sau năn nỉ, “Chẳng lẽ cha không còn một phước nào sao? Cha ơi, hãy chúc phước cho con nữa!” Rồi Ê-sau lớn tiếng òa khóc thảm thiết.

39 Y-sác bảo,

“Con sẽ sống xa vùng đất phì nhiêu,
    xa mưa móc [b].
40 Con sẽ phải vất vả để sinh sống
    và làm tôi cho em con.
Nhưng khi con vùng vẫy
    thì con sẽ thoát khỏi ách của em con.”

41 Từ đó Ê-sau rất ghét Gia-cốp vì lời chúc phước của Y-sác cho. Ông tự nhủ, “Cha mình sắp qua đời rồi, ta sẽ buồn bã. Sau đó ta sẽ giết Gia-cốp.”

42 Rê-be-ca nghe ý định Ê-sau muốn giết Gia-cốp nên cho gọi Gia-cốp vào bảo, “Nầy con, anh con muốn tự an ủi bằng cách giết con đó. 43 Vậy bây giờ hãy làm theo điều mẹ dặn. Anh của mẹ hiện ở Cha-ran. Con hãy đi đến ở với cậu con liền đi! 44 Ở với cậu một thời gian cho đến khi anh con nguôi giận. 45 Lâu dần anh con sẽ bớt giận, quên mất điều con đã làm cho nó. Lúc đó mẹ sẽ sai một đầy tớ mang con về. Mẹ không muốn mất hai đứa con cùng một ngày.”

46 Sau đó Rê-be-ca bảo Y-sác, “Tôi chán sống giữa mấy người đàn bà Hê-tít lắm. Nếu Gia-cốp lấy một trong mấy đứa con gái Hê-tít nầy làm vợ chắc tôi chết mất.”

Footnotes

  1. Sáng Thế 27:36 quyền trưởng nam Theo phong tục thời bấy giờ lúc người cha qua đời thì con trai trưởng được lấy phân nửa tài sản của cha và làm chủ gia đình.
  2. Sáng Thế 27:39 sống … mưa móc Hay “sống nhờ chất phì nhiêu và mưa móc.”

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.

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

Isaac blesses Jacob

27 Isaac became old. He could not see anything because his eyes were weak. He called for his older son, Esau. Isaac said, ‘My son.’ Esau replied, ‘Yes, I am here.’ Isaac said, ‘I am an old man. I may die very soon. Get your bow and your arrows.[a] Go out into the country and kill some wild animals for me. Then prepare the food that I like to eat. Bring it to me so that I can eat it. Then I will give you my blessing before I die.’[b]

Rebekah listened to what Isaac said to Esau. She waited until Esau went out to the country to kill an animal and bring back the meat. Then she said to Jacob, ‘I heard your father say this to Esau: “Bring me some meat and prepare the food that I like to eat. When I have eaten it, I will give you my blessing. I will bless you in front of the Lord before I die.”  Now my son, listen carefully and do as I tell you. Go out to the animals and bring two goats to me. They must be very good young goats. Then I will prepare some food that your father likes to eat. I will cook the meat in the way that he likes. 10 Then take the food to your father. When he has eaten it, he will give you his blessing before he dies.’

11 Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, ‘That will be difficult. Hair covers my brother's skin. But my skin does not have any hair. 12 My father may touch me. Then he will know that I am deceiving him. He will not bless me. He will curse me instead.’ 13 Jacob's mother said, ‘My son, the curse will happen to me, not you. Do what I say. Go and get the things that I told you.’

14 Jacob went and he got the goats. He brought them to his mother. She prepared some food in the way that Isaac liked to eat. 15 Then Rebekah took some of Esau's best clothes that were in her house. She put them on Jacob, her younger son. 16 She covered Jacob's hands with the skin from the goats. She also covered the part of his neck that had no hair. 17 Then she gave to Jacob the food that Isaac liked to eat. And she gave him some bread that she had made.

18 Jacob went to his father. He said, ‘My father.’ Isaac replied ‘Yes, my son. Who are you, Esau or Jacob?’ 19 Jacob said, ‘I am Esau. I am your firstborn son. I have done as you told me. Please sit up. Eat some of the meat from the wild animal that I killed. Then you can bless me.’ 20 Isaac asked his son, ‘My son, how did you find it so quickly?’ Jacob replied, ‘The Lord your God helped me find it.’[c]

21 Isaac said to Jacob, ‘Come near to me so that I can touch you, my son. Then I will know if you really are my son Esau.’

22 Jacob went near to his father. Isaac touched him and he said, ‘The voice is Jacob's voice. But the hands are Esau's hands.’ 23 Isaac did not know that it was Jacob because he could feel the hair on Jacob's hands. They felt like Esau's hands. So Isaac blessed Jacob.

24 Isaac asked again, ‘Are you really my son Esau?’ Jacob replied, ‘I am.’ 25 Isaac said, ‘My son, bring me some of your meat. I will eat it. Then I will bless you.’ So Jacob brought the food to him and Isaac ate it. Jacob also brought some wine and Isaac drank it.

26 Then Isaac said, ‘Come here my son and kiss me.’ 27 So Jacob went to Isaac and kissed him. Isaac smelled the clothes that Jacob wore. Then Isaac blessed him. He said,

‘The smell of my son is like the smell of a field.
It is like a field that the Lord has blessed.
28 May God give you rain for your crops,
so that they grow well in the good ground.[d]
Then you will have plenty of grain for food.
And you will have grapes to make wine.
29 May the people of many nations serve you.
May they respect you as their master.
You will rule over your brothers.
Yes, your mother's sons will bend down to respect you.
May God curse anyone who curses you.
And may he bless anyone who blesses you.’[e]

30 When Isaac had blessed Jacob, Jacob left him. Just then, Esau came back from the country where he had killed an animal. 31 He prepared nice food that Isaac liked to eat. Then he took the food to his father, Isaac. Esau said, ‘My father, please sit up. Eat some of the meat from the wild animal that I have killed. Then you can bless me.’

32 His father Isaac asked, ‘Who are you?’ Esau replied, ‘I am your firstborn son, Esau.’ 33 Isaac's body shook very much. He asked, ‘Who was it who killed an animal and brought the meat to me? Just before you came, I ate all of it. And then I blessed him. And God will certainly bless him!’[f]

34 Esau heard what his father had said and he cried aloud. He was very upset. He said, ‘My father, please bless me too!’ 35 But Isaac said, ‘Your brother came to me. He deceived me and he took your blessing away from you.’ 36 Esau said, ‘Yes, “Jacob” is the right name for him. He has cheated me twice. First he took my birthright. Now he has taken my blessing as well!’ Then Esau asked his father, ‘You must still have some blessing left for me, don't you?’[g]

37 Isaac replied, ‘I have made Jacob master over you. All his relatives will become his servants. I have given him crops and wine. So what can I still do to bless you, my son?’[h]

38 Esau said, ‘My father, you surely have one blessing left for me. Please bless me too!’ Then Esau wept loudly.

39 Isaac replied,

‘You will not live in a place where the ground gives good food.
You will not have rain to make your crops grow.
40 You will have to fight to get the things that you need.
You will serve your brother as your master.
But when you choose to turn against him,
you will become free from his power over you.’[i]

41 Because Isaac had blessed Jacob, Esau hated his younger brother Jacob. Esau said quietly, ‘My father will die soon. When we have buried his body, I will kill my brother.’ 42 Someone told Rebekah what her older son, Esau, had said. So she told her younger son, Jacob, to come to her. She said to him, ‘Your brother Esau wants to kill you, because of what you did to him. 43 Now my son, do what I tell you. Quickly go away from here. Go to my brother Laban who lives in Haran. 44 Live with him for a time. Stay there until your brother is not angry with you any longer. 45 He may forget what you did to him. Then I will send a message to you, so that you can come back from Haran. I do not want to lose both of my sons in one day.’[j]

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, ‘I do not like living in the same place as Esau's wives. It makes me very upset, because they are Hittites. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women who live in this land, I will be very sad. I would rather die!’[k]

Footnotes

  1. 27:3 People use bows to shoot arrows. An arrow is like a stick with a sharp point at the end.
  2. 27:4 At that time a father gave his blessing to the oldest son. This son had the birthright. Isaac did not know that Esau had sold his birthright. See Genesis 25:31-34.
  3. 27:20 Jacob said ‘the Lord your God’. Jacob did not call God his own God.
  4. 27:28 Crops are plants. They can be any plants that people or animals eat.
  5. 27:29 This is what God told Rebekah. See Genesis 25:23.
  6. 27:33 Isaac's body shook. He now realizes what Jacob has done. He knows that he cannot remove his blessing from Jacob. The son that he loves cannot receive the blessing. Isaac knows that God will bless Jacob and not Esau.
  7. 27:36 Jacob means ‘He deceives’. This is what ‘deceives’ means. Jacob says things that are not true. And he does things that are not right.
  8. 27:37 Isaac was saying that there is now no blessing for Esau.
  9. 27:40 This was the only blessing that Isaac could give Esau. He could not take back the blessing that he gave to Jacob.
  10. 27:45 Rebekah thought that Esau and Jacob would kill each other. Or she thought that, if Esau killed Jacob, other people would have to kill Esau.
  11. 27:46 Rebekah wanted Isaac to send Jacob away to find a wife. He would send Jacob to go to his relatives. Rebekah wanted that to happen so that Esau would not be able to kill Jacob. Jacob stayed in Haran for 20 years. Rebekah did not see Jacob again.