Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: 35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. CHAPTER XXVII. 1 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. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my 3 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; 4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, 5 that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And Bashemath, &c.] See verse 34. and com. 35 Which were, &c.] It came to pass, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and they took them wives of all which they chose. Ge. vi. 2. and com. And Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan : arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father, and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father, took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael. Ge. xxviii. 1, 2. 8. CHAP. XXVII.-1 Dim.] Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see, and he brought "them" ("Joseph's sons") near unto him, and he kissed them and embraced them. Ge. xlviii. 10. And it came to pass at that time (when the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord), when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim that he could not see, that the Lord called Samuel, &c. 1 Sa. iii. 2, &c. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened. Ec. xii. 1.3. Jesus answered (those who asked whether the blind man had sinned or his parents), Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John ix. 3. Eldest son.] See chap. xxv. 23. 25. and com. 2 I know not the day of my death, &c.] And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die. Ge. xlviii. 21. There is but a step between me and death (said David to Jonathan, fearing Saul). 1 Sa. xx. 3. Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Pr. xxvii. 1. There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Ec. ix. 10. In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live: then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord. Is. xxxviii. 1, 2. Watch ye therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning. Mar. xiii. 35. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow; for what is your life? it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Ja. iv. 14. 3 Take, I pray, &c.] He (Nimrod) was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Ge. x. 9. See chap. xxv. 27. and com. Take me some some venison.] And the boys grew, and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents: and Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison; but Rebekah loved Jacob. Ge. xxv. 27, 28. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any meats for the belly, and the belly for meats; but God shall destroy both it and them. 1 Co. vi. 12, 13. 4 That my soul may bless, &c.] Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord, before my death: and "he" ("Isaac") discerned "him" not (“Jacob"), because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him: and he said, Bring “it” (“the savoury meat") 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 did drink and he came near, and kissed him; and he smelt 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 Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. And 6 Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, 7 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 8 according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, 9 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: And 10 thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his 11 mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall 12 faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come. He. xi. 20. 7 Before the Lord.] And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. De. xxxiii. 1. And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho. Jos. vi. 26. For if a man find his enemy (said Saul), will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee (David) good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 1 Sa. xxiv. 19. 8 Obey my voice.] And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son; only obey my voice, and go fetch me them (two kids). Ge. xxvii. 13. And the Lord said unto "her" ("Rebekah"), Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels, and the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger. Ge. xxv. 23. But Peter and John answered and said unto them (the Jewish council), Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Ac. iv. 19. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Ac. v. 29. Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Ep. vi. 1. blessed. Ge. xxvii. 7. 23. 25. 27. And he (Melchizedek) blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth. Ge. xiv. 19. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions. Ge. xxiv. 60. God Almighty bless "thee" ("Jacob," said Isaac), and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people. Ge. xxviii. 3. And "he" ("Jacob") said (unto Joseph), Bring them (Ephraim and Manasseh), I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. Ge. xlviii. 9. And he blessed Joseph, and he blessed "them" ("Ephraim and Manasseh") that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh. Ge. xlviii. 15. 20. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them: every one according to his blessing, he blessed them. Ge. xlix. 28. And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and peace-offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out and blessed the people. Le. ix. 22, 23. And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. De. xxxiii. 1, &c. And Joshua blessed him, 9 Two good kids, &c.] And Manoah said and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh unto the angel of the Lord, Let us detain thee Hebron for an inheritance. Jos. xiv. 13. So until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. Joshua blessed "them" ("the Reubenites," and Ju. 13-15. And Jesse took an ass laden with the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh), bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and and sent them away, and they went unto their sent them by David his son unto Saul. 1 Sa. tents. Jos. xxii. 6. Give strong drink unto xvi. 20. him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Pr. xxxi. 6. And Simeon blessed "them" ("Mary and Joseph"), and said unto Mary his (Jesus') mother, This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel. Lu. ii. 34. And it came to pass, while he (Jesus) blessed them (his disciples), he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Lu. xxiv. 51. By 11 A hairy man.] And the first (of Rebekah's children) came out red, all over like an hairy garment. Ge. xxv. 25. and com. 12 Feel me.] 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. Ge. xxvii. 22. With him is strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. Job xii. 16. In all things seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and 13 not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy 14 curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his 15 mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her 16 in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon 17 the smooth of his neck: 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, 19 Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his approving ourselves (says St. Paul) as the ministers of God; by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true. 2 Co. vi. 8. A deceiver.] And he (Esau) 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. Ge. xxvii. 36. Esau was a cunning hunter, and Jacob was a plain man. Ge. xxv. 27. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Th. v. 22. And I shall bring a curse, &c.] And he (Noah) said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brethren. Ge. ix. 25. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's land-mark: and all the people shall say, Amen. De. xxvii. 17. Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully; and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. Je. xlviii. 10. Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a male, and voweth or sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing. Mal. i. 14. 13 Upon me be thy curse. curse.] And the Lord said unto her (Rebekah), Two nations are in thy womb, and the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger. And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he (Esau) sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Ge. xxv. 23. 33. I will be surety for "him" ("Benjamin"); of my hand shalt thou require him (said Judah to his father Israel): if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever. Ge. xliii. 9. And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies; so none of the people tasted any food: then answered one of the people (to Jonathan), and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day; and the people were faint. And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them; and they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good to thee: then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel! God forbid! as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he hath wrought with God this day: so the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 1 Sa. xiv. 24. 28. 36. 45. And (Abigail) fell at his (David's) feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me, let this iniquity be, &c. 1 Sa. xxv. 24. And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king (David), the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house, and the king and his throne be guiltless. 2 Sa. xiv. 9. Then answered all the people, and said, “His” (“Jesus'") blood be on us, and on our children. Mat. xxvii. 25. Ge. 14 Made savoury meat.] See verses 4. 7.9. And she gave the savoury meat, and the bread which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob; and "he" ("Esau") also made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father (Isaac). Ge. xxvii. 17. 31. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison. xxv. 28. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties. Ps. cxli. 4. Put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite: be not desirous of his dainties, for they are deceitful meat. Pr. xxiii. 2, 3. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness. Lu. xxi. 34. 15 Goodly raiment.] See verses 27. Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes. Lu. xx. 46. But the father (of the prodigal) said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, &c. &c. Lu. xv. 22. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty: and these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle; and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy bro father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that 20 thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, 21 Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto 22 Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned 23 him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son 24 Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, 25 I am Esau, &c.] And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my son Esau: art thou my very son Esau? and he said, I am : and he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison. Ge. xxvii. 21. 24, 25. And the first (of Rebekah's children) came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. Ge. xxv. 25. And it came to pass in the evening, that he (Laban) took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him (Jacob); and it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? Ge. xxix. 23. 25. And he (the old prophet of Bethel) said unto "him" ("the man of God from Judah"), I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water; but he lied unto him. 1 Ki. xiii. 18. And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam, and get thee to Shiloh; behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. 1 Ki. xiv. 2. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. Is. xxviii. 15. And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live, for thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord; and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive. Zec. xiii. 3, 4. But he (Peter) denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest: then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. Mat. xxvi. 70. 74. 20 Because the Lord thy God, &c.] Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Ex. xx. 7. Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? Job xiii. 7. 21 See verse 12. Come near, &c.] But it is good for me to draw near to God. Ps. lxxiii. 28. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord, and I will heal him. Is. lvii. 19. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Ja. iv. 8. 23 See verse 16. He blessed him.] It was said unto her (Rebekah), The elder shall serve the younger. Ro. ix. 12. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. He. xi. 20. 24 I am.] And David said unto Abimelech the priest, The king (Saul) hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee; and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. And he (David) changed his behaviour, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. 1 Sa. xxi. 2. 13. And Achish (king of Gath) said, Whither have ye made a road to-day? And David said (deceiving Achish, who had given him Ziklag), Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites (when he was about to invade other countries). 1 Sa. xxvii. 10. And the king said unto her (the widow of Tekoah), What aileth thee? And she (instructed by Joab) answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. 2 Sa. xiv. 5. Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? Will ye accept his person? Will ye contend for God? 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 26 him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, 27 Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 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 28 which the Lord hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and Job xiii. 7, 8. For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. Job xv. 5. The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight. Pr. xii. 19. 22. Remove far from me vanity and lies. Pr. xxx. 8. Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour. Zec. viii. 16. For if the truth of God hath more abounded, through my lie, unto his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say) Let us do evil, that good may come; whose damnation is just. Ro. iii. 7, 8. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour. Ep. iv. 25. Lie not one to another. Col. iii. 9. 25 See verse 4. 27 Blessed him.] By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. He. xi. 20. The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs; and the vines, with the tender grape, give a good smell. Can. ii. 13. Thy lips, O my "spouse" (" the Church"), drop as the honeycomb; honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. Thy plants are spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices. Can. iv. 11. 14. Let us get up early to the vineyards: let us see if the vine flourish; whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth. The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O "my beloved" ("the Church"). Can. vii. 12, 13. His (Israel's) branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return: they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine; the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Hos. xiv. 6, 7. Which the Lord hath blessed.] Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him. Ge. xxvi. 12. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God. He. vi. 7. 28 Of the dew of heaven.] But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven; a land which the Lord thy God careth for. The eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. De. xi. 11, 12. My doctrine (said Moses) shall drop as the rain; my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass. De. xxxii. 2. And of Joseph he (Moses) said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep, which coucheth beneath. Israel then (when God shall thrust out the enemy from before him) shall dwell in safety alone; the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. De. xxxiii. 13. 28. Ye mountains of Gilboa (said David, lamenting over Saul and Jonathan), let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings. 2 Sa. i. 21. And Elijah, the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 1 Ki. xvii. 1. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn when thou hast so provided for it. The pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing. Ps. lxv. 9. 13. (fo dwell together in unity is) as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Ps. cxxxiii. 3. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. I the Lord have created it. Is. xlv. 8. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? Je xiv. 22. I will be as the dew unto Israel They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine. Ho. xiv. 5. 7. And the renant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor |