Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII.
Verse 1. ISaac was old] One hundred thirty six, or one hundred thirty seven yeares old; As is rightly gathered and proved in the great late Annotat. upon this place. For Isaac was sixty yeares old when Jacob was borne, ch. 25. v. 26. And Jacob was at this time seventy five or seventy six yeares old, when he got the blessing and fled to Laban. See the Annotat. on ch. 29. 21.
and his eyes were dimme] So Jacobs, ch. 48. 10. so Elies, 1 Sam. 3. 2, 4, 15. Isaac lived blinde fourty foure yeares at least, ch. 35▪ 28.
V 4 That my soule] He would by that feasting chear up his spirit against dulnesse, or any distemper, that he might be the more fit instrument of the Spirit of God; so Elisha calls for a minstrel, to allay his passion against Jehoram, prepare his minde, compose his spirit, and fit it for a divine motion of Gods Spirit by Prophecie, 2 Kings 3. 15.
may blesse thee] In faith before the Lord, by the Spirit of the Lord, Hebr. 1…. 20. some blesse men, by praying to God to blesse them: So, Luke 6. 28. Some by pronouncing a blessing upon them, by vertue of their calling, and warrant of Gods Word. So the Priests blessed the people, Numb 6. 23, to the end. Some by the Spirit of Prophecie foretelling the blessings should come upon them; so Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, ch. 48. 9, 15, 16, 20. and the twelve tribes, ch. 49. 28. and so did Moses likewise, Deut. 33. 1. And so Isaac intends to blesse Esau here. And doth blesse Jacob and Esau, v. 27, 28, 29 39, 40. and Jacob again, ch. 28. 3, 4.
Thee] Esau. Isaac being left in this point to his owne spirit, out of his carnal judgement and affection, he intends the blessing to Esau, to transmit the inheritance of the blessings and promises made to his father unto Esau, as his first-borne; either not mindful of the divine Oracle, ch. 25. 23. Or understanding it, not of their persons, but of their posterity. But Gods Providence, serving it self upon the better faith and illumination of Rebekah, and by her meanes doth disappoint Isaacs purpose, and he by his free grace and singular favour, transfers the blessing upon Jacob.
V. 6. And Rebekah spake] Being soundly grounded that the blessing belonged to Jacob; and seeing now her husband going about to give it to Esau, she labours to disappoint his errour, though by wayes not so warrantable, unlesse she were moved by some secret instinct of Gods Spirit.
V. 7. Before the Lord, before my death] In his presence, and by his power and authority, who will ratifie this my last Will and Testament, Heb 11. 20
V. 12. I shall bring a curse] For my deceiving, Deut. 27. 18. Jer. 48. 10. Mal. 14.
V. 13. Upon me be thy curse] She was over-confident, using such ill meanes, though in a good cause, and trusting to the Oracle.
V. 15. Goodly raiment] Perfumed or kept sweet, v. 27. not likely to be holy robes received from their Ancestors, and kept for the first-borne to minister in.
Which were with her] Not with Esaus wives.
V. 16. Skins upon his hands] His face by a beard and haire, might be much like Esaus.
V. 19. I am Esau] It is in vaine to labour to excuse Jacob here and hereafter from divers lies, deceipts and dissemblings.
V. 20. Brought it to me] Ch. 24. 12. one lie drawes on another.
V. 27. The smell of his raiment] Aromatick odours, and spices for perfume, abounded in those countreys.
V. 27. As the smell of a field] With flowers, fruits and vines, Cant. 2. 13. 4. 14. 7. 13.
V. 28. God give thee] A Prayer and Prophecie. And these promises of earthly blessings were types of spiritual blessings, extending to all that was included in the Promises and Covenant made to and with Abraham, Deut. 33. 28. 8. 8.
V. 29. Let people serve thee] From Jacob came Judah; 1 Chron. 5. 2. Gen. 49. 10. David subdued many Nations.
be Lord over thy brethren] Hereby he confirmes to him the right of the first-borne.
thy brethren, and let thy mothers sonnes]
Cursed] Ch. 12. 3. Numb. 24, 9. The efficacy of the blessing here, did not depend upon the intention of Isaac, And no more doth the truth and efficacy of the Sacrament depend upon the intention of the Minister.
V. 33. Trembled] As one perplexed, astonished, between wonder and feare lest he had done amisse.
Yea, and he shall be blessed] By that trembling as by a bit and bridle. God restraines him from revoking the blessing. And recollecting himself he doth now by faith re-establish it, Heb. 11. 20. And after more advisedly, chap. 28. 3, 4.
V. 34. Exceeding bitter cry] Yet found no place of repentance, no way to change his fathers minde, to recal what he had done, though he sought it carefully with tears, Hebr. 12. 17. Prov. 1. 24, 28.
V. 35. Thy blessing] Which I intended thee, and by birth-right pertained to thee.
V. 36. And he said] These words shew no true repentance in Esau.
he took away] Nay, Esau sold it and despised it, ch. 25. 33, 34.
my blessing] Not his then, when the birth-right was none of his.
V. 37. Thy Lord] V. 29.
and what shall I do?] As if he should say, comparatively, all other blessings are nothing.
V. 39. The fatnesse of the earth] Not unlike that, v. 28. Mount Seir was such a place, Josh. 24. 4. By faith Isaac blessed Esau concerning things to come, Hebr. 11. 20. yet Canaan far surpassed Idumea. Besides that Canaan was a type of the heavenly Canaan.
V. 40. And by this sword shalt thou live] With warres and troubles defend thy state and countrey, Mat. 10. 34. And not enjoy peace as Jacob, Deut. 33. 27, 28. Esay. 2. 4.
and shalt serve thy brother] In thy posterity, Deut. 33. 29. Gen. 25. 23. 2 Sam. 8. 14. 1 Kings 22. 47. Obad. v. 18, 19, 21.
when thou shalt have the dominion] Because of Israels sins, as in the days of Jehoram, 2 Kings 8. 20. 22. 2.
break his yoke] Of thy servitude, 2 Chron. 21. 8. under which thou wast from Davids dayes till then, above one hundred yeares, Esay 9. 4. 10. 27. Jer. 27. 8, 11. Herod was an Idumean.
V. 41. Hated] Spitefully. This shewes no true repentance in him, 1 John 3. 12, 15. This hatred continued in his posterity, Obad v. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21.
said in his heart] Afterwards uttered it in words, v. 42.
are at hand] In his wish and opinion, Isaac being now blinde, and yet he lived fourty foure yeares after.
V. 42. Comfort himself] To receive his birth-right by killing of thee. Revenge is sweet to the enraged wicked man; yea, the very purpose of it. And thus they harden their heart in evil against Gods known Will; so did Saul against David, 1 Sam. 18. 28. God useth a like speech of himself in an holy sense, Ezech. 5. 13.
V. 44. A few dayes] It proved to be above twenty yeares, ch. 31. 38. Doubtful whether ever Rebekah saw him again: She sent not for Jacob, because she saw Esaus rage and malice continue, ch. 32. 6.
V. 45. Both in one day] By fighting they might kill each other, or if Esau lived, they should and would then count him as dead, and no better. And the Law was such, chap. 9. 6.
V. 46. Of the daughters of Heth] Esaus wives, ch. 26. 35, 34. A wise, godly and crafty counsel she conceales from Isaac, the hatred of Esau, and dangerous discord between his sons.