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"Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you." (NRSVUE see link below) is our quote for 27.
1 - 4
Discussion: Isaac is old, at this point, we don't know how old. And he is very nearly blind. He calls Esau to him and tell him to go hunting and fix dinner for him before he dies so he can bless him.
5 - 10
Discussion: Rebekah hears the exchange and hatches a plan to make the sale of the birthright a fact.
11 - 19
Discussion: Jacob objects because he can't pass for his brother, and if Isaac discovers the deception he'll curse him instead of bless him. Rebekah says let the curse be on her, but obey her voice.
Mom cooks dinner and dresses Jacob up and he goes into where Isaac is and tries to pass himself off as his brother.
20 - 27
Discussion: Isaac tells a couple of fibs, including saying YHWH provided the game that he cooked, as well as impersonating his brother.
Isaac seems to have some suspicions, as reflected in verse 22, but Jacob gets by with it after telling another lie. The final thing that convinces Isaac is the smell of Esau's old clothes. But then the blessing takes on an odd flavor....
28
May "nathan" (give / bestow) you "'Elohim" (GOD) of the "tal" (dew) of "shamayim" (heaven), and the "mashman" (fatness / richness) "erets" (the earth) and "rob" (abundance / multitude) of "dagan" (grain) and "tirosh" (wine).
29
Let "abad" (serve / perform) you "am" (peoples), "shachah" (bow down / prostrate) to you "leom" (nations). Be "gebir" (master / lord) over your "ach" (brother / brothers) , and let "shachah" (bow down...) to you "ben" (sons / children) of your "em" (mother). Those "arar" (curse) you be cursed, those who "barak" (bless) you be blessed.
Comment: it's odd that Isaac would specifically mention the 'sons of your mother', in addition to 'his brothers'. It seems that the old boy had some idea that something was up.
There is no mention in the text of Isaac having any other children by Rebekah or anybody else. And yet here, and coming up in a moment, Isaac says there are other siblings in the family.
30 - 38
Summary: Esau comes home, and the jig is up. Isaac trembles greatly and asks who had just brought him a meal and got the blessing.
Esau figures out that he's been had and asks for a blessing anyway. Isaac responds that it was Jacob. And Esau says he has been "aqab" (supplanted (another form of the name Yaaqob)). And he breaks down crying.
39 - 40
Commentary. Isaac relents, and blesses him, but it probably isn't what Esau wanted to hear. Including that he will live by his sword and serve his brother including having his younger brother's yoke around his neck.
41
Comment: in this verse we have Esau planning to kill his brother after the days of mourning for his father are over.
42 - 46
Summary: Rebekah knows what's up and sends Jacob back home to hide out with her brother until it's safe for him to come back. And, she thinks, while he's up in the old homestead, maybe he'll find a nice girl.
- end 27 -
Chapter 28
1 - 5
Discussion: Before he skips town, Isaac calls Jacob in, and blesses him, again, and tells him not to marry a local, and repeats the promise to him.
This is after Isaac knows about the deception and was witness to Esau's reaction, and he may well know what Esau has planned for his younger brother, the one he cheerfully named "the usurper" as Jacob leaves for Paddan Aram, which is a highland region of what is today Syria.
6 - 9
Discussion: Esau sees the blessing, and watches Jacob leave.
Then Esau intentionally takes a wife from the Canaanites of the line of Ishmael.
10 - 11
Discussion: Jacob gets as far as Beersheba. He stops because it got dark, and uses a stone for a pillow when he lays down to go to sleep.
And, at least so far, it appears that he is making the trip by himself.
12
He "chalam" (dream / to dream) and "hinneh" (behold / look see) "sullam" (ladder / staircase) on the Earth, and "rosh" (head / top) "naga" (touched) "shamayim" (heaven / sky) - and "hinneh" (behold (the word occurs twice in this verse in the Hebrew, which doesn't have verses)) "malak" (messengers / angels) of 'Elohim were "alah" (to climb / ascend / go up) and "yarad" (go down / descend) on it.
13
And "hinneh" (behold ('behold' count in section: 3)), YHWH "natsab" (stand / present) "al" (over / upon / above / etc) and said, "ani" (I 'am') YHWH, 'Elohim (God) of Abraham, your "ab" (father), and the God of Isaac - the "erets" (land) "asher" (where / which) you "shakab" (sleep / rest / lie) "al" (on / upon / over / etc), to you "nathan" (give ...) "zera" (offspring / descendants)
14
and shall be your "zera" (descendants....) "aphar" (dust / ashes / powder / etc) "erets" ('of the' earth), "parats" (spread / break out / burst / etc) to the west, east, north, and south. And "barak" (blessed) in you "kol" (all) "mishpachah" (kindred / families / tribes / etc) of the "erets" (earth) and in "zera" (offspring...).
This part of the promise is new. Yes, that the descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the ground has been said before. But that they would spread all over the earth wasn't in it.
15
"hinneh" (behold ('behold' count: 4) I am "im" (with / among) you and will "shamar" (guard / keep / watch) you in "kol" (all) "asher" (where...) "halak" (go / move / walk / etc), and I will "shub" (return / restore) you to this land - and I will not "azab" (leave / forsake / let go) you "ad" (until) I have done what "dabar" (have done) what I said.
16
Summary: Jacob wakes up and says a wonderful line ...
17
Summary: Jacob is "yare'" (afraid / overcome with awe / etc), and says what an "yare'" (awesome / full of fear / etc) place this is. That this is the "bayith" (house / dwelling) of 'Elohim and this is the "shaar" (gate) of "shamayim" (heaven...).
18
Discussion: Jacob wakes up early and makes his pillow into a standing stone and poured oil over it.
The oil was probably either olive oil, or an oil pressed from some other seed. For the record, Jacob comes back here and does this again to the same rock, see Genesis 35. But anointing something with oil is an integral part of Jewish worship, for example see Exodus chapters 25, and 29, and 2 Kings 9, and other passages. In the New Testament, see Mark 6 : 13 and James 5 : 14 - 15.
19
Discussion: He names the place "Betheel" (Bethel, means 'house of God').
The word 'Bethel' has been used since chapter 12 : 8 when Abram pitched his tent near here. However, this is where the spot gets its name, and later in the OT, such as Judges 1, and 2 Kings 23, it becomes important again.
20 - 21
And Jacob "nadar" (make a vow / solemn promise) saying "im" (if) "hayah" (be / happens / become / etc) "hayah" (term is repeated) 'Elohim "immad" (beside / with) "shamar" (guard / keep / watch) "derek" (way / road / journey / etc) "zeh" (this / hence / now / etc) that I "halak" (go / move / proceed...), and "nathan" (give) me "lechem" (food (especially - bread)) 'to' "akal" (eat), "beged" (garments / clothing) "labash / labesh" (clothed / to be dressed)
that I may "shub" (return...) "shalom" (well-being / peace / safety / etc) to "bayith" (house / dwelling) "ab" (father), "hayah" (be / happens / become / etc) YHWH 'my' 'Elohim.
Jacob is saying that if GOD keeps His side of the bargain, and Jacob has food and clothing, and eventually returns Peacefully to his father's house (where his brother lives, who has said he'll kill him), then he will worship YHWH.
22
And "eben" (stone) which I have set up as a "matstebah" (pillar / standing stone / monument) ....
The Hebrew word here implies that the stone is notable, and perhaps even remarkable, Remember, he 'set up' the stone he had used as a pillow. Verse 11 says he took one of the stones and 'put it at his head'. ... so, how big was this stone? And how does it stand out from the others in the area?
....... shall "hayah" (be / happens / become / etc) "bayith" (house...) 'Elohim. And "kol" (all) that You "nathan" (give / gift) me "asar" (a tenth / tithe) "asar" (term is repeated for emphasis) to You.
This is the first instance of 'tithing' in the Bible. So the tradition has a long history.
-end 28 -
References and links: Outside links will open in new tab/window.
The Interlinear: Hebrew - English https://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/22.htm
The New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2027&version=NRSVUE
A traveler ignores a warning, and ignores it:
"' go to Bethel!' That was the advice that I received when I brought up the subject." https://enjoyingthejourney.org/bethel/
The Genesis Study Index Page
NOTE: The Bible Study Lesson presented above is posted as a reference document to begin a conversation of the topic. And that's it. Please accept it at such.
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