Genesis 27

Isaac Blesses Jacob

1 Isaac was old and could not see well anymore. He called Esau, his oldest son, and said, ‘Son!’ Esau said, ‘I am here, pops.’

2 Isaac said, ‘I am getting old, and I do not know how much longer I have got.’

3 ‘Grab your gear, your bow and arrows, and go hunt me some wild game.’

4 ‘Make me that good food I love, so I can eat and give you my blessing before I die.’

Rebekah’s Plan

5 Rebekah overheard Isaac talking to Esau. As soon as Esau went to hunt, she called Jacob, her favorite son.

6 She said, ‘Listen, I just heard your dad tell Esau,’

7 ‘Go hunt and make me some food so I can bless you before I die.’

8 ‘Now listen, son. Do exactly what I say.’

9 ‘Go grab two of the best goats from the flock. I will cook them just the way your dad loves.’

10 ‘Then you take it to him, so he will bless you instead of Esau.’

11 Jacob said, ‘But Mom, Esau’s hairy, and I got smooth skin.’

12 ‘What if Dad touches me, He will know I am lying and curse me instead of blessing me.’

13 Rebekah said, ‘Let the curse fall on me, son. Just do what I said and go get the goats.’

14 So Jacob went, got the goats, and brought them to his mom. She cooked them up the way Isaac liked.

15 Rebekah grabbed Esau’s best clothes and put them on Jacob.

16 She also covered his hands and neck with goat skins to make him feel hairy.

17 Then she handed Jacob the food and bread she made.

Jacob Tricks Isaac

18 Jacob went to his dad and said, ‘Hey, Dad!’ Isaac said, ‘Which son is this,’

19 Jacob said, ‘It is me, Esau. I did what you asked. Sit up and eat this food so you can bless me.’

20 Isaac said, ‘How did you find the game so fast?’ Jacob said, ‘The Lord hooked me up.’

21 Isaac said, ‘Come closer, so I can feel you and make sure you are really Esau.’

22 Jacob moved closer, and Isaac felt him. He said, ‘The voice sounds like Jacob, but the hands feel like Esau.’

23 Isaac did not recognize him because of the goat skins, so he blessed him.

24 Isaac asked, ‘You are really Esau,’ Jacob said, ‘Yeah, it is me.’

25 Isaac said, ‘Alright, bring me the food, and I will bless you.’ Jacob gave him the food, and Isaac ate. He also drank the wine Jacob brought.

26 Then Isaac said, ‘Come here and kiss me, son.’

27 When Jacob kissed him, Isaac caught the smell of Esau’s clothes and said, ‘Ah, the smell of my son is like the fields the Lord has blessed.’

28 ‘May God give you heaven’s dew, the earth’s richness, and plenty of grain and wine.’

29 ‘May nations serve you, and people bow to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow to you. Anyone who curses you will be cursed, and anyone who blesses you will be blessed.’

Esau’s Reaction

30 Right after Isaac finished blessing Jacob and Jacob dipped, Esau came back from hunting.

31 Esau made his dad some food and said, ‘Alright, Dad, sit up and eat so you can bless me.’

32 Isaac said, ‘Who are you?’ Esau said, ‘I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.’

33 Isaac started shaking and said, ‘Then who just brought me food, I blessed him already, and it is going to stick!’

34 When Esau heard this, he cried out, ‘Bless me too, Dad!’

35 Isaac said, ‘Your brother came in here tricking me and stole your blessing.’

36 Esau said, ‘That is why they named him Jacob, he is a trickster! First, he took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.’ Then he asked, ‘Got anything left for me,’

37 Isaac said, ‘I made him lord over you and gave him all his brothers as servants. I blessed him with grain and wine. What is left for you,’

38 Esau said, ‘Please, Dad, bless me too!’ He started crying.

39 Isaac said, ‘Your dwelling will be away from earth’s richness and heaven’s dew.’

40 ‘You will live by the sword and serve your brother. But one day, you will break free.’

Jacob Flees

41 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing. He said to himself, ‘Once Dad’s gone, I am going to kill Jacob.’

42 Rebekah heard about Esau’s plan and told Jacob, ‘Listen, your brother’s plotting to kill you.’

43 ‘Run to my brother Laban in Haran.’

44 ‘Stay there a while until your brother cools off.’

45 ‘When he forgets what you did, I will send for you. Why should I lose both my sons in one day?’

46 Rebekah told Isaac, ‘I am sick of these Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of them, my life is over.’