seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 27:1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”
“Here I am,” he answered.
2 Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. 3 Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.”
“Here I am,” he answered.
2 Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. 3 Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.”
The easy English commentary offers this.
In ancient times, before a father died, he gave blessings to his sons. The blessing to his oldest son was the most important one. It showed clearly that he had the right of the oldest son. So Isaac intended to give his blessing to Esau.
But God had said that the older son would serve the younger one. (See Genesis 25:23.) And Esau had made a firm promise to give his right of the oldest son to Jacob. (See Genesis 25:33.) But Isaac did not agree with that. He still intended to give his blessing to Esau.
Isaac lived for more than 20 years after this time. Jacob stayed in Paddan-aram for 20 years. (See Genesis 31:41.) And Isaac did not die until Jacob had returned. (See Genesis 35:29.)
But God had said that the older son would serve the younger one. (See Genesis 25:23.) And Esau had made a firm promise to give his right of the oldest son to Jacob. (See Genesis 25:33.) But Isaac did not agree with that. He still intended to give his blessing to Esau.
Isaac lived for more than 20 years after this time. Jacob stayed in Paddan-aram for 20 years. (See Genesis 31:41.) And Isaac did not die until Jacob had returned. (See Genesis 35:29.)
Wait... did the commentary just say that Isaac lived another 20 years after this conversation?
Here's the comment from studylight.org to clear that up.
Isaac believed his time had come to die, and this was his way of settling his affairs, sort of a last will and testament.
Strangely, Isaac insisted on giving the blessing to Esau, the one whom God did not choose, who despised his birthright, and who married pagan wives. It seems Isaac plainly rejected godly thinking and spiritual wisdom, instead thinking only of the good food he received from Esaus hunting.
Actually, it seems Isaac acted more in human wisdom in regard to his glorying in Esaus manly hunting prowess. We later find that he actually could not taste the difference between what Esau hunted in the field and what his wife Rebekah could prepare from the flock.
Isaac was old, but perhaps not near death. Martin Luther calculated Isaacs age to be 137 at this point; he lived to be 180. Isaac lived 43 more years.
Strangely, Isaac insisted on giving the blessing to Esau, the one whom God did not choose, who despised his birthright, and who married pagan wives. It seems Isaac plainly rejected godly thinking and spiritual wisdom, instead thinking only of the good food he received from Esaus hunting.
Actually, it seems Isaac acted more in human wisdom in regard to his glorying in Esaus manly hunting prowess. We later find that he actually could not taste the difference between what Esau hunted in the field and what his wife Rebekah could prepare from the flock.
IMHO this was one messed up family!
