“Genesis 27:4: “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.”
Not far from the sheepfold, Rebekah and Jacob were having a discussion. Earlier, Jacob’s father had indicated that he wanted to give his twin brother Esau his last blessing. Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard the conversation your father had with Esau. He said, ‘Go for a hunt and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.’ Now do exactly what I say: Go and bring me two choice young goats and I will prepare them the way your father likes it. I will call you once I’m ready; then you take the meal to your father and receive his blessing before Esau comes back from the hunt.” – But Mom”, protested Jacob, “I could get in a lot of trouble for this. Dad may be blind, but he is not stupid. What if he recognizes me? As an imposter he will most likely curse me, and rightly so!” Jacob’s face was flushed; he looked annoyed. His mother cautioned him: “Keep your voice down”, she said and added, “May your father’s curse fall upon me if that should happen. Don’t you think I have thought about that? I hate doing things behind your father’s back, but I feel that this is the only chance we’ve got.”
Reluctantly Jacob followed his mother’s bidding and everything seemed to go according to plan. Rebekah had thought of everything. She gave him Esau’s clothes to wear and handed him some freshly baked bread with the game meat that she had cooked to perfection. Nervous, Jacob entered his father’s tent. “Hi Dad”, he said. “Why don’t you sit up and enjoy the meal I have made.” His father’s sightless eyes stared in his direction and for a moment Jacob feared that his father would recognize him. “Come closer”, Isaac said and Jacob approached him. Isaac touched his son and was somewhat satisfied, but not quite. Puzzled he said: “You smell like Esau, you feel like Esau, but your voice sounds different. How come you got back from hunting so early?” Jacob put the food tray next to his father and said, “I guess today was my lucky day. The Lord has blessed me with success.” To his amazement his father seemed to swallow his lies and began to eat. Quickly Jacob poured him some wine and his father ate and drank until he had his fill. Pushing aside the dish he said, “Don’t act like a stranger. Come and give your old dad a kiss.” A bit stiffly, Jacob gave him a kiss on the cheek. When his father smelled his clothes that still carried Esau’s scent, he spoke his blessing over Jacob [Genesis 27:27-29]:
“Ah, the smell of my son
is like the smell of a field
that the Lord has blessed.
May God give you heaven’s dew
and earth’s richness—
an abundance of grain and new wine.
May nations serve you
and peoples bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed
and those who bless you be blessed.”
No sooner had Jacob left the presence of his father than Esau entered his father’s tent with the dish he had prepared. “Hi Dad”, he greeted him. “I have the hunted game ready for you.” Flabbergasted His father said: “Who are you?” Now it was Esau’s turn to be baffled. “Why Dad, it’s me of course, your son Esau.” – “You can’t be Esau”, his father retorted, “Esau has just left the room. I already ate and gave my blessing.” His son’s face fell. “No way!” he said.
Then Esau got mad. “Jacob, this little snake! First he cheated me off my birthright and now he stole my blessing too. It’s not fair!” Sobbing he hugged his father and cried: “Is there no blessing left for me, Dad? None at all?!” His father was silent for a while. Finally, he spoke up and said, “I have always favored you over your brother. But from now on things won’t be as easy for you anymore.” Isaac spoke his blessing over Esau and said [Genesis 27:39-40]:
“Your dwelling will be
away from the earth’s richness,
away from the dew of heaven above.
You will live by the sword
and you will serve your brother.
But when you grow restless,
you will throw his yoke
from off your neck.”
There was nothing left to say, and so Esau left his father’s tent. From that day forward, he held a grudge and swore to himself that Jacob would have to pay for what he did. “I’m gonna kill him”, he said to his wives. One of the women leaked this information to Rebekah.
The following morning she spoke with her husband and said, “We need to plan Jacob’s wedding and find a bride from among your family in Mesopotamia. If Jacob goes down the same route like his brother Esau and marries one of the local girls I’m going to kill myself.” – “Heaven forbid”, Isaac said a bit sarcastically. He was still digesting the fact that Jacob stole his blessing from his brother Esau. Rebekah decided to cut to the chase. “Listen, Isaac”, she said. “I know you are disappointed, but here is the deal: Do you want to lose both your children? Quite frankly, you will if you don’t take action. Jacob has to leave. Let him go to your uncle Laban and find a good wife for himself, and let him stay there until Esau’s anger has subsided.” Isaac was brooding over the matter for a moment and then nodded. “Alright”, he said, “Let’s make the arrangements.”
Seeing his parents go through all the trouble to get Jacob a bride in Mesopotamia, Esau began to realize that his wives had no linkage to his grandfather Abraham, which apparently put him at a disadvantage in his parents’ eyes. The following day he met with his father. It was the first time they talked after the incident of the stolen blessing, and Esau had a proposition to make. “Perhaps it is time for me to find a wife from among our own relatives”, he said. “I was thinking about going to see Uncle Ishmael and ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage.” His father gave a mirthless laugh and replied, “If you think another wife will solve all your problems then go right ahead – but make sure to bring the choicest gifts to match a generous bride prize so Ishmael won’t be offended.”
Early the next morning, Esau saddled his donkey and took with him servants and camels that he had loaded with jewelry and fine garments. He was going to marry into his grandfather’s family after all. And several weeks later he brought home Basemath, daughter of Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth.