thus, It was said unto me by prophesie, that curses shall not come upon thee, but blessings.
Vers. 15. desireable garments] Hebr. garments of de∣sire, that is, good, sweet, precious: the Greeke tran∣slateth [unspec 15] it, a goodly robe, (or faire stole, which was a long garment that great men used to weare, Luke 20. 46. and 15. 22. The Priests after in the law had holy garments, to minister in, Exo. 28. 2. 3. 4. which the Greeke there also calleth a holy robe or stole. Whether the first borne before the law had such to minister in, is not certaine; but probable, by this example. For had they beene common garments, why did not Esau himselfe, or his wives keepe them? but being in likelihood holy robes, recei∣ved from their ancestors; the mother of the family kept them in sweet chests, from mothes and the like; whereupon it is said in verse 27. Isaak smelled the smell of his garments. These might well figure out those robes of innocency and righteousnesse, wherewith the saints are clothed, Rev. 7. 9. 14. and 19. 8. and 3. 18. The like mystery also is in the kids skins following: see Gen. 3. 21.
Vers. 19. firstborne] This though it were not so properly (and cannot in that respect bee excused,) [unspec 19] yet was it true in mystery; and spiritually; as Iohn Baptist was Elias, Matt. 11. 14. and we gentiles, are the Circumcision, Phil. 3. 3. Rom. 2. 28. and the chil∣dren of promise are counted for the seed, Rom. 9. 8. Gal. 4. 28.
Vers. 20. brought it to passe] or, made it to meet [unspec 20] [unspec \2] (or occurre) in Greeke, delivered it: in Chaldee prepared it. See 24. 12.
Vers. 22. and the hands] or, but the hands: the Ie∣rusalemy Thargum saith, the feeling of the hands. [unspec 22] of a field] the Greeke addeth, of a full (or plenteous) field: which with herbs, flowers and fruits, giveth a fragrant smell. Compare Song. 2. 13. and 4. 12. 13. 14. and 7. 11. 12. 13. The Ierusalemy Thargum applyeth this to the smell of the perfume of good spicies, that should after bee offered in the mount of the house of the sanctuary.
Vers. 28. And God give] or will give, it is both a [unspec 28] prayer and a prophesie: the word And noteth the passion of the mind: for so it is often used to signi∣fie vehement affections, of desire, joy, indignation, or the like. See Gen. 47. 15. Psal. 2. 6. Act. 23. 3. Mark. 10. 26. 2 Cor. 2. 2. Sometime it is omitted quite; as 2 Sam. 24. 3. and the Lord thy God add. for which, in 1 Chron. 21. 3. is written, the Lord add: leaving out and, dew] which as it is the meanes to make the field fruitfull, so ••an it not be given but by God, Ier. 14. 22. and the with holding of it, is a curse, 2 Sam. 1. 21. It spiritually signifieth the doctrine and graces of the gospell, and spirit of Christ upon men. Deut. 32. 2. Esay 45. 8. and 26. 10. Hos. 14. 6. 7. Psal. 133. 3. A like blessing is in Deut. 33. 13. 28. fatnesses] that is, sundry sorts and plenty of fat things: whereby is meant the best of every thing, (see Gen. 4. 4. and 49. 20. Esay 30. 23.) and spirituall graces, Esay 25. 6. The land of Cahaan, (the figure of all blessednesse,) is called therefore the fat land, Neh. 9. 25. 35. corne and new nine.] which as they are the stay and comfort of mans life, Psal. 104. 15. so they also signifie hea∣venly blessings that God sendeth upon his people, Psal. 65. 10. 14. Zach. 9. 17. A like blessing Moses uttered, Deut. 33. 28.
Vers. 29. nations,] the Greeke translateth it, [unspec 29] Princes: the Chaldee Kingdomes. The Ierusalemy Thargum applyeth these peoples, nations, brethren, and mothers sonnes: to the sons of Esau, of Ismael, Keturah and of Laban. As servitude implyeth a spirituall curse, Gen. 9. 25. so this soveraignty, is a spirituall blessing, Rev. 2. 26. 27. a master] or, a soveraigne, a Lord, or governour: named of prevai∣ling. Herein was implyed a part of the first birth-right, 1 Chron. 5. 2. Psal. 89. 28. every one, &c.] Hebrew thy cursers, cursed be be, that is, every one of them: for a word singular, joyned with a plurall, noteth exactly all and every one. Compare this with Gen. 12. 3. Numb. 24. 9.
Vers. 30. and it was] or, it was I say: the doubling [unspec 30] of this, maketh the matter the more remarkeable, touching Gods providence herein. going gone:] that is, newly gone, or scarce gone out.
Vers. 33. trembled] or, was terrified; as the Greeke [unspec 33] and Chaldee translate, was astonished: it signifieth an exceeding feare with trembling, as Exod. 19. 16. 18. Gen 42 28. who where] a trembling pas∣sionate speech: or, who then is he? he shall bee] So the gifts of God (which are without repentance Rom. 11. 29) are stablished to Iakob here, and af∣ter more advisedly, in Gen. 28. 1.—4.
Vers. 35. with guile] the Chaldee saith, with wis∣dome: [unspec 35] but the word it usually taken in the evill part, and so Isaak seemeth to intend it. The Scrip∣ture also seemeth hereby to blame the indirect meanes which Iakob used: for none should doe evill, that good may come, no not though through mans lye, the truth of God doth more abound, un∣to his glory; Rom. 3. 7. 8.
Vers. 36. Is it because] or understand, hath hee [unspec 36] done this because? meaning surely hee hath. There∣fore the Greeke translateth it, Rightly was his name called Iskob, and the Chaldee, Fitly: was called] Hebrew he called, meaning every one: See Gen. 16. 14. for he hath] or, that hee hath supplanted: where the Hebrew Iaakbeni, supplanted me, is Esaus interpretation of Iakobs name, as signifying a sup∣planter or overthrower with the foot, and so a deceiver: So Ier. 9. 4. he tooke] thus Esau layeth the fault on his brother, for taking that which himselfe pro∣phanely sold, Ge. 25. 33. He. 12. 16. my blessing] but that followed the first birth-right, which be∣ing sold, the blessing was lost also: as the Apostle in∣ferreth upon it, that afterward when Esau would have inherited the blessing, he was reiected, Heb. 12. 16. 17.
Vers. 37. appointed] or put; that is, made, as the [unspec 37] Greeke translateth it. sustained] the Greeke translateth strengthned: See Psal. 104. 15.
Vers. 38. and wept] yet found hee no place of re∣pentance, though he sought it with teares, Heb. 12. [unspec 38] 17. For because when God calleth, men doe re∣fuse: when they call upon him, hee will not an∣swer; Prov. 1. 24. 28.