ch. 25. 23. Or understanding it, not of their per∣sons,
but of their posterity. But Gods Providence, serving
it self upon the better faith and illumination of Rebekah,
and by her meanes doth disappoint Isaacs purpose, and he
by his free grace and singular favour, transfers the blessing
upon Jacob.
V. 6. And Rebekah spake] Being soundly grounded that
the blessing belonged to Jacob; and seeing now her hus∣band
going about to give it to Esau, she labours to disap∣point
his errour, though by wayes not so warrantable, un∣lesse
she were moved by some secret instinct of Gods
Spirit.
V. 7. Before the Lord, before my death] In his pre∣sence,
and by his power and authority, who will ratifie
this my last Will and Testament, Heb 11. 20
V. 12. I shall bring a curse] For my deceiving, Deut.
27. 18. Jer. 48. 10. Mal. 14.
V. 13. Upon me be thy curse] She was over-confident, u∣sing
such ill meanes, though in a good cause, and trusting
to the Oracle.
V. 15. Goodly raiment] Perfumed or kept sweet, v. 27.
not likely to be holy robes received from their Ancestors,
and kept for the first-borne to minister in.
Which were with her] Not with Esaus wives.
V. 16. Skins upon his hands] His face by a beard and
haire, might be much like Esaus.
V. 19. I am Esau] It is in vaine to labour to excuse Ja∣cob
here and hereafter from divers lies, deceipts and dis∣semblings.
V. 20. Brought it to me] Ch. 24. 12. one lie drawes on
another.
V. 27. The smell of his raiment] Aromatick odours, and
spices for perfume, abounded in those countreys.
V. 27. As the smell of a field] With flowers, fruits and
vines, Cant. 2. 13. 4. 14. 7. 13.
V. 28. God give thee] A Prayer and Prophecie. And
these promises of earthly blessings were types of spiritual
blessings, extending to all that was included in the Pro∣mises
and Covenant made to and with Abraham, Deut.
33. 28. 8. 8.
V. 29. Let people serve thee] From Jacob came Judah;
1 Chron. 5. 2. Gen. 49. 10. David subdued many
Nations.
be Lord over thy brethren] Hereby he confirmes to him
the right of the first-borne.
thy brethren, and let thy mothers sonnes]
Cursed] Ch. 12. 3. Numb. 24, 9. The efficacy of the
blessing here, did not depend upon the intention of Isaac,
And no more doth the truth and efficacy of the Sacrament
depend upon the intention of the Minister.
V. 33. Trembled] As one perplexed, astonished, between
wonder and feare lest he had done amisse.
Yea, and he shall be blessed] By that trembling as by a bit
and bridle. God restraines him from revoking the blessing.
And recollecting himself he doth now by faith re-establish
it, Heb. 11. 20. And after more advisedly, chap. 28.
3, 4.
V. 34. Exceeding bitter cry] Yet found no place of re∣pentance,
no way to change his fathers minde, to recal
what he had done, though he sought it carefully with tears,
Hebr. 12. 17. Prov. 1. 24, 28.
V. 35. Thy blessing] Which I intended thee, and by
birth-right pertained to thee.
V. 36. And he said] These words shew no true repentance
in Esau.
he took away] Nay, Esau sold it and despised it, ch. 25.
33, 34.
my blessing] Not his then, when the birth-right was
none of his.
V. 37. Thy Lord] V. 29.
and what shall I do?] As if he should say, compara∣tively,
all other blessings are nothing.
V. 39. The fatnesse of the earth] Not unlike that, v. 28.
Mount Seir was such a place, Josh. 24. 4. By faith Isaac
blessed Esau concerning things to come, Hebr. 11. 20. yet
Canaan far surpassed Idumea. Besides that Canaan was a type
of the heavenly Canaan.
V. 40. And by this sword shalt thou live] With warres
and troubles defend thy state and countrey, Mat. 10. 34.
And not enjoy peace as Jacob, Deut. 33. 27, 28.
Esay. 2. 4.
and shalt serve thy brother] In thy posterity, Deut. 33.
29. Gen. 25. 23. 2 Sam. 8. 14. 1 Kings 22. 47. Obad. v.
18, 19, 21.
when thou shalt have the dominion] Because of Israels sins,
as in the days of Jehoram, 2 Kings 8. 20. 22. 2.
break his yoke] Of thy servitude, 2 Chron. 21. 8. under
which thou wast from Davids dayes till then, above one
hundred yeares, Esay 9. 4. 10. 27. Jer. 27. 8, 11. Herod
was an Idumean.
V. 41. Hated] Spitefully. This shewes no true repent∣ance
in him, 1 John 3. 12, 15. This hatred continued in
his posterity, Obad v. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21.
said in his heart] Afterwards uttered it in words,
v. 42.
are at hand] In his wish and opinion, Isaac being now
blinde, and yet he lived fourty foure yeares after.
V. 42. Comfort himself] To receive his birth-right by
killing of thee. Revenge is sweet to the enraged wicked
man; yea, the very purpose of it. And thus they harden
their heart in evil against Gods known Will; so did Saul
against David, 1 Sam. 18. 28. God useth a like speech
of himself in an holy sense, Ezech. 5. 13.
V. 44. A few dayes] It proved to be above twenty yeares,
ch. 31. 38. Doubtful whether ever Rebekah saw him a∣gain:
She sent not for Jacob, because she saw Esaus rage
and malice continue, ch. 32. 6.
V. 45. Both in one day] By fighting they might kill each
other, or if Esau lived, they should and would then count
him as dead, and no better. And the Law was such, chap.
9. 6.
V. 46. Of the daughters of Heth] Esaus wives, ch. 26.
35, 34. A wise, godly and crafty counsel she conceales
from Isaac, the hatred of Esau, and dangerous discord be∣tween
his sons.