MPV Commentary

28. God give you of the dew of heaven—This phrase was rich in meaning for an ancient Israelite. The abundance of dew is crucial for fertile lands, which would otherwise be dry and barren due to the intense heat. Canaan, where Jacob lived, was known as a "land of plenty" (Ne 9:25, 35).

May you have plenty of grain and wine—Palestine was famous for its vineyards, and it produced various types of grain, including wheat, barley, oats, and rye.

29. May people serve you—This blessing was fulfilled in the defeat of Israel's enemies during their wilderness journey and later when they established themselves in the promised land. Although Jacob himself did not experience this blessing, his descendants did. The temporal blessings mentioned were only a shadow of the spiritual ones that distinguished Jacob's family.

30-35. Esau returned from hunting just as the previous scene had ended. Isaac was shocked and distressed by the discovery of the deception. Esau was disappointed and angry. However, after some reflection, Isaac realized that the transfer of the blessing was God's will and could not be changed. Despite this, Esau's persistence wore him down, and he added a statement that might have been pleasing to Esau.

39, 40. Your home will be in the fertile regions of the earth—This promise echoes the one given to Jacob (Ge 27:28). The second part refers to the nomadic lifestyle of hunters like Esau, which his descendants would lead. Although Esau himself was not subject to Jacob's rule, his family eventually became tributary to the Israelites until they revolted and established their own kingdom (2Ki 8:20; 2Ch 21:8-10).

41. Esau hated Jacob—It is no surprise that Esau resented Jacob's actions and vowed revenge.

The days of mourning for my father are at hand—a common expression in ancient cultures to signify the death of a parent.

42-45. These words of Esau were reported back to Rebekah—Rebekah now faced the consequences of her deceitful plan. She had to part with Jacob, whom she had manipulated, and likely never saw him again. In the future, Esau's family would experience God's retribution for his actions.

45. Why should I be deprived of both of you?—This refers to the law of kinship that required a close relative to avenge the death of a family member.

46. Rebekah said to Isaac—Rebekah used another tactic to persuade Isaac to let Jacob travel to Mesopotamia, appealing to his concern for their younger son's marriage.