Jacob III: In Sheep's Clothing

Gen 26 & 27

despite the exchange between Jacob and Esau, the birthright did not mean much without the blessing of the father. Since Esau was the firstborn and more favored by Isaac, the blessing would go to him. This blessing would make the heir of the covenant official and put to rest any deals made over red lentil soup.

All would have gone to plan, but Rebekah interfered.

There are two main reasons why Rebekah helped Jacob in securing the blessing. First off, God Himself told her that the younger son would serve the older. But also, there was the matter of Esau's marriages. Esau married two Hittite women. The Hittites were descendant's of Canaan, Noah's grandson. Noah cursed Canaan and his descendents, but that is another story. The point is, the Esau married a couple of women that were seen as ungodly. Genesis 26:35 says that they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah. For the birthright to pass to Esau, would mean for it to also pass to his wives. This would place God's covenant in the hands of a cursed people.

For these reasons, I assume, when Rebekah hears that Isaac is about to give Esau his blessing, she calls Jacob and concocts a plan for Jacob to steal it.

Now Isaac is on his deathbed and is blind. He identifies Esau by feeling his hairy arms and knows his smell. He tells Esau that he is about to bless him and asks that he prepare a meal for his father before the blessing. Esau obeys and leaves to hunt food for the meal. While he is gone, Jacob makes his move.

Rebekah prepares a meal for Jacob to give his father. She tells Jacob to put on some of Esau's clothes so that Isaac would smell his firstborn son. Also, because Esau is a hairy man and Jacob is as smooth as a baby's bottom, Jacob wears goat skins on his arms. When Isaac feels his hairy arms and smells Esau's clothes, he gives the blessing to Jacob.

"Now may God give you of the dew of heaven,
And of the fatness of the earth,
And an abundance of grain and new wine;
May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
Be master of your brothers,
And may your mother's sons bow
down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you." Gen. 27:28-29

When Esau returns and Isaac discovers what has happened, it is too late to take the blessing away, no matter how angry Isaac is that his son decieved him. He gives Esau a blessing that is less than satisfactory.

..."Behold, away from the fertility of
the earth shall be your dwelling,
And away from the dew of heaven from above.
By your sword you shall live,
And your brother you shall serve;
But it shall come about when you
become restless,
That you will break his yoke from your neck." Gen. 27:39-40

Jacob lived up to his name as "supplanter" and Esau held a fantastic grudge against his brother, who stole everything from his inheritance. He decided that as soon as his father was dead, he would kill his brother.