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†. Gen 27:39-40 . . And his father Isaac answered, saying to him:
See, your abode shall be [away from] the fat of the earth and [from]
the dew of heaven above. Yet by your sword you shall live, and you
shall serve your brother; but when you grow restive, you shall break
his yoke from your neck.
The words in the brackets don't actually appear in the Hebrew text. But
according to a foot note in the 1985 JPS Tanakh; the meaning of the Hebrew
is just what you see. Jacob's side of the family was granted the best water,
fertile soils, and abundant yields. In contrast, Esau's side of the family would
live in regions plagued with geological shortages of water, arable land, and
natural pastures.
Isaac's prediction was fulfilled by the very nature of the rugged region that
came to be known as the land of Edom. The Edomites, in general, lived in
violence and subjection to Israel; remaining essentially independent until
David's time, but then were subjugated permanently after that in spite of
frequent rebellions and temporary partial freedom. Finally, Edom
disappeared as a nation by that name: the little prophecy of Obadiah
explains why.
Esau's life of indifference to spiritual matters-- in spite of being born to one
of the most privileged heritages possible --had finally caught up with him
and it was too late even for regrets.
†. Gen 27:41 . . Now Esau harbored a grudge against Jacob because
of the blessing which his father had given him, and Esau said to
himself: Let but the mourning period of my father come, and I will
kill my brother Jacob.
Well, he had a long wait ahead of him. Isaac lived another 45 years.
But isn't it odd how the human spirit desires to kill-- not just desire for harm
and misfortune; but to the gravest extreme?
A few years ago, out here on a highway in Oregon, traffic was slowed. So a
man tried to get ahead of it by driving on the shoulder to pass everyone up.
As he went by a pick-up truck with some men in it, one of them threw a
paper cup at him. He dropped back and fired a gun into the pick-up, killing
one of the passengers.
That is so typical of the feelings that overwhelm human beings when they're
angry. They want blood, and no other form of revenge will satisfy. Is it
possible that there is anybody out there who has never wished that
somebody would die?
Esau's personality changed dramatically. He went from an indifferent,
carefree outdoor sportsman to a bitter, vindictive neurotic. The thought of
his sissy brother ruling over him-- the superior son who was always admired
and idolized for his strength and prowess --was just too much for Esau to
bear.
†. Gen 27:42a . . When the words of her older son Esau were
reported to Rebecca,
You know, if criminals would just keep their mouths shut they might get
away with a whole lot more crimes. But no, they just have to tell somebody
about it. Esau must have vented his bitterness to some of the servants who,
in turn, leaked it to Rebecca.
†. Gen 27:42b-43a . . she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to
him: Your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you.
Now, my son, listen to me.
Again showing herself to be a woman of quick decision, Rebecca called Jacob
and told him exactly what to do. Not wishing for a war between her sons,
she thought it best to send Jacob away for a while.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†. Gen 27:39-40 . . And his father Isaac answered, saying to him:
See, your abode shall be [away from] the fat of the earth and [from]
the dew of heaven above. Yet by your sword you shall live, and you
shall serve your brother; but when you grow restive, you shall break
his yoke from your neck.
The words in the brackets don't actually appear in the Hebrew text. But
according to a foot note in the 1985 JPS Tanakh; the meaning of the Hebrew
is just what you see. Jacob's side of the family was granted the best water,
fertile soils, and abundant yields. In contrast, Esau's side of the family would
live in regions plagued with geological shortages of water, arable land, and
natural pastures.
Isaac's prediction was fulfilled by the very nature of the rugged region that
came to be known as the land of Edom. The Edomites, in general, lived in
violence and subjection to Israel; remaining essentially independent until
David's time, but then were subjugated permanently after that in spite of
frequent rebellions and temporary partial freedom. Finally, Edom
disappeared as a nation by that name: the little prophecy of Obadiah
explains why.
Esau's life of indifference to spiritual matters-- in spite of being born to one
of the most privileged heritages possible --had finally caught up with him
and it was too late even for regrets.
†. Gen 27:41 . . Now Esau harbored a grudge against Jacob because
of the blessing which his father had given him, and Esau said to
himself: Let but the mourning period of my father come, and I will
kill my brother Jacob.
Well, he had a long wait ahead of him. Isaac lived another 45 years.
But isn't it odd how the human spirit desires to kill-- not just desire for harm
and misfortune; but to the gravest extreme?
A few years ago, out here on a highway in Oregon, traffic was slowed. So a
man tried to get ahead of it by driving on the shoulder to pass everyone up.
As he went by a pick-up truck with some men in it, one of them threw a
paper cup at him. He dropped back and fired a gun into the pick-up, killing
one of the passengers.
That is so typical of the feelings that overwhelm human beings when they're
angry. They want blood, and no other form of revenge will satisfy. Is it
possible that there is anybody out there who has never wished that
somebody would die?
Esau's personality changed dramatically. He went from an indifferent,
carefree outdoor sportsman to a bitter, vindictive neurotic. The thought of
his sissy brother ruling over him-- the superior son who was always admired
and idolized for his strength and prowess --was just too much for Esau to
bear.
†. Gen 27:42a . . When the words of her older son Esau were
reported to Rebecca,
You know, if criminals would just keep their mouths shut they might get
away with a whole lot more crimes. But no, they just have to tell somebody
about it. Esau must have vented his bitterness to some of the servants who,
in turn, leaked it to Rebecca.
†. Gen 27:42b-43a . . she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to
him: Your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you.
Now, my son, listen to me.
Again showing herself to be a woman of quick decision, Rebecca called Jacob
and told him exactly what to do. Not wishing for a war between her sons,
she thought it best to send Jacob away for a while.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=