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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 27:41 - 27:46
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Esau's Hatred of Jacob
v. 41. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. Having failed in his attempt to change his father's mind in the matter of the patriarchal blessing, the hatred of Esau turned against Jacob, and he planned to revenge himself by murdering his brother. During the lifetime of his father he did not want to execute this threat, in order not to grieve Isaac. But after the death of Isaac, which seemed to be near, and after the days of mourning for his father, he would have no more scruples in carrying out his design.
v. 42. And these words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. So Esau, in carrying out his purpose of revenge, planned to get satisfaction for himself; he thought he would feel better after having murdered his brother.
v. 43. Now, therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban, my brother, to Haran;
v. 44. and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
v. 45. until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him; then I will send, and fetch thee from thence. Rebekah tries to encourage Jacob and to comfort herself by intimating that it would be a matter of only a few days, of a very short time, until the wrath and anger of Esau would die down and be forgotten. Why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? If Jacob should be murdered, the avenger of blood would be set on Esau's tracks, and he also would thus be lost to his mother. Cf Gen_9:6; 2Sa_14:6.
v. 46. And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me? The wives of Esau were a bitterness of spirit not only to Rebekah, but also to Isaac, Gen_26:35, and therefore the mention of this unbearable condition at this time was intended to pave the way for her plan of having Jacob sent to Mesopotamia, out of harm's way. That the children of God are persecuted by the children of the world is a common experience, but God holds His sheltering and protecting hand over those that are his.