Bereisheet (Genesis): Toldot > Ch 27

Jacob poses as Esau to receive his father’s blessing

  • Isaac was old and decided to bless Esau while he still could, so he asked Esau to hunt and bring a good meal. Rebecca overheard their conversation and commanded Jacob to pose as Esau. She gave Jacob tasty food, Esau’s best clothes and put goat hair on his hands and neck, so that they would feel like Esau’s.
  • Isaac recognized Jacob’s voice, but upon touching his hands was reassured that it was Esau and gave Jacob the blessing: “And may the Lord give you of the dew of the heavens and [of] the fatness of the earth and an abundance of corn and wine. Nations shall serve you and kingdoms shall bow down to you; you shall be a master over your brothers, and your mother's sons shall bow down to you. Those who curse you shall be cursed, and those who bless you shall be blessed."
  • When Esau returned from the field, Isaac was shocked at what happened. Esau begged for another blessing and Isaac blessed him like this: "Behold, your dwelling place shall be the fat places of the earth and of the dew of the heaven from above. And you shall live by your sword, and you shall serve your brother, and it will be, when you grieve, that you will break his yoke off your neck."
  • Esau decided to kill Jacob as soon as his Isaac would pass away. Rebeccah overheard this and sent Jacob to her brother Laban, to stay in Haran until Esau would forget about the matter. She said “Why should I be bereft of both of you on one day?"


 
Rashi Commentary

  • the fat places of the earth This is the part of Italy belonging to Greece (from Gen. Rabbah 67:6)