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Discussions Torah

Genesis 27 — Ya’akov tricks his father into getting the firstborn birthright Esau sold for a bowl of stew

The “transaction” for the firstborn birthright, which Esau sold to his brother, Ya’akov (Jacob) for a bowl of lentils in Genesis 25 is completed in Genesis 27 with a second ruse devised by their mother, Rivkah (Rebecca), to get Yitskhak (Isaac) to bless the correct son. This pattern of switching blessings at the last minute appears repeatedly in the Bible and has ramifications for the modern-day descendants of these two sons.

The "transaction" for the firstborn birthright, which Esau sold to his brother, Ya’akov (Jacob) for a bowl of lentils in Genesis 25 is completed in Genesis 27 with a second ruse devised by their mother, Rivkah (Rebecca), to get Yitskhak (Isaac) to bless the correct son. This pattern of switching blessings at the last minute appears repeatedly in the Bible and has ramifications for the modern-day descendants of these two sons.

Food for thought from the recorded discussion

Why was the blessing of the father so important? When Ya’akov was pretending to be Esau, why did he say “the LORD your God” (Gen. 27:20) rather “than the LORD my God” or “the LORD our God”? Why didn’t Ya’akov’s deception negate the blessing? What is Rivkah’s role play in this story?

How old was Yitskhak when Esau married?

What does Rivkah’s name mean (Strong’s lexicon No. 7259, 4770)? Who did Rivkah “ensnare”?

Why did Yitskhak prefer Esau?

What did God tell Rivkah when the twins were born (Gen. 25:23-26)? Who is the “older”? Who is the “younger”? What does this prophecy mean? What blessing were the sons coveting?

What was Yitskhak’s personality? 

Who really deceived whom in this story? What clues did Yitskhak spot of the deception before the blessing? How did God “put a veil” over Yitskhak’s eyes (Gen. 27:1)? Why did Yitskhak tremble violently when he realized that Ya’akov had received the blessing (Gen. 27:33)? Did Yitskhak hate Rivkah or Ya’akov after he realized what happened? Whose blessing was Yitskhak really supposed to convey?

How did Esau cry (Gen. 27:34,38)? What blessing did Esau receive from his father (Gen. 27:39-40)? Why is Esau’s blessing a curse? Who ensnared whom?

Reader: David De Fever. Speaker: Richard Agee.