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<< Genesis 27:  Jacob and Esau >>

Tissot_Jacob_Deceives_Isaac ISAAC'S home was in the South Country all his life. He had two sons who were twins, Esau and Jacob. Esau, the elder, was his father's favorite. He was a rough man of the field, with a hairy skin; he became a cunning hunter. Jacob had smooth skin; he lived more at home in the tents and was the favorite of his mother.

One part of the story I must tell you, how Jacob one day made a soup of red lentils, little peas which are much raised in the East. Esau came home faint from the field, and in exchange for Jacob's pottage he sold him his birthright; he gave up to Jacob the right to follow his father as head of the family, which belonged to him as the elder son.

Now, Isaac, was old and nearly blind.   He knew that he soon  should  die.    An old man used to bless his children before he died. He was both the father and the priest of the family, and the blessing given solemnly in this way was really a prophecy from the Lord, and they knew it was holy. Isaac wished especially to bless the elder son Esau, whom he loved. He sent him to hunt venison, perhaps the gazelles which run so swiftly and gracefully over the plains. This was to be a sort of offering, a kind of sacred feast connected with the blessing.

As we read the story, you will see how the helpless, blind old man was deceived by Jacob and his mother. You will feel sorry for Esau. And you must not suppose because we read it in the Bible, or because Jacob received his blessing, that what he did was right. It was both falsehood and theft, and these are always wrong. The Lord made Jacob prosper because he and his children could be useful in receiving His Holy Word and keeping it safe,   and in making ready for the    Lord's   own   coming.    It is wonderful that the Lord   could   make   use   of   a   poor, weak, selfish man like Jacob,   but   in   His   Divine   wisdom He    did    make    use    of him,    and    made    the story of his life a part of the Holy Bible.

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?  And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said,

            See, the smell of my son
            is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
            Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven,
            and the fatness of the earth,
            and plenty of corn and wine:
            Let people serve thee,
            and nations bow down to thee:
            be lord over thy brethren,
            and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee:
            cursed be every one that curseth thee,
            and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?  And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?  And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him,

          Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth,
          and of the dew of heaven from above;
          And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother;
          and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion,
          that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

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. 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. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I willsend, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? ---Genesis XXVII 1-45.

Author: William L. Worcester 1904

Spiritual Correspondences

      Abraham >> Childlike Celestial Stage of Development [Celestial Plane]

      Isaac >> Youthful Spiritual Stage [Spiritual Plane]

      Esau and Jacob >> Good and Truth brought forth in conduct [Natural Plane]

      Esau (redness) >> Good, which is higher than Truth

      Jacob >> Truth must lead for a while

      Esau's hairiness >> Spontaneous natural acts of Good affection

      Skins tied on by Jacob to imitate Esau >> Artificial Acts done according to rules

      Brake his brother's yoke from off thy neck >> Good and Joy take over following the rules

Spiritual Meaning

 GENESIS XXVII

1. And it came to pass that Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim that he could not see; and he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him, My son; and he said unto him, Behold me.        
 
 "And it came to pass that Isaac was old," signifies when the state was at hand; "and his eyes were dim that he could not see," signifies when the rational desired to enlighten the natural with the Divine; "and he called Esau his elder son," signifies the affection of the good of the natural, or the good of life and said unto him, My son and he said unto him, Behold me," signifies presence from being foreseen and provided.

 2-4. And he said, Behold I pray I am old; I know not the day of my death. And now take I pray thy weapons, thy quiver, and thy bow, and go out to the field, and hunt me a hunting. And make me dainties, such as I have loved, and bring to me, and I will eat, that my soul may bless thee before I die. before I die.
 
 "And he said, Behold I pray I am old," signifies that the state was at hand; "I know not the day of my death," signifies life in the natural; "and now take I pray thy weapons, thy quiver, and thy bow," signifies the doctrinal things of good which he had; "and go out to the field," signifies where there is good ground' "and hunt me a hunting,"signifies the truth of good; "and make me dainties, such as I have loved," signifies pleasant things fro"' thence, because from good and bring to me, and I will eat," signifies" appropriation "that my soul may bless thee," signifies adjunction to his life; "before I die," signifies the first state of resuscitation in the natural.
 
5-7. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son; and Esau went to the field to hunt for a hunting, to bring it. And Rebekah said unto Jacob her son, saying Behold I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me a hunting, and make me dainties, and I will eat, and will bless thee before Jehovah before my death.
 
 " And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son," signifies the affection of truth and life from it; "and Esau went to the field to hunt for a hunting, to bring it," - signifies the endeavor of the affection of good to procure truth which might be adjoined to the Divine rational; "and Rebekah said unto Jacob her son, saying," signifies the perception of the Lord from Divine truth concerning natural truth; "behold I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying," signifies that the Divine good of the Divine rational desired the affection of good; " bring me a hunting," signifies the truth of good and make me dainties," signifies the desire and delight from the pleasantness thence "and I will eat," signifies appropriation thus "and will bless thee before Jehovah," signifies conjunction thereby "before my death," signifies thus life in the natural.

 8-10. And now my son hearken unto my voice, according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and take me from thence two good kids of the goats, and I will make them dainties for they father, such as he loveth. And thou shalt bring to they father, and he shall eat, that he may bless thee before his death.
 
 "And now my son hearken unto my voice, according to that which I command the," signifies desire and delight perceived from the Divine truth in the Divine rational toward natural truth; "go now to the flock," signifies to natural domestic good not conjoined with the Divine rational; "and take me from thence two good kids of the goats," signifies the truths of this good; "and I will make them dainties for they father, such as he loveth," signifies that he should make deliciousnesses therefrom; "and thou shalt bring to they father, and he shall eat," signifies to the Divine good of the Divine rational, and appropriation; "that he may bless thee," signifies conjunction thereby; "before his death," signifies resuscitation in the natural.

 11-13. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. Peradventure my father will feel me, and I shall be in his eyes as a misleader; and I shall bring upon myself a curse and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son; only hearken to my voice, and go, take for me.
 
 "And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother," signifies the Lord's perception from Divine truth concerning natural truth "behold Esau my brother is a hairy man," signifies the quality of natural good relatively; "and I am a smooth man," signifies the quality of natural truth relatively "peradventure my father will feel me," signifies the inmost degree of perception; "and I shall be in his eyes as a misleader," signifies rejection, because apparently contrary to order; "and I shall bring upon myself a curse, and not a blessing," signifies disjunction; "and his mother said unto him," signifies perception from Divine truth; "upon me be thy curse, my son," signifies that there would be no disjunction; "only hearken unto my voice, and go, take for me," signifies from the effect.                                                                           
 14-17. And he went, and took, and brought to his mother; and his mother made dainties, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took garments of desires of Esau her elder son that were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son. And the skins of the kids of the she-goats she caused to be put upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck. And she gave the dainties, and the bread, which she had made, into the hand of Jacob her son.

  "And he went, and took, and brought to his mother," signifies a state of obedience of the truth of the natural; "and his mother made dainties, such as his father loved," signifies things that are delectable, but not desirable; "and Rebekah took garments of desires of Esau her elder son," signifies the genuine truths of good; "that were with her in the house," signifies that were from the Divine good through the Divine truth of the Divine rational; "and put them upon Jacob her younger son," signifies the affection of truth, or the life of good from truth; " and the skins of the kids of the she-goats," signifies the external truths of domestic good; "she caused to be put upon his hands," signifies according to the faculty of receiving; "and upon the smooth of his neck," signifies that disjoining truth should not appear; "and she gave the dainties," signifies delectable things thence derived; "and the bread," signifies the good thence derived; "which she had made," signifies which were from Divine truth; " into the hand of Jacob her son," signifies that such was the affection of natural truth.

18-20. And he came unto his father and said, My father; and he said, Behold me, who art thou my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou spakest unto me; arise I pray thee, sit, and eat of my hunting, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast hastened to find it, my son? and he said, Because Jehovah thy God made it come to meet my face.
 
"And he came unto his father and said, my father; and he said, Behold me, who art thou my son?" signifies a state of perception from the presence of that truth; "and Jacob said unto his father," signifies the observation of natural truth "I am Esau thy firstborn," signifies that it believed that it was natural good itself; "I have done according as thou spakest unto me," signifies obedience; " arise I pray thee,. sit, and eat of my hunting," signifies the truth of the affection of such good; "that thy soul may bless me," signifies conjunction; "and Isaac said unto his son," signifies perception' "how is it that thou hast hastened to find it, my son?" signifies production so speedy "and he said, Because Jehovah thy God made it come to meet my face," signifies providence.
 
 21-23. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near I pray, and I will feel thee my son, whether thou be my very son Esau, or not. And Jacob came near to Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he recognized him not, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; and he blessed him.

 "And Isaac said unto Jacob," signifies perception concerning this natural; come near I pray, and I will feel thee my son," signifies inmost perception from presence; "whether thou be my very son Esau, or not," signifies that it was not natural good; "and Jacob came near to Isaac his father,"signifies a state of presence; "and he felt him," signifies thence all perception; "and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau," signifies that in this case the intellectual part is of truth which is within, but the will part is of good which is without, thus they are of inverted order; "and he recognized him not, because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau's hands," signifies that from the will part that was without it was perceived that it was natural good; " and he blessed him," signifies the consequent conjunction.
 
 24, 25. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's hunting, that my soul may bless thee; and he brought it near to him, and he did eat, and he brought him wine, and he drank.

 "And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am," signifies the state of the affection of natural truth, that from the external form it then believed itself to be natural good; "and he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's hunting" signifies a longing to conjoin with itself natural truth through good; "that my soul may bless thee," signifies conjunction; "and he brought it near to him, and he did eat," signifies the conjunction of good first; "and he brought him wine, and he drank," signifies the conjunction of truth afterwards.
 
 26-29. And Isaac his father said unto him, Come near I pray, and kiss me my son. And he came near, and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his garments, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Jehovah hath blessed. And God shall give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fat things of the earth, and a multitude of corn and new wine. Peoples shall serve thee, and peoples shall bow down themselves to thee. Be thou a master to thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down themselves to thee; cursed are they that curse thee, and blessed are they that bless thee.
 
 "And Isaac his father said unto him, Come near I pray," signifies a degree of perception still more interior "and kiss me my son," signifies whether it can be united; "and he came near, and kissed him," signifies presence and unition; "and he smelled the smell of his garments," signifies that which was grateful from the truth of good which he perceived; "and blessed him," signifies conjunction thus; "and said, See, the smell of my son," signifies that which was grateful from the truth of good; "is as the smell of a field," signifies as from good ground out of which is truth; "which Jehovah hath blessed," signifies that it is multiplied and made fruitful from the Divine; "and God shall give thee of the dew of heaven," signifies from Divine truth; "and of the fat things of the earth," signifies from Divine good "and a multitude of corn," signifies the derivative natural good; "and new wine," signifies the derivative natural truth; "peoples shall serve thee," signifies the truths of the church, or spiritual churches; "and peoples shall bow down themselves to thee," signifies the truths of good; "Be thou a master to thy brethren," signifies the dominion at first appearing to be that of the affection of natural truth over the affections of natural good; "and let thy mother's sons bow down themselves to thee," signifies over all other affections of truth; "cursed are they that curse thee," signifies that he who disjoins himself shall be disjoined "and blessed are they that bless thee," signifies that he who conjoins himself shall be conjoined.
 
 30-33. And it came to pass as Isaac made an. end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was scarcely yet gone out from the faces of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came from his hunting. And he also made dainties, and brought unto his father; and he said unto his father, Let my father arise and eat of his son's hunting, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? and he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn, Esau. And Isaac shuddered with exceeding great shuddering, and said, Who then is he that hath hunted hunting, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest and blessed him? Yea, and he shall be blessed.
 
 "And it came to pass as Isaac made an end of blessing Jacob," signifies when the first conjunction had been thus effected; "and Jacob was scarcely yet gone out from the faces of Isaac his father," signifies progression and change of state; "that Esau his brother came from his hunting," signifies the truth of good and its arrival; "and he also made dainties, and brought unto his father," signifies things desirable and delightful to the Divine rational; and he said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's hunting," signifies that it should appropriate to itself the truth of natural good "that thy soul may bless me," signifies that there might be conjunction and Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? and he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn, Esau," signifies a state of perception concerning natural good and the derivative truth; "and Isaac shuddered with exceeding great shuddering," signifies a great alteration in respect to the inversion of the state; "and said, Who then is he that hath hunted hunting, and brought it to me," signifies an inquisition concerning that truth; and I have eaten of all before thou camest," signifies that it was appropriated; "and blessed him; yea, and he shall be blessed," signifies that it had been conjoined.
 
34-40. When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with fraud, and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is it not that his name is called Jacob? and he hath supplanted me these two times; he hath taken away my birthright, and behold now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold I have made him thy master, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and new wine have I sustained him; and what then shall I do for thee, my son? And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but this one blessing, my father? Bless me, me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold of the fat things of the earth shall be thy dwelling, and of the dew of heaven from above. And upon thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion that thou shalt break his yoke from upon thy neck.

  "When Esau heard the words of his father," signifies the observation of natural good from Divine good; "he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry," signifies its great alteration in respect to the inversion of the state "and said unto his father, bless me, me also, O my father," signifies that it longed for conjunction, even although by what had gone before truth had been conjoined; "and he said, Thy brother came with fraud," signifies what is inverted of order; and hath taken away thy blessing," signifies conjunction in that manner;

[3] "and he said, Is it not that his name is called Jacob," signifies its quality "and he hath supplanted me these two times," signifies that it had inverted order "he hath taken away my birthright, signifies the loss of the priority; "and behold now he hath taken away my blessing," signifies the loss of the conjunction; "and he sad, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me," signifies whether there was for it anything in respect to conjunction in that former state;

[4] "and Isaac answered and said unto Esau," signifies instruction; "behold I have made him thy master," signifies that in that state it should have the dominion; "and all his brethren have I given to him for servants," signifies that to the affection of truth at that time there had apparently been subordinated the affections of good; "and with corn and new wine have I sustained him," signifies, as before, its good and truth; and what then shall I do for thee, my son," signifies that in that state there is nothing else for good;

[5] "and Esau said unto his father," signifies the observation of natural good; "hast thou but this one blessing, my father," signifies whether in that case anything else could be adjoined from natural good " bless me, me also, O my father," signifies that it longed for conjunction even although thereby truth had been conjoined and Esau lifted up his voice, and wept," signifies a further state of alteration

[6] "and Isaac his father answered and said unto him,-" signifies perception concerning natural good, that it would be made Divine "behold, of the fat things of the earth shall be thy dwelling," signifies that life is from the Divine good; "and of the dew of heaven from above," signifies that it is from the Divine truth;

[7] "and upon thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother," signifies that so long as truth is being conjoined with good, good will in appearance be in a lower place; "and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion," signifies that it shall be in the prior place; "that thou shalt break his yoke from upon thy neck," signifies that the conjunction would then be through good, and that truth would be of good.
 
 41-45. 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 draw near, and I will kill Jacob my brother. And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called unto Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold Esau thy brother comforteth himself concerning thee to kill thee. And now my son hearken unto my voice, and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran. And tarry with him some days until thy brother's wrath turn away, until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him, and I will send and take thee from thence; why should I be bereaved even of you both in one day?
 
 "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him," signifies that natural good was averse to the inverted conjunction of truth "and Esau said in his heart," signifies thought; "the days of mourning for my father draw near, and I will kill Jacob my brother," signifies the inversion and privation of the self-derived life of truth "and the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah," signifies the Lord's perception from Divine truth concerning the animus or purpose of natural good at that time "and she sent and called unto Jacob her younger son, and said unto him," signifies the state of observation of the affection of truth from influx through Divine truth; "behold Esau thy brother comforteth himself concerning thee to kill thee," signifies the purpose to invert the state and deprive truth of self-derived life; "and now my son hearken unto my voice, and arise," signifies delay as yet; "flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran," signifies to the affection of external or corporeal good; "and tarry with him some days," signifies what is successive; "until thy brother's wrath turn away," signifies until the state turns thereto "until thy brother's anger turn away from thee," signifies what is successive of the state with natural good; "and he forget that which thou hast done to him," signifies habit acquired from the delay; "and I will send and take thee from thence," signifies then the end; "why should I be bereaved even of you both in one day," signifies that otherwise there would be no conjunction.
 
46. And Rebekah said to Isaac, I loathe my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob should take a woman of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, wherefore have I lives?

 "And Rebekah said to Isaac," signifies the Lord's perception from Divine truth; "I loathe my life because of the daughters of Heth," signifies the adjunction of natural truth from another source; "if Jacob should take a woman of the daughters of Heth," signifies that natural truth should not be associated therewith; "such as these, of the daughters of the land," signifies because not from that ground; "wherefore have I lives?" signifies that thus there would not be conjunction. [AC 3492-3623]

Author: Emanuel Swedenborg

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