Study Desk

Isaac was now old, and had become blind. He called to his older son Esau, saying, "My son." And Esau answered, "Here I am."

And Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for meat to bring home,

Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, "But my brother Esau has much hair. And my skin is smooth.

His mother said to him, "The curse will come upon me instead of you, my son. You do what I say, and go get them for me."

So Jacob went and got them, and brought them to his mother. And his mother made good-tasting food, just what his father loved to eat.

She put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.

Then he went to his father and said, "My father." Isaac said, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?"

Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau, your first-born. I have done as you told me. Sit up and eat the meat I brought, so you will pray that good will come to me."

But Isaac said to his son, "How have you found it so fast, my son?" And Jacob said, "Because the Lord your God made it happen."

So Jacob came near his father Isaac. Isaac touched him, and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice. But the hands are Esau's hands."

He did not know who he was, because his hands were covered with hair like his brother Esau's hands. So Isaac prayed that good would come to him.

Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come near and kiss me, my son."

So Jacob came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he prayed that good would come to him. He said, "The smell of my son is like the smell of a field that has received good from the Lord.

When Isaac had finished praying that good would come to Jacob, Jacob left his father Isaac. Just then his brother Esau came in from hunting.

Then Esau made good-tasting food and brought it to his father, and said, "Sit up, my father, and eat the meat your son has made ready, so you will pray that good will come to me."

His father Isaac said to him, "Who are you?" He answered, "I am your son, your first-born, Esau."

When he heard what his father said, Esau cried out with a loud and sad cry. He said to his father, "Pray that good will come to me also, O my father!"

Isaac answered Esau, "See, I have made him to rule over you. I have given him all his brothers as servants. I have given him grain and new wine to keep him alive and well. What then can I do for you, my son?"

Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one prayer for good to come, my father? Pray that good will come to me also, O my father." And Esau gave out a loud cry.

Then his father Isaac answered him: "See, the place where you live will be away from the riches of the earth, and away from the water on the grass in the early morning.