And Isaac said unto Jacob, come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son ,.... Still suspecting some fraud in the case; and whereas he knew that Esau was a hairy man, and Jacob smooth, he thought by feeling he could discover the imposture, if there was any: whether thou be my very son Esau, or not ; which he still pretty much questioned. read more
And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father ,.... Boldly and without trembling; which he could the better do, as his father could not see him, and so not capable of discerning any change in his countenance or outward behaviour: and he felt him ; some parts of his body, especially his hands: and said, the voice is Jacob's voice ; very like it, as if it was the same, as indeed it was: but the hands are the hands of Esau ; are like them, being hairy as they; or, as the Targums of... read more
And he discerned him not ,.... As he could not see, he could make no judgment by that sense; and, though he had his hearing, and thought the voice was like Jacob's, he might imagine there might be an alteration in Esau's voice, coming in haste and weary from the fields; yet, as there could not be any deception in his feeling, he thought it safest to trust to that, as it follows: because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau's hands ; which could not in a short time become so... read more
And said, art thou my very son Esau ?.... Still having some doubt on his mind whether he really was so or not, because of his voice: and he said, I am ; as for the observation of Jarchi upon this, in order to excuse Jacob from lying, that he does not say, "I am Esau", only "I", it will not do, since it is an answer to Isaac's question, with a design to deceive him; and he intended by it that he should understand him as he did, that he was really Esau. read more
And he said, bring it near to me ,.... Being in a good measure satisfied that it must be Esau that was with him, he agreed that he should set his savoury meat before him he had prepared and brought to him: and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee ; this showed that as yet he had not blessed him, at least that the main and principal blessing was yet to come: and he brought it near to him, and he did eat ; set it on a table before him, and guided his hands to... read more
And his father Isaac said unto him ,.... After he had eat and drank, and the repast was over, and all were took away: come near now, and kiss me, my son ; which was desired either out of affection to him, excited by this instance of preparing such savoury and agreeable food; or else having some suspicion still, and willing to have more satisfaction before he proceeded further to bless, from the smell of his breath, and of his garments, read more
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy - From this circumstance we may learn that Isaac's sense of feeling was much impaired by his present malady. When he could not discern the skin of a kid from the flesh of his son, we see that he was, through his infirmity, in a fit state to be imposed on by the deceit of his wife, and the cunning of his younger son. read more
Verse 21 21.Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee. It hence appears that the holy man was suspicious of fraud, and therefore hesitated. Whence it may seem that the benediction was vain, seeing it had no support of faith. But it thus pleased God so to perform his work by the hand of Isaac, as not to make him, who was the instrument, a willing furtherer of his design. Nor is it absurd that Isaac, like a blind man, should ignorantly transfer the blessing to a different person from him whom... read more
Verse 26 26.Come near now, and kiss me. We know that the practice of kissing was then in use, which many nations retain to this day. Profane men, however, may say, that it is ludicrous for an old man, whose mind was already obtuse, and who moreover had eaten and drunk heartily, should pour forth his benedictions upon a person who was only acting a part. (47) But whereas Moses has previously recorded the oracle of God, by which the adoption was destined for the younger son, it behoves us... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 27:18-29
Observe here, I. The art and assurance with which Jacob managed this intrigue. Who would have thought that this plain man could have played his part so well in a design of this nature? His mother having put him in the way of it, and encouraged him in it, he dexterously applied himself to those methods which he had never accustomed himself to, but had always conceived an abhorrence of. Note, Lying is soon learnt. The psalmist speaks of those who, as soon as they are born, speak lies, Ps. 58:3;... read more