will the first birthright avail me?” Jacob answered: “Swear, therefore, to me.” Esau swore[1] and sold his birthright. And taking bread and the mess of pottage, he ate and drank and went away, making little account of having sold his birthright.
Now Isaac was old[2] and had lost his eyesight. One day he called Esau, his son, and said to him: “My son, thou seest I am old, and I know not the day of my death. Take thy arms, thy quiver[3] and bow, and go abroad[4]; and when thou hast taken something by hunting, make me savoury meat thereof, as thou knowest I like, and bring it that I may eat, and my soul may bless thee before I die.” Esau promptly obeyed the command of his father, and went to the fields to hunt. Rebecca had overheard the words of Isaac, and fearing that, contrary to the will of God, Esau might be preferred to Jacob, she said to him: “Now, my son, follow my counsel. Go to the flock and bring me two of the best kids, that I may make of them meat for thy father, such as he gladly eateth; so that, after having eaten it, he may bless thee before he die.” Jacob hastened to the flock and brought two kids. Rebecca prepared them as though they were game, and then clothed Jacob in Esau’s best garments, and covered his neck and hands with the skin of the kids[5], and sent him to his father with the meats she had prepared. Isaac asked: “Who art thou, my son?” Jacob answered: “I am Esau, thy first-born; I have done as thou hast commanded; arise, sit, and eat of my venison that thy soul may bless me.” Isaac said again:
- ↑ Swore. He swore to give over to Jacob his birthright, or his right of eldest son. The first-born son received a double portion of his father’s inheritance, and after his father’s death he became the head and priest of the family. In the time of the patriarchs, it entailed not only these temporal advantages, but spiritual advantages also, for by his father’s blessing the first-born was made the heir of the divine promises. Hence in those old and venerable patriarchal days children esteemed their father’s blessing very highly. It was to them the most valuable part of the paternal inheritance, and was like a sacrament, by means of which God conveyed to them the blessing which He had imparted to their forefathers, and made them the heirs of the promises ( Dupanloup , De l’Education). It was, therefore, most foolish and frivolous of Esau to sell these important rights for a mere mess of pottage!
- ↑ Old. He was 137 years old and quite blind.
- ↑ Quiver. A sheath in which arrows are placed, something like the sheath into which a soldier puts his sword.
- ↑ Abroad. Out hunting.
- ↑ Skin of the kids. The skins of the Angora-goat, the hair of which is very soft.
