Genesis 27

Genesis 27:4

Gen. 27:4. It was probably the manner, in those days, for parents, when they grew old and expected to die in a little time, to make a feast and to eat and drink with their children, when they gave them their blessing and their dying charges, and so did, as it were, make their Will. Their dying testament, or blessing, was something like a Covenant; but it was the manner of those, when they made a Covenant with any, to make a feast and eat and drink together (chap. Genesis 26:30; Genesis 31:46). When they gave their children the blessing, they then, as it were, took their leave of them. And when near friends took their leave one of another, they were wont to eat and drink together.

So Rebekah’s friends took their leave of her (Genesis 24:54). So did the Levite’s father-in-law take leave of him and his daughter, the Levite’s wife, in Judges 19. So God, when He makes His testament or covenant with us, doth it, as it were, at a feast. Of old, when the people entered into solemn covenant with God, they were wont to make a feast and feasted before the Lord; and almost all solemnities were attended with feasting. The Patriarchs thus blessing their children before their death, exhibits to us a proof of the covenant of grace, which is, as it were, Christ’s Last Will and Testament to His people.

Gen. 27:29

Genesis 27:29

Gen. 27:29. “Let the 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.” Hence we learn that the prophets themselves may not understand their prophecies, for Jacob thought that this should be accomplished of Esau.