When Isaac was old and nearly blind, he said one day to Esau: Take thy
quiver and thy bow, go out to the field, and take me venison, and make
me savory food, that I may eat thereof and bless thee before I die.
Rebekah, who heard this, told Jacob to go to the father in Esau’s stead
and obtain the blessing. Jacob answered: My brother is a hairy man, and
I am a smooth man. My father may feel me, and I shall bring a curse upon
me, and not a blessing. But she persuaded him, killed two kids of the
goats and made savory food, and she put the skins of the kids of goats
upon Jacob’s hands and neck, and he went to his father and asked for the
blessing. Isaac said: How is it that thou found it so quickly, my son?
Jacob answered: The Lord thy God sent me good speed. Isaac said: Come
nearer, my son, that I may feel thee. And he felt him and said: The
voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he did
eat of Jacob’s food, and blessed him and set him as lord over his
brother, as if he were the first-born, and said: Cursed be every one
that curseth thee, and blessed be every one that blesseth thee.
Jacob was scarce gone out before Esau came in from his hunting, made
savory food, and brought it in to his father and said: Let my father eat
of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. Isaac said: Who art
thou? Esau answered: I am Esau, thy first-born son. Then Isaac trembled
exceedingly and said: Who then is he that hath taken venison and brought
it to me, and I have eaten of it, and blessed him? and he shall be
blessed. Esau answered: Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? Bless
even me also, O my father! And he lifted up his voice and wept. And
Isaac said: By thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy
brother.--Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing, and threatened to
slay him when his father died. Then said Rebekah unto Jacob: Flee to my
brother Laban, and tarry with him until thy brother’s fury turn away.
(Gen. 27.)