Genesis 27:39 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Genesis 27:39

Comments

What are we to make of this blessing? Isaac had previously protested that there was no blessing left with which he could bless Esau, since he had already unwittingly blessed Jacob instead. Yet now he finds something with which he can comfort Esau. How could he do that? There could be no contradiction between the blessings in the sense that this blessing on Esau took anything away from Jacob, for both blessings were from God. The blessing upon Esau is limited to Esau’s earthly good and this is enough for Esau because his aspirations rise no higher. What is not given to him is the first position which now belongs to Jacob.But how were these words to Esau fulfilled? Ewell writes that, ‘The subservient relationship between the Edomites [descended from Esau] and the Israelites in the time of David continued until the time of Jehoram. Following a rebellion in 845 BC the Edomites gained their independence for a while but were reconquered by Amaziah (796-767 BC). Regaining their freedom in 735 BC, they subsequently remained independent of Judah’ (Elwell p 716). This is recorded in 2 Kings 8:20-22 and 2 Chronicles 21:8-10.

Application

Questions

Some render the words in verse 39 in an unfavourable way, ‘Your dwelling shall be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above’ (Aalders), giving the opposite meaning to the standard interpretation. The thinking behind this is that only an unfavourable rendering is true to the historic facts, for Edom was ‘largely unproductive and lacking in moisture’ (Aalders p 99). The words Isaac uses are almost identical to the terms of the blessing given to Jacob, though the order is reversed, yet some try to make them mean the opposite – ‘away from’ instead of ‘from’. It is also said that the giving of blessings would not agree with what follows, ‘By thy sword wilt thou live’. But there is no necessary contradiction between living by the sword and being fed from the produce of the field. Hebrews says that Isaac blessed both the sons concerning things to come (Hebrews 11:20). Is the word ‘blessed’ used in opposite senses for each of the sons? Surely not.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Genesis 27:39 Commentary and Bible Study