Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/256

Rh The Book of Genesis

23cS

But it 1)rought with it sin and sorrow and suffering for him and all his family. But to him who doeth righteousness and worketh good, who lifteth not up his soul to falsehood nor sweareth deceitfully, nor taketh God's name

vain,

in

who

honoreth father and mother, and bringeth peace and kind-

him cometh

ness to brothers and fellowmen, to blessing, the blessing of

he

is

fit

to

Father of

(lod, the

all

the greatest

men.

And

ascend into the mountain of the Lord, and to

stand in God's very presence.

XOTES V.

13.

A

curse,

But

recalled.

it

a

like

blessing,

might be diverted

once uttered, could not be

if

some person other than the

to

one for whom it was intended, particularly if that second person were willing to take it upon himself. Therefore Rebekah saj's, "Upon me be the curse". These words alone sufficed to turn any curse which Isaac might utter against Jacob upon her. And Jacob selihshly permitted this great sacrifice on the part of his mother. V. 21. This verse seems to imply that Isaac suddenly became suspicious of Jacob, of course, as the next verse tells, because his oice sounded so little like Esau's. But the rabbis told that the reason for Isaac's suspicion was because Jacob had mentioned the name of the Lord (v. 20), which Esau had never done. . 12.

The

"The voice

expression,

is

the voice of Jacob, but the

hands are the hands of Esau", lias become proverbial for any harsh, deceitful act which follows fair promises. This may be explained to the children.

23 tells that Isaac blessecF Jacob even before his suspicions were completely quieted, and before he had eaten of the food which Jacob

had brought.

It is clear that this

the continuity of

blessing

V. the

is

28.

heavy

Hence

the

recounted In

and

in

proper place

its

Palestine,

dewfall

is

verse comes too soon, and disturbs

story,

of

is

therefore a late insertion. in

vv.

where the rainfall is extreme importance

the reference to the

dew

of heaven here.

The

27ff.

frequently in

dehcient,

agricultural

I'alestine

is

Hfe.

primarily

an agricultural country; and this first verse of the blessing invokes agricultural abundance. V. 29. By "mother's sons" and again by "bretliren" in v. 37 is meant not brothers other than Esau, for there were none such, but only other relatives and descendants. Similarlv Abraham calls Lot \n