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Genesis 27 ... page 28
where he set up their tents and settled down.
18He reopened the wells his father had dug,
which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.
19 Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley
and discovered a well of fresh water. 20But then
the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the
spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac
named the well Esek (which means “argument”).
21 Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again
there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). 22Abandoning
that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well.
This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac
named the place Rehoboth (which means “open
space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created
enough space for us to prosper in this land.”
23 From there Isaac moved to Beersheba,
24where the Lord appeared to him on the night
of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with
you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I
will do this because of my promise to Abraham,
my servant.” 25 Then Isaac built an altar there
and worshiped the Lord. He set up his camp at
that place, and his servants dug another well.
Isaac’s Covenant
with Abimelech
26One day King Abimelech came from Gerar
with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol, his
army commander. 27 “ Why have you come
here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me,
since you kicked me off your land.”
28They replied, “We can plainly see that the
Lord is with you. So we want to enter into a
sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant.
29 Swear that you will not harm us, just as we
have never troubled you. We have always
treated you well, and we sent you away from us
in peace. And now look how the Lord has
blessed you!”
30So Isaac prepared a covenant feast to celebrate the treaty, and they ate and drank together.
31 Early the next morning, they each took a solemn oath not to interfere with each other. Then
Isaac sent them home again, and they left him in
peace.
32 That very day Isaac’s servants came and told
him about a new well they had dug. “We’ve
found water!” they exclaimed. 33 So Isaac named
the well Shibah (which means “oath”). And to
this day the town that grew up there is called
Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”).
34At the age of forty, Esau married two Hittite
wives: Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon. 35 But Esau’s wives
made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.
CHAPTER
27
Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing
One day when Isaac was old and turning blind,
he called for Esau, his older son, and said, “My
son.”
“Yes, Father?” Esau replied.
2 “I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and I
don’t know when I may die. 3 Take your bow
and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the
open country to hunt some wild game for me.
4Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for
me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing
that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I
die.”
5 But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said
to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the
wild game, 6she said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I
overheard your father say to Esau, 7‘Bring me
some wild game and prepare me a delicious
meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord’s presence
before I die.’ 8Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. 9 Go out to the flocks, and bring
me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare
your father’s favorite dish. 10Then take the food
to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.”
11“But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my
brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is
smooth. 12 What if my father touches me? He’ll
see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll
curse me instead of blessing me.”
13But his mother replied, “Then let the curse
fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go out
and get the goats for me!”
14So Jacob went out and got the young goats
for his mother. Rebekah took them and prepared
a delicious meal, just the way Isaac liked it.
15 Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes, which
were there in the house, and gave them to her
younger son, Jacob. 16She covered his arms and
the smooth part of his neck with the skin of the
young goats. 17 Then she gave Jacob the delicious
meal, including freshly baked bread.
18So Jacob took the food to his father. “My
father?” he said.
“Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who are you—
Esau or Jacob?”
19Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son.
