40. And you will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother; and the time will come when thou shalt resist, and cast off his yoke from thy neck.

"To live by the sword" – the life of robber attacks on caravans and travelers – such, indeed, was the life of the Idumeans. Isaac's prophecy on them is fulfilled with accuracy. At first, Esau's descendants grow, become rich, and have kings before Israel (36:31[827]). But already the 1st king of Israel, Saul, was successful against Edom (1 Kings 14:47[828]), and under David all the Edomites became slaves (2 Kings 8:14[829]), and then, with the exception of individual rebellions under Solomon (1 Kings 11:14[830]), Ahaz (2 Kings 14:7[831]), etc., after the destruction of the remnants of Edom (Amos 9:11-12;[ 832] Jer. 49:17[833]), finally, under I. Hyrcanus, through circumcision, finally became part of the Jewish state. But "the time has come" – according to the Targum: "When Israel rejected the yoke of the law, she cast off its yoke by Edom," – and in the person of Herod Vel. and of his house Judah received even kings from the Edomites.

41. Jacob's motives to flee.

41. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand, and I will kill Jacob my brother.

Esau hated Jacob with a secret, insidious hatred (in time, however, he forgot the injury done to him by Jacob, 32:4, 9, 12), but out of respect for his father, he decided to postpone vengeance until his expected death.

42. And the words of Esau, her eldest son, were told to Rebekah; And she sent, and called her youngest son Jacob, and said to him, Behold, Esau thy brother threatens to kill thee;

43. And now, my son, listen to my words, get up, flee (to Mesopotamia) to Laban my brother, to Haran,

44. And stay with him for a while, until your brother's wrath is quenched,

45. Until your brother's anger against you is quenched, and he forgets what you have done to him, then I will send and take you from there; Why should I lose both of you in one day?

46. And Rebekah said to Isaac, "I do not rejoice in life because of the daughters of the Hittites; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of the Hittites, such as these, from the daughters of this land, then what good is my life for?

He expressed this intention openly, as Rebekah learned, and prudently sends Jacob to Haran to Laban (for "certain days," i.e., a few), revealing only to Jacob himself the meaning of this journey (v. 42-45), and to Isaac giving another reason – to find a bride from a kindred family (v. 46). Thus, "God put into her mind everything that could contribute to the future dispensation and salvation of her son" (St. John Chrysostom, p. 579).

Chapter 28.

1-9. The flight of Jacob and the remarriage of Esau.