Bible Commentaries

The record of the death of Abraham is full of beauty. His life had been spent in the realm of the supernatural, the region of vision, the power of the spiritual. The whole of it is summed up in the words which declared that he died, "an old man, and full." His life was satisfied and rounded out to completion. He had started out to find a land and to found a nation. He died with no possession but a grave, and no sight of his posterity other than his son Isaac and his grandsons Esau and Jacob. Yet he died "full," that is, satisfied.

In this chapter begins the section dealing more especially with the life of Isaac. Two divine appearances are recorded as having been granted to him and in each case they were for ratification. His faith was ever passive rather than active and produced rest rather than initiation.

In the account of the birth of Esau and Jacob the brothers are placed in strong contrast; the first wild and romantic; the second, as the margin reads, "harmless" or "perfect," a dweller in tents. This is an interesting statement at the beginning of a story in which so much will be seen of Jacob that is mean and contemptible. Here, however, is the truth concerning him.

Degeneration in the character of Isaac is evidently marked in the statement that his love for Esau was caused by his eating Esau's venison. Neither Esau nor Jacob is to be admired. The one, profane, allowing the lower side of his nature to master him, sold his birthright to appease physical hunger; the other took advantage of that hunger to obtain the birthright.