Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 27:41

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Genesis 27:41

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Genesis 27:41

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then will I slay my brother Jacob." — Genesis 27:41 (ASV)

JACOB IS SENT AWAY BY HIS FATHER AND MOTHER TO HARAN.

The days of mourning for my father are at hand. —Esau evidently expected that his father’s death was near, and such also was Isaac’s own expectation (Genesis 27:2); but he recovered, and lived for more than half a century. Perhaps on this account another translation has been suggested, namely, “Days of mourning for my father are at hand: for I will slay Jacob.” But there is no support for this in the Hebrew, and it represents Esau as utterly inhuman; whereas, with all his faults, he had a warm, loving heart. Genesis 28:1 ought to have begun here, as the break at the end of Genesis 27:46 is very injurious to the meaning.