Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 27:41-46

"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. And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah. And she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, [purposing] to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. And arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran. And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother`s fury turn away. Until thy brother`s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him. Then I will send, and fetch thee from thence. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day? And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?" — Genesis 27:41-46 (ASV)

Esau harbored malice against Jacob because of the blessing Jacob had obtained. In this way, Esau followed the path of Cain, who killed his brother because his brother gained the acceptance with God that Cain himself had become unworthy of. Esau aimed to prevent Jacob or his seed from having dominion by taking Jacob's life. People may fret over God's plans, but they cannot change them.

To prevent harm, Rebekah warned Jacob of his danger and advised him to withdraw for his safety. We must not rely too much on the wisdom and resolution, even of the most hopeful and promising children; instead, care must be taken to keep them out of the way of evil. When reading this chapter, we should certainly observe, that we must not follow even the best of people further than they act according to the law of God.

We must not do evil that good may come. And though God overruled the bad actions recorded in this chapter to fulfil his purposes, yet we see his judgment of them in the painful consequences for all those involved. It was Jacob's special privilege and advantage to convey these spiritual blessings to all nations. The Christ, the Saviour of the world, was to be born of one particular family; and Jacob's was preferred to Esau's, according to the good pleasure of Almighty God, who is certainly the best judge of what is fit and has an unquestionable right to distribute his favours as he deems proper (Romans 9:12–15).