Scheming
(1-minute read)
In a thrilling turn of fate, the aged Isaac, nearly blind, calls upon Esau, his eldest son, to receive a final blessing before his death. But Rebekah, overhearing the plan, sets a scheme in motion, sending Jacob to deceive his father and steal the blessing intended for his brother. Disguised as Esau, Jacob receives the sacred words of inheritance, securing the promise meant for another. When Esau returns, only to find the blessing already given, he weeps bitterly, and a deep-seated hatred for his brother is born, setting the stage for a powerful and dangerous family conflict.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
GENESIS
48%
JASHER
12%
JUBILEES
40%
Exposition
J: 45 | Y: 2178 | Isaac asks Esau for a meal so he can bless him
Genesis 27:1-4, Jasher 29:1-2, Jubilees 26:1-2
Rising Action
Esau leaves and Rebekah conspires with Jacob
Genesis 27:5-10, Jasher 29:3-5, Jubilees 26:3-6
Jacob thinks the plan won’t work but trusts his mother
Genesis 27:11-13, Jubilees 26:7-9
Jacob and Rebekah move forward with the plan
Genesis 27:14-17, Jasher 29:6, Jubilees 26:10-12
Climax
Jacob deceives his father
Genesis 27:18-27, Jasher 29:7, Jubilees 26:13-22
Isaac blesses Jacob
Genesis 27:28-29, Jubilees 26:23-24
Falling Action
Jacob learns the truth
Genesis 27:30-36, Jasher 29:8-10, Jubilees 26:25-30
Resolution
Jacob blesses Esau
Genesis 27:37-40, Jubilees 26:31-34
Jubilee: 45
Year: 2178
Isaac asks Esau for a meal so he can bless him
Genesis 27:1-4
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
Jasher 29:1-2
1 And Isaac the son of Abraham became old and advanced in days, and his eyes became heavy through age; they were dim and could not see.
2 At that time Isaac called unto Esau his son, saying, Get I pray thee thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, rise up and go forth into the field and get me some venison, and make me savory meat and bring it to me, that I may eat in order that I may bless thee before my death, as I have now become old and gray-headed.
Jubilees 26:1-2
1 And in the seventh year of this week Isaac called Esau, his elder Son, and said unto him: ‘ I am [2114 A.M.] old, my son, and behold my eyes are dim in seeing, and I know not the day of my death.
2 And now take thy hunting weapons thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and hunt and catch me (venison), my son, and make me savoury meat, such as my soul loveth, and bring it to me that I may eat, and that my soul may bless thee before I die.’
Esau leaves and Rebekah conspires with Jacob
Genesis 27:5-10
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.
Jasher 29:3-5
3 And Esau did so; and he took his weapon and went forth into the field to hunt for venison, as usual, to bring to his father as he had ordered him, so that he might bless him.
4 And Rebecca heard all the words that Isaac had spoken unto Esau, and she hastened and called her son Jacob, saying, Thus did thy father speak unto thy brother Esau, and thus did I hear, now therefore hasten thou and make that which I shall tell thee.
5 Rise up and go, I pray thee, to the flock and fetch me two fine kids of the goats, and I will get the savory meat for thy father, and thou shalt bring the savory meat that he may eat before thy brother shall have come from the chase, in order that thy father may bless thee.
Jubilees 26:3-6
3 But Rebecca heard Isaac speaking to Esau.
4 And Esau went forth early to the field to hunt and catch and bring home to his father.
5 And Rebecca called Jacob, her son, and said unto him: ‘Behold, I heard Isaac, thy father, speak unto Esau, thy brother, saying: “Hunt for me, and make me savoury meat, and bring (it) to me that
6 I may eat and bless thee before the Lord before I die.” And now, my son, obey my voice in that which I command thee: Go to thy flock and fetch me two good kids of the goats, and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loves, and thou shalt bring (it) to thy father that he may eat and bless thee before the Lord before he die, and that thou mayst be blessed.’
Jacob thinks the plan won’t work but trusts his mother
Genesis 27:11-13
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
Jubilees 26:7-9
7 And Jacob said to Rebecca his mother: ‘Mother, I shall not withhold anything which my father would eat, and which would please him: only I fear, my mother, that he will recognise my voice and wish to touch me.
8 And thou knowest that I am smooth, and Esau, my brother, is hairy, and I shall appear before his eyes as an evildoer, and shall do a deed which he had not commanded me, and he will be wroth with me, and I shall bring upon myself a curse, and not a blessing.’
9 And Rebecca, his mother, said unto him: ‘Upon me be thy curse, my son, only obey my voice.’
Jacob and Rebekah move forward with the plan
Genesis 27:14
14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.
Jasher 29:6
6 And Jacob hastened and did as his mother had commanded him, and he made the savory meat and brought it before his father before Esau had come from his chase.
Jubilees 26:10
10 And Jacob obeyed the voice of Rebecca, his mother, and went and fetched two good and fat kids of the goats, and brought them to his mother, and his mother made them ~savoury meat~ such as he loved.
Genesis 27:15-17
15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
Jubilees 26:11-12
11 And Rebecca took the goodly raiment of Esau, her elder son, which was with her in the house, and she clothed Jacob, her younger son, (with them), and she put the skins of the kids upon his hands and on the exposed parts of his neck.
12 And she gave the meat and the bread which she had prepared into the hand of her son Jacob.
Jacob deceives his father
Genesis 27:18-19
18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
Jasher 29:7
7 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Who art thou, my son? And he said, I am thy first born Esau, I have done as thou didst order me, now therefore rise up I pray thee, and eat of my hunt, in order that thy soul may bless me as thou didst speak unto me.
Jubilees 26:13
13 And Jacob went in to his father and said: ‘I am thy son: I have done according as thou badest me: arise and sit and eat of that which I have caught, father, that thy soul may bless me.’
Genesis 27:20-27
20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.
21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.
26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
Jubilees 26:14-22
14 And Isaac said to his son: ‘How hast thou found so quickly, my son?
15 ‘And Jacob said: ‘Because <the Lord> thy God caused me to find.’
16 And Isaac said unto him: Come near, that I may feel thee, my son, if thou art my son Esau or not.’
17 And Jacob went near to Isaac, his father, and he felt him and said: ‘The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau,’
18 and he discerned him not, because it was a dispensation from heaven to remove his power of perception and Isaac discerned not, for his hands were hairy as his brother Esau’s, so that he blessed him.
19 And he said: ‘Art thou my son Esau? ‘ and he said: ‘I am thy son’: and he said, ‘Bring near to me that I may eat of that which thou hast caught, my son, that my soul may bless thee.’
20 And he brought near to him, and he did eat, and he brought him wine and he drank.
21 And Isaac, his father, said unto him: ‘Come near and kiss me, my son.
22 And he came near and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his raiment, and he blessed him and said: ‘Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a <full> field which the Lord hath blessed.
Isaac blesses Jacob
Genesis 27:28-29
28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
Jubilees 26:23-24
23 And may the Lord give thee of the dew of heaven And of the dew of the earth, and plenty of corn and oil: Let nations serve thee, And peoples bow down to thee.
24 Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee; And may all the blessings wherewith the Lord hath blessed me and blessed Abraham, my father; Be imparted to thee and to thy seed for ever: Cursed be he that curseth thee, And blessed be he that blesseth thee.’
Jacob learns the truth
Genesis 27:30-31
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.
Jasher 29:8
8 And Isaac rose up and he ate and he drank, and his heart was comforted, and he blessed Jacob and Jacob went away from his father; and as soon as Isaac had blessed Jacob and he had gone away from him, behold Esau came from his hunt from the field, and he also made savory meat and brought it to his father to eat thereof and to bless him.
Jubilees 26:25-26
25 And it came to pass as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing his son Jacob, and Jacob had gone forth from Isaac his father he hid himself and Esau, his brother, came in from his hunting.
26 And he also made savoury meat, and brought (it) to his father, and said unto his father: ‘Let my father arise, and eat of my venison that thy soul may bless me.’
Genesis 27:32
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
Jubilees 26:27
27 And Isaac, his father, said unto him: ‘Who art thou? ‘And he said unto him: ‘I am thy first born, thy son Esau: I have done as thou hast commanded me.’
Genesis 27:33
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
Jasher 29:9
9 And Isaac said unto Esau, And who was he that has taken venison and brought it me before thou camest and whom I did bless? And Esau knew that his brother Jacob had done this, and the anger of Esau was kindled against his brother Jacob that he had acted thus toward him.
Jubilees 26:28
28 And Isaac was very greatly astonished, and said: ‘Who is he that hath hunted and caught and brought (it) to me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him: (and) he shall be blessed, and all his seed for ever.’
Genesis 27:34
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
Jubilees 26:29
29 And it came to pass when Esau heard the words of his father Isaac that he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father: ‘Bless me, (even) me also, father.’
Genesis 27:35-36
35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
Jasher 29:10a
10a And Esau said, Is he not rightly called Jacob? for he has supplanted me twice, he took away my birthright and now he has taken away my blessing; and Esau wept greatly;
Jubilees 26:30
30 And he said unto him: ‘Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing.’ And he said: ‘Now I know why his name is named Jacob: behold, he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birth-right, and now he hath taken away my blessing.’
Jasher 29:10b
10b and when Isaac heard the voice of his son Esau weeping, Isaac said unto Esau, What can I do, my son, thy brother came with subtlety and took away thy blessing; and Esau hated his brother Jacob on account of the blessing that his father had given him, and his anger was greatly roused against him.
Jacob blesses Esau
Genesis 27:37-40
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
Jubilees 26:31-34
31 And he said: ‘Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me, father?’ and Isaac answered and said unto Esau: ‘Behold, I have made him thy lord, And all his brethren have I given to him for servants, And with plenty of corn and wine and oil have I strengthened him: And what now shall I do for thee, my son?’
32 And Esau said to Isaac, his father: ‘Hast thou but one blessing, O father? Bless me, (even) me also, father: ‘
33 And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. And Isaac answered and said unto him: ‘Behold, far from the dew of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And far from the dew of heaven from above.
34 And by thy sword wilt thou live, And thou wilt serve thy brother. And it shall come to pass when thou becomest great, And dost shake his yoke from off thy neck, Thou shalt sin a complete sin unto death, And thy seed shall be rooted out from under heaven.’
No notes.
(11-minute read)
Exposition
J: 45 | Y: 2178 | Isaac asks Esau for a meal so he can bless him
Genesis 27:1-4, Jasher 29:1-2, Jubilees 26:1-2
And it came to pass in the 7th year of this week, that when Isaac, the son of Abraham, was old and his eyesight had grown weak so that he could no longer see, he called his oldest son Esau and said, “My son.”
And Esau answered him, “Here I am.”
Then Isaac said, “Look, I’m old, and I don’t know how much time I have left. So now, take your weapons—your quiver and your bow—go out into the field, and hunt some game for me. Prepare for me the kind of tasty food that I love, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
Rising Action
Esau leaves and Rebekah conspires with Jacob
Genesis 27:5-10, Jasher 29:3-5, Jubilees 26:3-6
Rebekah overheard when Isaac spoke to Esau, and Esau went out early that morning to the field, as usual, to hunt game and bring it back.
Then Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Listen, I heard your father speaking to your brother Esau. He said, ‘Bring me game and prepare a savory meal for me to eat, so that I may bless you before the LORD before I die.’ So now, my son, do what I tell you. Go to the flock and bring me 2 good young goats, and I will prepare a delicious meal for your father, just the way he likes it. Then you will bring it to your father so he can eat and bless you before he dies.”
Jacob thinks the plan won’t work but trusts his mother
Genesis 27:11-13, Jubilees 26:7-9
But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “Mother, I’ll get him anything he wants to eat, anything that will please him—but I’m worried he’ll recognize my voice and want to touch me. Look, my brother Esau is hairy, and I have smooth skin. What if my father touches me? He’ll think I’m trying to trick him, and I’ll end up cursed instead of blessed.”
His mother said, “Let the curse fall on me, my son. Just do as I say and go get them for me.”
Jacob and Rebekah move forward with the plan
Genesis 27:14-17, Jasher 29:6, Jubilees 26:10-12
Jacob followed his mother’s instructions. He went and brought her 2 good, fat young goats, and she prepared a savory meal just the way Isaac liked it.
Then Rebekah took Esau’s best clothes, which she kept with her in the house, and dressed Jacob, her younger son, in them. She also put the skins of the goats on Jacob’s hands and the smooth part of his neck. Then she handed Jacob the food and bread she had prepared.
Climax
Jacob deceives his father
Genesis 27:18-27, Jasher 29:7, Jubilees 26:13-22
Jacob went in to his father and said, “My father.”
Isaac answered, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”
Jacob said to his father, “I’m Esau, your firstborn. I’ve done what you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you can bless me.”
Isaac asked, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”
Jacob replied, “Because the LORD your God brought it to me.”
Then Isaac said, “Come closer so I can feel you, my son, to know whether you are really Esau or not.”
Jacob went closer to his father Isaac, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are Esau’s hands.”
He didn’t recognize him, because it had been ordained from heaven to take away Isaac’s discernment. Since Jacob’s hands were hairy like Esau’s, Isaac blessed him. Then he asked again, “Are you really my son Esau?”
And Jacob said, “I am.”
Isaac said, “Bring the food to me so I may eat my son’s game and bless you.”
Jacob brought it to him, and he ate. Then he brought him wine, and he drank. Afterward, Isaac said to him, “Come closer now and kiss me, my son.”
Jacob came close and kissed him. Isaac smelled the scent of his clothes and blessed him, saying, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.”
Isaac blesses Jacob
Genesis 27:28-29, Jubilees 26:23-24
“May God give you the dew of heaven, the richness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. May people serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. May all the blessings that the LORD has given me and gave to Abraham, my father, be passed to you and your descendants forever. Cursed is anyone who curses you, and blessed is everyone who blesses you.”
Falling Action
Jacob learns the truth
Genesis 27:30-36, Jasher 29:8-10, Jubilees 26:25-30
Isaac sat up, ate and drank, and felt content. Just as Isaac finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had barely left his father’s presence, Esau returned from hunting. He had also prepared a savory meal and brought it to his father, saying, “Let my father sit up and eat his son’s game, so that you may bless me.”
Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”
Esau replied, “I am your firstborn, your son Esau. I’ve done what you asked.”
Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Then who was it that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came, and I blessed him—and he will indeed be blessed, and all his descendants forever.”
When Esau realized what Jacob had done, he became furious with his brother. And when he heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry and said, “Bless me too, my father, bless me!”
But Isaac said, “Your brother came in deceitfully and took your blessing.”
Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? He has cheated me twice—first he took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing.”
Then he added, “Haven’t you saved even one blessing for me?”
Esau wept bitterly.
When Isaac heard his son Esau weeping, he said to him, “What can I do, my son? Your brother came in deceitfully and stole your blessing.”
Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him, and his anger burned deeply against him.
Resolution
Jacob blesses Esau
Genesis 27:37-40, Jubilees 26:31-34
Isaac answered Esau, “Look, I’ve made him your master, and I’ve given all his brothers to him as servants. I’ve sustained him with grain and wine—what can I do now for you, my son?”
Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too—me also, O my father!”
And Esau lifted his voice and wept.
Then Isaac his father said, “Look, your dwelling will be in the richness of the earth and the dew from heaven above. You will live by your sword and serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will break his yoke from your neck. You will commit a complete sin unto death, and your descendants will be uprooted from under heaven.”
This chart shows who was alive in the years 2178-2185.