Scheming
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
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
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.
Exposition
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 eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, “My son.”
And he said to him, “Behold, here am I.”
And he said, “Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. Now therefore take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; and make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul 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
And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field as usual early in the morning to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ‘Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless you before the LORD before my death.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from there 2 good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for your father, such as he loves: And you will bring it to your father, that he may eat, and that he may bless you before his death.”
Jacob thinks the plan won’t work but trusts his mother
Genesis 27:11-13, Jubilees 26:7-9
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Mother, I will not withhold anything which my father would eat, and which would please him: only I fear, my mother, that he will recognize my voice and wish to touch me. Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. My father peradventure will feel me, and I will seem to him as a deceiver; and I will bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.”
And his mother said to him, “Upon me be your curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.”
Jacob and Rebekah move forward with the plan
Genesis 27:14-17, Jasher 29:6, Jubilees 26:10-12
And Jacob obeyed the voice of Rebecca, his mother, and went and fetched 2 good and fat kids of the goats, and brought them to his mother, and his mother made them savory meat such as he loved.
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. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
Climax
Jacob deceives his father
Genesis 27:18-27, Jasher 29:7, Jubilees 26:13-22
And he came to his father, and said, “My father.”
And he said, “Here am I; who are you, my son?”
And Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your first born; I have done according as you bade me: arise, sit, and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me.”
And Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”
And he said, “Because the LORD your God brought it to me.”
And Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near that I may feel you, my son, whether you be my very son Esau or not.”
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.”
And he discerned him not, because it was a dispensation from heaven to remove his power of perception and Isaac discerned not, and because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him. And he said, “Are you my very son Esau?”
And he said, “I am.”
And he said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless you.”
And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank. And his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now, and kiss me, my son.”
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 has blessed.”
Isaac blesses Jacob
Genesis 27:28-29, Jubilees 26:23-24
“Therefore God give you of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you: be lord over your brothers, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. And may all the blessings wherewith the Lord has blessed me and blessed Abraham, my father be imparted to you and to your seed for ever. Cursed be every one that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you.”
Falling Action
Jacob learns the truth
Genesis 27:30-36, Jasher 29:8-10, Jubilees 26:25-30
And Isaac rose up and he ate and he drank, and his heart was comforted. 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. And he also had made savory meat, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that your soul may bless me.”
And Isaac, his father, said to him: “Who are you?”
And he said to him: “I am your first born, your son Esau: I have done as you have commanded me.”
And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is he that has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, and he will be blessed and all his seed for ever.”
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.
And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father.”
And he said, “Your brother came with subtilty, and has taken away your blessing.”
And he said, “Is not he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these 2 times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he has taken away my blessing.”
And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”
And Esau wept greatly.
And when Isaac heard the voice of his son Esau weeping, Isaac said to Esau, “What can I do, my son? Your brother came with subtlety and took away your 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.
Resolution
Jacob blesses Esau
Genesis 27:37-40, Jubilees 26:31-34
And Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what will I do now to you, my son?”
And Esau said to his father, Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.”
And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said to him, “Behold, your dwelling will be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by your sword will you live, and will serve your brother; and it will come to pass when you will have the dominion, that you will break his yoke from off your neck. You will sin a complete sin to death, and your seed will be rooted out from under heaven.”
This chart shows who was alive in years 2172-2184.
Years with question marks are estimates.