2“I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and I don’t know when I may die.

3Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me.

4Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.”

5But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game,

6she said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau,

7‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’

8Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you.

9Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish.

10Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.”

11“But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth.

12What if my father touches me? He’ll see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll curse me instead of blessing me.”

13But his mother replied, “Then let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats for me!”

14So Jacob went out and got the young goats for his mother. Rebekah took them and prepared a delicious meal, just the way Isaac liked it.

15Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes, which were there in the house, and gave them to her younger son, Jacob.

16She covered his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skin of the young goats.

17Then she gave Jacob the delicious meal, including freshly baked bread.

18So Jacob took the food to his father. “My father?” he said.

19Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son. I’ve done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing.”

20Isaac asked, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”

21Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau.”

22So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. “The voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s,” Isaac said.

23But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob’s hands felt hairy just like Esau’s. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob.

24“But are you really my son Esau?” he asked.

25Then Isaac said, “Now, my son, bring me the wild game. Let me eat it, and then I will give you my blessing.” So Jacob took the food to his father, and Isaac ate it. He also drank the wine that Jacob served him.

26Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come a little closer and kiss me, my son.”

27So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, “Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the outdoors, which the Lord has blessed!

30As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt.

31Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.”

32But Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”

33Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came. And yes, that blessing must stand!”

34When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged.

35But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.”

36Esau exclaimed, “No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice.27:36 Jacob sounds like the Hebrew words for “heel” and “deceiver.” First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven’t you saved even one blessing for me?”

37Isaac said to Esau, “I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine—what is left for me to give you, my son?”

38Esau pleaded, “But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!” Then Esau broke down and wept.

39Finally, his father, Isaac, said to him,

42But Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, “Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you.

43So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran.

44Stay there with him until your brother cools off.

45When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

46Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m sick and tired of these local Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them.”