Bible Notes Online - Genesis 27 - ESV
Commentary

v1-4: Isaac is getting old, around 130 years old, although he has nearly 50 years before he will die. The promises of 25.23 begin to be fulfilled, even though Jacob continues his deceit.

v5-10: Rebekah is involved in Jacob's deceit; she favours Jacob (25.28), and is even willing to be cursed that he might be blessed. She used "choice young goats," for wrong doing often uses good things. Temptation is not always cheap. Rebekah seems to set an example followed later by Rachel, where she stole her father's idols and hid them; see 31.19, 34.

v11-17: The deceit continues, even to dressing Jacob in Esau's clothes.

v18-26: Jacob's deceit is more serious than that of Abraham and Isaac; even so the Lord's plans will be fulfilled. We note repeated lying to his father. Isaac, in his old age, struggles with the contradiction of touch and sound, see v22.

v27-29: It seems the smell of the field finally convinces Isaac that Esau is with him; and so he blesses him. Compare 12.3; blessing and cursing, as promised to Abraham. The spiritual inheritance of the great promises of God passes to Jacob. There is also dominion over Esau.

Mike Betts comments here: ‘in Christ we now feel like Him, smell like Him, and remind the Father of Him, so He likewise places His blessing on us who are in Christ. However, this is not by trickery and deception but by Christ offering us a share in His inheritance and the blessing due to Him.’ (From the inside out.)

v30-33: Esau's arrival exposes the deceit. But Isaac has given his blessing, "and indeed he will be blessed," and that cannot be changed. Heb 11.20 teaches that Isaac blessed his sons "by faith."

v34-36: Esau is upset, and understandably so; but he has already despised his birthright, so it is only proper that he should lose his blessing also. Heb 12.17 says that he was rejected.

v37-40: The blessing for Esau; Isaac cannot change Jacob's blessing, but he can give Esau a blessing.

v41-45: Esau plans to kill Jacob. The reference to the days of mourning for Isaac are premature by 50 years. This keeps Jacob and Esau apart, such that, when they do meet, Esau's attitude has changed, see 33.4. Although Esau will not forgive Jacob, he does forget; we would say that this is not a spiritual way of dealing with such hurt.

v46: Esau found solace among the Hittites, see 26.34-35. Their idolatrous practices bring grief to both Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob is therefore sent beyond the Hittites to Laban's household.