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  • Genesis 27:30-40

    Esau receives a secondary blessing

    30 After Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and just as Jacob left his father Isaac, his brother Esau came back from his hunt. 31 He too made some delicious food, brought it to his father, and said, “Let my father sit up and eat from his son’s game so that you may bless me.”

    32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?”

    And he said, “I’m your son, your oldest son, Esau.”

    33 Isaac was so shocked that he trembled violently. He said, “Who was the hunter just here with game? He brought me food, and I ate all of it before you came. I blessed him, and he will stay blessed!”

    34 When Esau heard what his father said, he let out a loud agonizing cry and wept bitterly. He said to his father, “Bless me! Me too, my father!”

    35 Isaac said, “Your brother has already come deceitfully and has taken your blessing.”

    36 Esau said, “Isn’t this why he’s called Jacob? He’s taken me twice now: he took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing.” He continued, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

    37 Isaac replied to Esau, “I’ve already made him more powerful than you, and I’ve made all of his brothers his servants. I’ve made him strong with grain and wine. What can I do for you, my son?”

    38 Esau said to his father, “Do you really have only one blessing, Father? Bless me too, my father!” And Esau wept loudly.

    39 His father Isaac responded and said to him,

    “Now, you will make a home
        far away from the olive groves of the earth,
            far away from the showers of the sky above.
    40 You will live by your sword;
            you will serve your brother.
    But when you grow restless,
            you will tear away his harness
            from your neck.”