30 Then just as Yitshak had finished blessing Yacob, and as Yacob had only just gone out from his father’s presence, his brother Esau his brother returned from his hunting. 31 Then he too prepared some tasty food and brought it in to his father and said, “Let my father get up and eat from the game that his son hunted so that you can bless me.”

32 But Yitshak asked him, “Which son are you?”

“I’m your oldest son Esau.” he answered.

33 Then Yitshak started to trembled badly and he said, “Then who was it that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all just before you came in, and I blessed that man and indeed, he’ll be blessed.”

34 When Esau heard that, then he let out a very loud and exceedingly bitter wail, and then begged his father, “Bless me too, my father.”

35 But Yitshak replied, “Your brother came in and deceived me and he’s taken your blessing!”

36 “Yes, his name Yacob (meaning ‘deceiver’) suits him exactly!”[ref] said Esau. “First he took my inheritance and man, now he’s also taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you at least saved a blessing for me?”

37 But Yitshak replied, “Listen, I’ve made him master over you, and I’ve given all his brothers to him as slaves. And I’ve sustained him with grain and wine. So then, what else can I do for you, my son?”

38 “Did you only have one blessing that you could give, my father? Esau asked. “Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau sobbed loudly.[ref]

39 Then his father Yitshak responded and said to him,[ref]

“Listen, you and your descendants will live

away from the most fertile land on the earth[fn]

in a place that doesn’t get dew from the sky.

40 You and your descendants will live by your sword,[ref]

and you’ll serve your brother.

But when you become restless

you’ll all break away from serving them.

41 From that time onwards, Esau hated Yacob because of the blessing that their father had blessed him with, and Esau said to himself, “My father’s funeral can’t be that far away—after that I’ll kill my brother Yacob.”

42 But Rebekah got to hear about Esau’s plans, so she sent for her younger son Yacob and told him, “Listen, your brother Esau is coping with what happened by planning to kill you. 43 So my son, listen to what I’m saying: for your own sake, pack up and flee to my brother Lavan’s place in Haran 44 and stay with him for a while until your brother cools down. 45 When he’s no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, then I’ll send for you from there so you can return here. I don’t want to lose both of you on the same day?”