What happensPermalink
With Rebekah’s help, Jacob tricks Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau. Concerned about Esau’s anger, and not wanting him to marry a Canaanite woman, Rebekah sends Jacob to her brother Laban.
Why it mattersPermalink
We see later that God honors Isaac’s blessing of Jacob, the younger brother. Rebekah sending him to Laban ensures that he marries within Abraham’s family rather than mixing with the Canaanites, an instruction God later gives to all of Israel.
Key versePermalink
Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”