Verse 4. - And give thee the Blessing of Abraham, - i.e. promised to Abraham (vide Genesis 12:2; Genesis 22:17, 18). The additions of τοῦ παρός μου (LXX.), אביך = τοῦ πατρὸς σου (Samaritan), are unwarranted - to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, - literally, the land of thy sojournings (Genesis 17:8) - which God gave unto Abraham - by promise (cf. Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:7, 18; Genesis 17:8). 28:1-5 Jacob had blessings promised both as to this world and that which is to come; yet goes out to a hard service. This corrected him for the fraud on his father. The blessing shall be conferred on him, yet he shall smart for the indirect course taken to obtain it. Jacob is dismissed by his father with a solemn charge. He must not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan: those who profess religion, should not marry with those that care not for religion. Also with a solemn blessing. Isaac had before blessed him unwittingly; now he does it designedly. This blessing is more full than the former; it is a gospel blessing. This promise looks as high as heaven, of which Canaan was a type. That was the better country which Jacob and the other patriarchs had in view.And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee,.... Which was promised to Abraham, and was entailed upon Isaac and his seed, and now upon Jacob and his seed, which follows: that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave to Abraham; the land of Canaan, which was given to Abraham by promise, but not in possession; he was a sojourner and stranger in it, and so Isaac had been all his days, and now Jacob, who through the blessing was become heir of it; but as yet neither he nor his posterity must enjoy it, but be strangers and sojourners in it, for the exercise of faith, and for the leading of their minds off of all earthly enjoyments, to the better and heavenly country God has provided for his people; see Hebrews 11:9. |