When Isaac was old and nearly blind, he called Esau and asked him to hunt game and prepare the food he loved. Isaac intended to eat and bless his older son before he died. Rebekah overheard and told Jacob what had been said after Esau left for the field.
Rebekah ordered Jacob to bring two young goats so she could prepare Isaac’s favorite food. Jacob would carry it in and receive the blessing as though he were Esau. Jacob feared his father would touch him and discover that he was smooth-skinned, but Rebekah accepted the risk and insisted he obey.
She dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes and covered his hands and neck with goat skins. Jacob entered, claimed to be Esau, and presented the meal. Isaac recognized Jacob’s voice but felt the hairy hands and smelled Esau’s clothing. After eating and drinking, he blessed Jacob with fertile land, abundant grain and wine, and authority over nations and relatives.
Soon after Jacob left, Esau returned with his meal. Isaac trembled when he realized another son had already received the blessing. Esau cried bitterly and begged for a blessing of his own. Isaac said Jacob had come deceitfully, while Esau protested that his brother had now taken both his birthright and blessing.
Isaac told Esau that he would live away from fertile land, depend on his sword, and serve his brother, though he would eventually break the yoke. Esau resolved to kill Jacob after their father’s death. When Rebekah learned of the threat, she told Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Haran. He was to remain there until Esau’s fury subsided.