Editing Jacob and Esau (section)

==Blessing of the firstborn==
[[File:Horst, Gerrit Willemsz. - Isaac blessing Jacob - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|[[Gerrit Willemsz Horst|Horst, Gerrit Willemsz]]. - Isaac blessing Jacob]]
Pronouncing the blessing was considered to be the act formally acknowledging the firstborn as the principal heir.<ref name=firstborn />

In Genesis 27:5–7, Rebecca overhears Isaac tell Esau, "Bring me venison and prepare a savoury food, that I may eat, and bless thee before the {{LORD}} before my death." Rebecca counsels Jacob to pretend to be Esau, in order to obtain the blessing in his brother's stead. He dressed himself in Esau's best clothes and disguised himself by covering his arms in lamb skin so that if his blind father touched him, he would think Jacob his more hirsute brother. Jacob brought Isaac a dish of goat meat prepared by Rebecca to taste like venison. Isaac then bestowed the blessing (''bekhorah''), which confers a prophetic wish for fertility (vv. 27–28) and dominion (v.29), on Jacob before Esau's return.

Esau is furious and vows to kill Jacob<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|27:41|HE}}</ref> as soon as their father has died. Rebecca intervenes to save her younger son Jacob from being murdered by her elder son, Esau.{{sfn|Buhl|Hirsch|Schechter|1901|pp=206-208}} At Rebecca's urging, Jacob flees to a distant land to work for his mother's brother, [[Laban (Bible)|Laban]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|28:5|HE}}</ref> She explains to Isaac that she has sent Jacob to find a wife among her own people.

Jacob does not immediately receive his father's inheritance. Jacob, having fled for his life, leaves behind the wealth of Isaac's flocks and land and tents in Esau's hands. Jacob is forced to sleep out on the open ground and then work for wages as a servant in Laban's household. Jacob, who had deceived his father, is in turn deceived and cheated by his uncle Laban concerning Jacob's seven years of service (lacking money for a dowry) for the hand of Laban's daughter [[Rachel]], receiving his older daughter [[Leah]] instead.{{sfn|Manns|2013}} However, despite Laban, Jacob eventually becomes so rich as to incite the envy of Laban and Laban's sons.