Lesson Fifteen   Jacob and Esau Compete 雅各和以扫竞争

³⁰ After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. ³¹ He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, "My father, sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing."  ³² His father Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" "I am your son," he answered, "your firstborn, Esau."  ³³ Isaac trembled violently and said, "Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!"  ³⁴ When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me—me too, my father!"  ³⁵ But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing."    以撒为雅各祝福已毕，雅各从他父亲那里才出来，他哥哥以扫正打猎回来，也作了美味，拿来给他父亲，说，请父亲起来，吃你儿子的野味，好给我祝福。他父亲以 撒对他说，你是谁，他说，我是你的长子以扫。以撒就大大地战兢，说，你未来之先，是谁得了野味拿来给我呢，我已经吃了，为他祝福。他将来也必蒙福。以扫听 了他父亲的话，就放声痛哭，说，我父阿，求你也为我祝福。以撒说，你兄弟已经用诡计来将你的福分夺去了。创27：30-35

blessing him 动名词结构，为finish的宾语。

had scarcely done,  did, 前一动作一发生，下个动作就紧接著发生。使用这个句型时，常常要用when，that或者before：Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence when his brother Esau came in from hunting.另外，scarcely 有否定的意思，就像few一样，所以一般不再加not。I couldn't scarcely believe it. 这个句子不正规，正规说法不用not。同义词有barely, hardly。

game 猎物，野味

tremble 颤抖，I tremble at the very thought of it. 一想起这事，我就颤抖！

violently 强烈地，The police attacked them violently. 警察对这些施暴。

burst out 爆发We burst out laughing. 我们开怀大笑。

a loud and bitter cry, 大声的、痛苦的哭泣

deceitfully 欺骗地 deceitful 欺骗的，Mormon followers are deceitful. 摩门信徒很具欺骗性。

Questions:

1.      Who did Isaac bless?

2.      When did Esau come in?

3.      Where was Esau doing when Isaac was blessing Jacob?

4.      Do you feel the presence of God everyday or only sometimes?

5.      When do you usually prepare tasty food?

6.      Who was the firstborn son of Isaac?

7.      What did Esau bring to Isaac?

8.      How did Isaac respond to Esau’s words?

9.      Is it right for Jacob to steal the blessings from Esau?

10.  Do you ever want to do things that you want to cover up?

11.  Is it hard for you to admit you have done something wrong?

12.  Do you think Isaac was blind already?

13.  Do you think that Jacob confused his father easily because he was a twin brother?

14.  What did Esau say when he heard his father's words?

15.  What did Isaac tell Esau about his brother?

16.  Did Esau regret for selling his birthright?

17.  When was your last time you burst out a loud and bitter cry?

18.  How many children do you think Isaac could bless in this case?

19.  Do you want to tell God right now about something wrong you did before?

20.  Even though Jacob stole the blessing of Esau, why do you think that God still wanted to fulfill His promises through Jacob?

以撒的祝福具有条约一样的约束性，不能更改。按照希伯来书的解释，以撒实际上体会到了神的旨意，这个祝福应该给雅各“以撒因着信，就指着将来的事，给雅各以扫祝福。” 11:20。这样看来，以撒当以扫的面哭泣，应该只是在安慰他而已，为的是避免更大的冲突。