You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. It will happen, when you will break loose, that you will shake his yoke from off your neck.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 40. Thy brother, in the reign of David, 2 Kennicott. 8:14, and of the Machabees. Josep. Ant. xiii. 17.—Yoke. When the house of Juda shall rebel against the Lord, in the days of Joram, then the Idumeans shall regain their liberty for a time; (4 Kennicott. 8:20) to be subdued again after 800 years by John Hyrcan, the high priest. Bible.—All the blessing of Esau tends to confirm that already given to his brother; so that the apostle seems to have considered it unworthy of notice. Calmet.—Jacob, in the mean time, never asserted his dominion; but still called Esau his lord, (Calmet. 32:4) and behaved to him with the greatest deference. Bible.—Yet the Idumeans always hated the Jews, and assisted Titus to destroy Jerusalem. Joseph. Tirinus.