Les Feldick Bible Study

What did Rebekah do with Esau's special clothing?

She took the goodly or special clothing of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob, her younger son. The special cloak designated Esau as the eldest, and she placed it on Jacob in the energy of the flesh.

Les explains that Rebekah took Esau's special designated cloak, which showed he was the eldest, and put it on the youngest, Jacob. This matched the ancient custom that the eldest son is given clothing pertaining to his position. Les notes that back in antiquity it was as Jacob did for Joseph, probably a coat of many colors, and the brothers became jealous because their father was designating Joseph as head of the brethren even though he was not the eldest. Rebekah acted in the energy of the flesh, but God did not stop it, because He had mandated in the beginning that this is the way it should be. She took the goodly or special clothing of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob, her younger son.