Jacob & Rebekah Embezzle Esau's Inheritance
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Chapter Synopsis:
Jacob & Rebeka trick Isaac, robbing Esau of his inheritance.
INSIDE THE TENT IN THE DAYTIME:
The 137-year old Isaac sits in his tent wrapped in animal skins, his face creased with age, his eyes dim, blind.
ISAAC
(croaks)
My son...
Esau lays his rough hairy hand on Isaac's withered arm.
ESAU
Here I am, Dad.
ISAAC
I'm old. One of these days, I don't know which, I'm gonnaβ die. So take your weapons: quiver and bow. Go out to the country. Hunt me some wild game! Make me savory meat like I love, and bring it. I'll eat. Then I'll bless you with all my wealth and authority before I die.
Rebekah overhears her husband Isaac speaking to [Rough-Red] Esau.
Esau knocks Rebekah down as he rushes past her out the tent door.
OUTSIDE AT THE TENT. DAY
Rebekah runs out of the tent.
She sees Esau run carrying his bow and arrows into the field toward the forest.
Rebekah runs into Jacob's tent.
She whispers in Jacob's ear. His eyes grow wide!
His eyes filled with fear, Jacob whispers in Rebekah's ear.
REBEKAH
(spits)
Upon me be your curse, my boy. Just obey my voice! Go fetch me the goats.β
OUTSIDE AT THE FIELD IN THE DAYTIME:
Jacob bumble-runs to the field.
With great difficulty he catches two goats.
He slaughters the goats, hiding his eyes from the blood.
Squeamish, he skins the goats.
THEN, INSIDE THE TENT IN THE DAYTIME:
Jacob struggles to haul the heavy meat in to his mother Rebekah.
She cooks it up into a 5-star meal.
THEN, OUTSIDE AT THE ESAU'S TENT IN THE DAYTIME:
Rebekah runs from her tent to Esau's house.
THEN, INSIDE THE ESAU'S TENT IN THE DAYTIME:
Rebekah grabs Esau's official, sacred, priestly, priceless clothing.
She puts the royal garb on Jacob.
JACOB
I'm not even hairy!
Rebekah covers Jacob's hands and the smooth part of his neck with the skins of baby goats.
Rebekah places the savory meat and the [hot, fresh] bread she's just prepared into the hands of Jacob.
She gives him a kiss, then kicks him in the butt out the door.
INSIDE THE TENT IN THE DAYTIME:
Jacob rushes to [his Father] Isaac.
JACOB
(grunts, imitating Esau)
Father.
ISAAC
(pats the bed)
Here son.
JACOB
Father, I'm [Rough-Red] Esau your firstborn. I've hunted and cooked your meat, as you commanded me. Rise, sit and eat my wild-game, so you can deed me all your wealth, like you promised.
ISAAC
Son, how did you find the meat so quickly?
JACOB
Yahweh your Elohim brought the game to me.
ISAAC
My son, come near so I can feel you to see if you're really my son [Rough-Red] Esau.
Jacob draws close to Isaac his father.
Isaac feels Jacob's arms and neck.
ISAAC
The voice is Jacob's voice. But the hands are the hands of [Rough-Red] Esau.
REBEKAH
It's ESAU!
ISAAC
[Rough-Red] Esau, sonβ¦
JACOB
Yes...
ISAAC
Bring the food to me. I want to eat my son's venison. [Then] I'll personally invest you [with the legal inheritance of my huge estate].
Jacob brings the meat to Isaac.
Isaac eats.
Jacob brings Isaac wine.
Isaac drinks. Jacob tips back the glass, causing Isaac to guzzle the wine.
ISAAC
At last, come near, and [ritually] kiss me, my son.
Jacob approaches, then kisses Isaac.
Isaac smells the stink of [Rough-Red] Esau's clothes on Jacob.
Isaac lays his old rough trembling hands on Jacob's head:
ISAAC
See Rebekah: the smell of my favorite son is like the smell of a field Yahweh has blessed:
Esau, I pray that Elohim gives you the dew of heaven, the fat richness of [all the] earth, abundant grain & meat and wine:
Peoples will serve you. Nations [will] bow down to you. You will be lord over your brothers. Your mother's sons [will] bow down to you. Cursed is every one who curses you, and blessed is he who blesses you.
Rebekah rushes Jacob out of Isaac's tent.
Well-fed, Isaac falls asleep in bliss.
Immediately, [Rough-Red] Esau races into [Isaac's tent], loaded with choice meat.
ESAU
Father!
Isaac startles from his nap.
ESAU
Father! Arise. Feast on your son's wild-caught-meat, so you can officially grant me your estate!
ISAAC
Who are you?
ESAU
I'm your son, your firstborn: Esau-the-Red-man.
Isaac [Laughter] trembles violently.
ISAAC
(cries)
Who? Where is the guy who just hunted and brought wild-meat to me?! Before you came, I feasted, then blessed him! He [and his sons] will [forevermore own and control my entire estate]!
ESAU
[Rough-Red] Esau is rocked the words of his father.
Esau cries with a great and overwhelmingly bitter cry.
ESAU
(begs on his knees)
Bless me [with your inheritance], father!
ISAAC
Your brother Jacob the Cheater sneaked in here and grifted your blessing!
ESAU
(screams)
Jacob is rightly named βHeel-Grabberβ! He over-reached me again! He robbed my birthright! He seized my inheritance!
Isaac wails.
ESAU
(claws Isaac's arm)
Didn't you reserve a blessing [of wealth] for me to inherit?
ISAAC
(cries)
Esau, I've made Jacob your lord. I gave Jacob all his brothers as servants. I sustained Jacob with [legal ownership of my] corn and wine. So what can I [possibly] do now for you, my son?
ESAU
(begs)
Father, one benefit, father! Bless me, father.
Isaac shakes his head, 'No'.
Esau lifts up his voice in an ear-splitting wail.
THEN, OUTSIDE AT THE TENT IN THE DAYTIME:
His weeping [echoes across the countryside, startling cows, Rebekah, and the terrified Jacob.
THEN, INSIDE THE TENT IN THE DAYTIME:
Isaac stands up, lays his hands on Esau's head:
ISAAC
I pray that you dwell in rich βfatβ abundance from the earth, and that you enjoy the dew from heaven above:
Esau weeps into Isaac's hand.
ISAAC
You'll live by your sword. You'll serve your younger brother Jacob.
Isaac hands Esau his sword.
But you'll rebel. You'll break [Jacob's] yoke off your neck!
THEN, OUTSIDE AT THE TENT AT NIGHT:
In the twilight, Esau runs screaming from Jacob's tent.
ESAU
The days of mourning my father's [death] are at hand. Then I'll murder you, Jacob!β
Jacob runs into the forest, terrified!
