Genesis 27:3

3 Take thy arms, thy quiver, and bow, and go abroad; and when thou hast taken something by hunting,

Genesis 27:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 27:3

Now therefore, take, I pray thee, thy weapons
Or "thy vessels", or "instruments" ^F14, his instruments of hunting: as thy quiver and thy bow;
the former is the vessel or instrument, in which arrows were put and carried, and has its name in the Hebrew language from its being hung at the girdle, though another word is more commonly used for a quiver; and Onkelos and Jarchi interpret this of a sword; and which is not disapproved of by Aben Ezra and Ben Melech, who explain it either a quiver or a sword; and the latter was as necessary for hunting as the former, see ( Genesis 27:40 ) ; and such a sword may be meant, as Mr. Fuller observes ^F15, which we call a "hanger" (i.e. a small sword often worn by seamen); and of the bow being an instrument of hunting, not anything need be said: and go out to the field, and take me [some] venison;
this does not necessarily intend what we commonly call so, but anything hunted in the field, as hares, wild goats and indeed the latter seems to be what Isaac loved, by the preparation Rebekah afterwards made.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (Kylk) "instrumenta tua", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "vasa tua", Vatablus.
F15 Miscell. Sacr. l. 1. c. 17.

Genesis 27:3 In-Context

1 Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see: and he called Esau, his elder son, and said to him: My son? And he answered: Here I am.

2 And his father said to him, Thou seest that I am old, and know not the day of my death.

3 Take thy arms, thy quiver, and bow, and go abroad; and when thou hast taken something by hunting,

4 Make me a savoury meat thereof, as thou knowest I like, and bring it that I may eat: and my soul may bless thee, before I die.

5 And when Rebecca had heard this, and he was gone into the field to fulfil his father’s commandment,