27:11. And he answered her: Thou knowest that Esau, my brother, is a hairy man, and I am smooth:
27:12. If my father should feel me, and perceive it, I fear lest he will think I would have mocked him, and I shall bring upon me a curse instead of a blessing.
27:13. And his mother said to him: Upon me be this curse, my son: only hear thou my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I have said.
27:14. He went, and brought, and gave them to his mother. She dressed meats, such as she knew his father liked.
27:15. And she put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at home with her:
27:16. And the little skins of the kids she put about his hands, and covered the bare of his neck.
27:17. And she gave him the savoury meat, and delivered him bread that she had baked.
27:18. Which when he had carried in, he said: My father? But he answered: I hear. Who art thou, my son?
27:19. And Jacob said: I am Esau, thy firstborn: I have done as thou didst command me: arise, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
I am Esau thy firstborn... St. Augustine (L. Contra mendacium, c. 10), treating at large upon this place, excuseth Jacob from a lie, because this whole passage was mysterious, as relating to the preference which was afterwards to be given to the Gentiles before the carnal Jews, which Jacob by prophetic light might understand. So far is certain, that the first birthright, both by divine election and by Esau's free cession belonged to Jacob: so that if there were any lie in the case, it could be no more than an officious and venial one.