Richard McBee, Fine Artist and Writer

Isaac

Genesis 27: 30 – 41

Eliezar at the Well

10 And the servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand; and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, the time that women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I beseech you, send me good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water; 14 And let it come to pass, that the girl to whom I shall say, Let down your water jar, I beg you, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also; let the same be she whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that you have shown kindness to my master. 15 And it came to pass, before he had finished speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her water jar upon her shoulder. 16 And the girl was very pretty to look upon, a virgin, and no man had known her; and she went down to the well, and filled her water jar, and came up.

Isaac 2006

After Isaac is placed on the altar, the text doesn’t mention him again until he meets his future wife, 96 verses later. Frozen in time, he cannot forget the terror.

Isaac Returns

The midrash relates that Isaac returns to his mother and tells her of his ordeal after the Akeidah.

Used with permission Davka Corporation

Isaac 2006 18" x 14"
After Isaac is placed on the altar (Genesis 22:9), the text doesn’t mention him again until he meets his future wife, 96 verses later (Genesis 24:63). Frozen in time, he cannot forget the terror.
Isaac Returns 1997 30" x 24"
The midrash relates that Isaac returns to his mother and tells her of his ordeal after the Akeidah.
Eliezar at the Well 1994 18" x 18"
(Genesis 27: 30 – 41)
10 And the servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand; and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, the time that women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I beseech you, send me good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water; 14 And let it come to pass, that the girl to whom I shall say, Let down your water jar, I beg you, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also; let the same be she whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that you have shown kindness to my master. 15 And it came to pass, before he had finished speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her water jar upon her shoulder. 16 And the girl was very pretty to look upon, a virgin, and no man had known her; and she went down to the well, and filled her water jar, and came up.
[Used with permission Davka Corporation]
Isaac & Rebecca 1990 38" x 51"
Genesis 26: 6 – 12
6 And Isaac lived in Gerar; 7 And the men of the place asked him about his wife; and he said, She is my sister; for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was pretty to look upon.
8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, certainly she is your wife; and why did you say, She is my sister? And Isaac said to him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. 10 And Abimelech said, What is this you have done to us? one of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us. 11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year an hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.
[Used with permission Davka Corporation] Emphasis added.
Isaac & Rebecca 1995 24" x 18"
Genesis 26: 6 – 12
6 And Isaac lived in Gerar; 7 And the men of the place asked him about his wife; and he said, She is my sister; for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was pretty to look upon.
8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, certainly she is your wife; and why did you say, She is my sister? And Isaac said to him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. 10 And Abimelech said, What is this you have done to us? one of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us. 11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year an hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.
[Used with permission Davka Corporation] Emphasis added.
Isaac & Rebecca 2002 84" x 68"
Genesis 26: 6 – 12
6 And Isaac lived in Gerar; 7 And the men of the place asked him about his wife; and he said, She is my sister; for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was pretty to look upon.
8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, certainly she is your wife; and why did you say, She is my sister? And Isaac said to him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. 10 And Abimelech said, What is this you have done to us? one of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us. 11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year an hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.
[Used with permission Davka Corporation] Emphasis added.
Isaac & Rebecca Sporting 1999 40" x 30"
Isaac Sporting with Rebecca
Genesis 26: 6 – 12
6 And Isaac lived in Gerar; 7 And the men of the place asked him about his wife; and he said, She is my sister; for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was pretty to look upon.
8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, certainly she is your wife; and why did you say, She is my sister? And Isaac said to him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. 10 And Abimelech said, What is this you have done to us? one of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us. 11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year an hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.
Used with permission Davka Corporation
Isaac & Esav 1998 30" x 24"
The Stolen Blessing: Esav’s Blessing
Genesis 27: 30 – 41, Genesis 27: 1 – 29
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, My son; and he said to him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death; 3 (K) Now therefore take, I beg you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow and go out to the field, and catch me some venison; 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.
Continue Read: The Stolen Blessing: Esav's Blessing
Isaac Blessing Jacob 1991 40" x 50"
The Stolen Blessing
Genesis 27: 1 – 29
1And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, My son; and he said to him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death; 3 (K) Now therefore take, I beg you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow and go out to the field, and catch me some venison; 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death.
Continue Reading: The Stolen Blessing
Isaac Blessing Jacob 1984 68" x 68"
The Stolen Blessing
Genesis 27: 1 – 29
1And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, My son; and he said to him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death; 3 (K) Now therefore take, I beg you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow and go out to the field, and catch me some venison; 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death.
Continue Reading: The Stolen Blessing
Isaac & Esav/Jacob 2001 40" x 50"
The Stolen Blessing
Genesis 27: 1 – 29
1And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, My son; and he said to him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death; 3 (K) Now therefore take, I beg you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow and go out to the field, and catch me some venison; 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death.
Continue Reading: The Stolen Blessing
Issac Blessing Jacob 2006 16" x 20"
The Stolen Blessing
Genesis 27: 1 – 29
1And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, My son; and he said to him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death; 3 (K) Now therefore take, I beg you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow and go out to the field, and catch me some venison; 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death.
Continue Reading: The Stolen Blessing
Isaac & Esav 1995 40" x 50"
The Stolen Blessing: Esav’s Blessing
Genesis 27: 30 – 41, Genesis 27: 1 – 29
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, My son; and he said to him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death; 3 (K) Now therefore take, I beg you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow and go out to the field, and catch me some venison; 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.
Continue Read: The Stolen Blessing: Esav's Blessing
Stolen Blessing 1996 68" x 78"
The Stolen Blessing: Esav’s Blessing
Genesis 27: 30 – 41, Genesis 27: 1 – 29
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, My son; and he said to him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death; 3 (K) Now therefore take, I beg you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow and go out to the field, and catch me some venison; 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.
Continue Read: The Stolen Blessing: Esav's Blessing