Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau: Revised Standard Version translates the common Hebrew connective with the transitional Now. It may be more natural to move the time clause when … to the beginning of the sentence; for example, “While Isaac was talking to” (Good News Translation). It is understood from the context that Rebekah was not present but was listening secretly. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “Rebekah overheard the conversation.”

So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game: see Gen 27.3.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .