*Genesis 25:19-34
Isaac and Rebekah conceive twins, Esau and Jacob, whom God declares will be the fathers of two rival nations.
- Introduction to Isaac’s Family:
- The passage begins with a brief introduction to Isaac, the son of Abraham, focusing on his marriage to Rebekah.
- Rebekah’s Pregnancy and Inquiry to God:
- Isaac prays to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she is childless. The Lord answers his prayer, and Rebekah conceives twins.
- During her pregnancy, the children struggle within her, causing her distress. She inquires of the Lord, and He tells her that two nations are in her womb, and the older will serve the younger.
- Birth of Esau and Jacob:
- Isaac’s Favoritism:
- Isaac favors Esau because he has a taste for wild game, whereas Rebekah favors Jacob.
- Esau Sells His Birthright:
- One day, Esau returns from the field famished and finds Jacob cooking a stew. Esau asks Jacob for some of the stew, saying he is on the verge of dying from hunger.
- Jacob seizes the opportunity and asks Esau to sell his birthright as the firstborn in exchange for the stew.
- Esau reasons that the birthright is of no use to him if he dies of hunger and agrees to Jacob’s terms, swearing an oath and thus selling his birthright to Jacob for bread and lentil stew.
- The passage concludes by noting that Esau despised his birthright.
This passage foreshadows the ongoing conflict between Esau and Jacob, setting the stage for later events in their lives and the fulfillment of God’s promises to their ancestors. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of prioritizing temporary desires over long-term blessings.
25:19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac: 25:20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
25:26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
25:27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
25:31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
25:32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 25:33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.