Genesis 25

        This chapter begins with another brief genealogy. Abraham took another wife after Sarah died, one of his concubines named Keturah. It’s very likely that she was part of Abraham’s household while Sarah was yet alive. Keturah bore him six more children (presumably sons), and, according to my study Bible, the names of these other children and grandchildren listed in verses 2-4 correspond to the names of various Arab tribes, both past and present. This is another example of God’s promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. (Genesis 17:4)
          But verses 5 and 6 confirm that Isaac was the principle heir. To all his other sons Abraham gave only gifts and then sent them away from his household when they came of age. They inherited none of his wealth. This, of course, planted the seeds of jealousy and animosity that had always existed between the Arabs and the Jews, even to our present day.
 
        Verses 7-11: Abraham lived to be 175. Upon his death he was buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah which was in the field that Abraham had purchased from the Hittite leader Ephron after Sarah’s death in chapter 23. He was buried next to Sarah.
 
         Verses 12-18: As I mentioned in my commentary of chapter 17, these verses give a brief genealogy of Ishmael’s line, twelve princes that would become the fathers of the Arab nations, out of whom would come the religion and nation of Islam as we know it today. It is interesting that, just as there are twelve tribes of Israel, there are also twelve princes listed here and in 1 Chronicles 1:29-31.
         Ishmael is 137 years old at the time of his death. (v.17) Verse 18 tells us that his descendants dwelt in the lands closer to Egypt, on the way towards Assyria.
 
         Verses 19-23: As noted earlier, Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, but she did not immediately conceive. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife. The word in verse 21 is “intreated” which means “to plead with”. Isaac pleaded with God, no doubt reminding Him of His promise to Abraham, and God answered his prayer. It is notable here that there is no mention of Isaac turning to a handmaid or a concubine as Abraham did. Once again, Isaac demonstrates great patience and a willingness to wait upon God, a lesson that his father never fully mastered.
          After twenty years, Rebekah does finally conceive (v.26), and we learn in verse 22 that she is pregnant with twins. Rebekah, however, has no way of knowing this, and so she is greatly disturbed by the physical discomfort and pain caused by the children struggling within her. So she prays to the Lord, and He tells her in verse 23: “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.” That last statement must have been astonishing to Rebekah, for it was contrary to the custom of that time in middle eastern culture.
       Note from my study Bible: “This forms the basis of for our understanding of the New Testament application of the term ‘firstborn’ to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:15) It refers to rank, not origin. Normally, the eldest son was given preferential treatment. He assumed more responsibility and was rewarded with honor and given two shares in the family inheritance instead of the single share that each of his younger brothers received. Occasionally, however, the eldest fell out of favor and was replaced by a younger son, a brother. Here’s some examples: Jacob replaced Esau; Ephraim replaced Manasseh (Genesis 48:13-20); Joseph replaced Reuben (Genesis 49:3-4, 1 Chronicles 5:1-2); Solomon replaced Adonijah (1 Kings 1:5-53). Thus, younger became the ‘firstborn’, that is, he attained to first rank. This term is applied in this sense to the nation of Israel. (Exodus 4:22, Amos 3:1-2)”
 
          Verses 24-28: The twins are born. Esau is so named because of his hairiness. Jacob’s name is derived from the fact that he came out clinging to Esau’s heel. Jacob’s name also means “supplanter” or “deceitful”, a foreshadowing of his character as an adult. Like Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau choose disparate occupations as adults: Esau the skilled hunter, “…a man of the field…” and Jacob “…a plain man, dwelling in tents.” (v.27) Each of the parents has a favorite: Isaac savors the venison from the wild game caught and prepared by Esau; Rebekah loves Jacob. (v.28)
 
        Verses 29-34: Jacob cooks up a stew. Because of what we’re told in verses 27-28, we can infer that Jacob goes against the tradition and culture of this time. He prefers to stay at home in the tents, learning from his mother how to cook, which is not typical of the men of this culture at this time period. Esau is the more traditional male figure, the hunter and gatherer, the provider for his family.
          But Esau is also profane (Hebrews 12:16), meaning that he doesn't hold in high esteem his place as firstborn. He comes in from the field one day, hungry and tired. He smells Jacob’s stew, and he foolishly sells his birthright as firstborn to his younger brother for a bowl of pottage! (v.31-33) Esau throws away his future for the pleasure of the moment, choosing the lust of the flesh over the sacred honor of his rights and privileges as the eldest son. This is why God says later in Malachi 1:3: “And I hated Esau…”. The Apostle Paul reiterates this in Romans 9:13.
        This chapter closes with the following statement: “…thus Esau despised his birthright.” (v.34) Esau made a foolish and impetuous choice, and God rejected him for it, favoring Jacob instead. But, as we well know from the rest of Jacob’s story, he was no saint himself. The fact that he took advantage of his brother’s weakened and famished state is no better than Esau’s rejection of his own birthright and favored status. Both of these men displayed a poor lack of judgment and selfishness, yet God chose Jacob above Esau, fulfilling His covenant promise to Jacob’s grandfather Abraham through the twelve sons yet to be born of Jacob, the deceiver and manipulator.