1Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan, and the descendants of Dedan were the Asshurim, the Letushim, and the Leummim. 4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were Keturah's descendants.

5Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac; 6but while he was still alive, he gave presents to the sons his other wives had borne him. Then he sent these sons to the land of the East, away from his son Isaac.

The Death and Burial of Abraham

7-8Abraham died at the ripe old age of 175. 9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in Machpelah Cave, in the field east of Mamre that had belonged to Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. 10#Gen 23.3–16It was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites; both Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried there. 11After the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near “The Well of the Living One who Sees Me”.

The Descendants of Ishmael

(1 Chr 1.28–31)

12Ishmael, whom Hagar, the Egyptian slave of Sarah, bore to Abraham, 13had the following sons, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16They were the ancestors of twelve tribes, and their names were given to their villages and camping places. 17Ishmael was 137 years old when he died. 18The descendants of Ishmael lived in the territory between Havilah and Shur, to the east of Egypt on the way to Assyria. They lived apart from the other descendants of Abraham.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

19This is the story of Abraham's son Isaac. 20Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel (an Aramean from Mesopotamia) and sister of Laban. 21Because Rebecca had no children, Isaac prayed to the LORD for her. The LORD answered his prayer, and Rebecca became pregnant. 22She was going to have twins, and before they were born, they struggled against each other in her womb. She said, “Why should something like this happen to me?” So she went to ask the LORD for an answer.

23 # Rom 9.12 The LORD said to her,

“Two nations are within you;

You will give birth to two rival peoples.

One will be stronger than the other;

The older will serve the younger.”

24The time came for her to give birth, and she had twin sons. 25The first one was reddish, and his skin was like a hairy robe, so he was named Esau.#25.25 Esau: This name is taken to refer to Seir, the territory later inhabited by Esau's descendants; Seir sounds like the Hebrew for “hairy”. 26The second one was born holding on tightly to the heel of Esau, so he was named Jacob.#25.26 Jacob: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “heel”. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

Esau Sells his Rights as the Firstborn Son

27The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilled hunter, a man who loved the outdoor life, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. 28Isaac preferred Esau, because he enjoyed eating the animals Esau killed, but Rebecca preferred Jacob.

29One day while Jacob was cooking some bean soup, Esau came in from hunting. He was hungry 30and said to Jacob, “I'm starving; give me some of that red stuff.” (That is why he was called Edom.#25.30 Edom: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “red”.)

31Jacob answered, “I will give it to you if you give me your rights as the firstborn son.”

32Esau said, “All right! I am about to die; what good will my rights do me then?”

33 # Heb 12.16 Jacob answered, “First make a vow that you will give me your rights.”

Esau made the vow and gave his rights to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave him some bread and some of the soup. He ate and drank and then got up and left. That was all Esau cared about his rights as the firstborn son.

Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.

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Genesis 25

Abraham’s Death and His Descendants

1Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2#1 Chr. 1:32, 33She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5#ch. 24:36Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he #ch. 21:14 sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward #[Judg. 6:3]to the east country.

7These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. 8Abraham #ver. 17; ch. 35:29; 49:33 breathed his last and #ch. 15:15died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9Isaac and Ishmael #ch. 35:29his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10the field #ch. 23:16; 50:13 that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. #ch. 49:30, 31There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. 11After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at #ch. 16:14; 24:62Beer-lahai-roi.

12These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, #ch. 16:15whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13#1 Chr. 1:29-31 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: #Isa. 60:7Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and #Isa. 60:7Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, #Job 6:19; Isa. 21:14 Tema, #1 Chr. 5:19Jetur, #1 Chr. 5:19Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, #ch. 17:20twelve princes according to their tribes. 17(These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He #ver. 8breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18#1 Sam. 15:7 They settled from Havilah to #ch. 16:7; 20:1; Ex. 15:22Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled#25:18 Hebrew fell over against all his kinsmen.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

19These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: #Matt. 1:2Abraham fathered Isaac, 20and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, #ch. 22:23 the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of #See ch. 28:2 Paddan-aram, #ch. 24:29the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And #2 Sam. 21:14; 24:25; 1 Chr. 5:20; 2 Chr. 33:13; Ezra 8:23the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?”#25:22 Or why do I live? So she went #[1 Sam. 9:9]to inquire of the Lord. 23And the Lord said to her,

# ch. 17:16; 24:60 “Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you#25:23 Or from birth shall be divided;

# [2 Sam. 8:14]; See Obad. 18-21 the one shall be stronger than the other,

# ch. 27:29, 40; Cited Rom. 9:12 the older shall serve the younger.”

24When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25The first came out red, #ch. 27:11, 16, 23all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26Afterward his brother came out with #Hos. 12:3 his hand holding Esau’s heel, so #ch. 27:36his name was called Jacob.#25:26 Jacob means He takes by the heel, or He cheats Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27When the boys grew up, Esau was #ch. 27:3, 5 a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, #Heb. 11:9dwelling in tents. 28Isaac loved Esau because #ch. 27:4, 7, 9he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright

29Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.#25:30 Edom sounds like the Hebrew for red) 31Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and #Heb. 12:16sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

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Genesis 25

Genesis 25