1Abraham married again, and his wife’s name was Keturah. 2Keturah gave birth to these sons of Abraham: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Assyrians, the Letushites, and the Leummites. 4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were the descendants of Keturah.

5Abraham left everything he had to Isaac. 6But while he was still living, Abraham had given gifts to the sons of his concubines.#25:6 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law. He sent them away from his son Isaac to a land in the east.

7Abraham lived 175 years. 8Then he took his last breath, and died at a very old age. After a long and full life, he joined his ancestors in death. 9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ephron, son of Zohar the Hittite. The cave is east of Mamre. 10This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer Lahai Roi.

The 12 Tribes of Ishmael

(1 Chronicles 1:29–31)

12This is the account of the descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael. He was the son of Sarah’s Egyptian slave Hagar and Abraham. 13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These are the sons of Ishmael and their names listed by their settlements and camps—12 leaders of their tribes.

17Ishmael lived 137 years. Then he took his last breath and died. He joined his ancestors in death. 18His descendants lived as nomads from the region of Havilah to Shur, which is near Egypt, in the direction of Assyria. They all fought with each other.

Esau and Jacob

19This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac and his descendants. Abraham was the father of Isaac. 20Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22When the children inside her were struggling with each other, she said, “If it’s like this now, what will become of me?” So she went to ask the Lord.

23The Lord said to her,

“Two countries are in your womb.

Two nations will go their separate ways from birth.

One nation will be stronger than the other,

and the older will serve the younger.”

24When the time came for her to give birth, she had twins. 25The first one born was red. His whole body was covered with hair, so they named him Esau [Hairy]. 26Afterwards, his brother was born with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, and so he was named Jacob [Heel]. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.

27They grew up. Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman. Jacob remained a quiet man, staying around the tents. 28Because Isaac liked to eat the meat of wild animals, he loved Esau. However, Rebekah loved Jacob.

29Once, Jacob was preparing a meal when Esau, exhausted, came in from outdoors. 30So Esau said to Jacob, “Let me have the whole pot of red stuff to eat—that red stuff—I’m exhausted.” This is why he was called Edom.#25:30 There is a play on words here between Hebrew ʾadom (red stuff) and Edom.

31Jacob responded, “First, sell me your rights as firstborn.”

32“I’m about to die.” Esau said. “What good is my inheritance to me?”

33“First, swear an oath,” Jacob said. So Esau swore an oath to him and sold him his rights as firstborn. 34Then Jacob gave Esau a meal of bread and lentils. He ate and drank, and then he got up and left.

This is how Esau showed his contempt for his rights as firstborn.

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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