Genesis 25

Abraham’s family and death (vs. 1-11)—Verse one says that Abraham took another wife, Keturah. It’s not impossible that he married Keturah while Sarah was still alive; ancient writers often write according to purpose and not necessarily chronologically. So all the “important” material was discussed by Moses first, and now he goes back and picks up some other threads. Romans 4:19 also indicates that, at 100 years of age, Abraham’s body was “dead.” Plus, verse 6 of this chapter (Genesis 25) speaks of “the sons of the concubines which Abraham had.” So all in all, Keturah was perhaps Abraham’s wife at an earlier age. He had six sons by her. But “Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac” (v. 5). It is almost a surety that Sarah was Abraham’s first wife and his favorite. And, of course, Isaac was the son of promise. Abraham, however, did not leave the rest of his children destitute (v. 6). He died at the age of 175 and Isaac and Ishmael buried him next to Sarah in the cave of Machpelah, which he had purchased in chapter 23.

Ishmael’s genealogy (vs. 12-18)—God had promised Abraham and Hagar that Ishmael would be the father of a large offspring as well. A brief genealogy of Ishmael is given here, and then Moses, as he always does in Genesis, moves on to the more significant person, Isaac.

The birth of Esau and Jacob (vs. 19-28)—Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, but it wasn’t until 20 years later that the sons were born. The pregnancy was apparently difficult for Rebekah and she asked the Lord about it. Jehovah comforted her: “’Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.’” So she was going to have twins. The first son to appear was hairy, so they named him “Esau,” which means “hairy.” Interestingly, as he was coming out of the womb, his brother grabbed his heel, but Esau made it out first. “Jacob” means “supplanter,” and that will fit his personality perfectly.

As the boys grew, Esau became “a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents” (v. 27). It’s not terribly surprising that “Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob” (v. 28).

Esau sells his birthright (vs. 29-34)—Always keep in mind the law of primogeniture—the firstborn is to receive a larger share of the inheritance, and in the case of the patriarchs, extra spiritual blessings as well. In medieval Europe, the firstborn would receive the farm, a second son would go to the army, and a third son would enter the Church (don’t ask me about any beyond that, I don’t know). The point is, the first son was the most blessed (girls were to marry, of course, and I suppose they hoped they got the first son). Well, Esau came in from hunting one day and Jacob was brewing up a mess of pottage. Esau was hungry, wanted some of it, but Jacob, the “supplanter,” demanded his older brother’s birthright in exchange. “And Esau said, ‘Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?’" (v. 32). Esau wouldn’t have died; surely there was something else around there for him to eat. He simply didn’t care about his birthright and the blessings that might go with it. Indeed, the contempt he had for the whole thing is indicated in verse 34: “He ate and drank, arose, and went his way.” And the chapter ends by saying “Thus Esau despised his birthright.” His mind was simply not affected very much by spiritual and family matters. That birthright is something he should have been willing to die for. A “profane man” is the verdict of Hebrews 12:16.