Father Abraham had eight sons:

Ishmael, Isaac, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

We generally only remember the first two. Try to remember Midian. He will pop up again a few times.

Interesting that Isaac actually starts the trend of the 2nd son being placed ahead of the firstborn.

Good old Father Abraham is laid to rest next to Sarah. He had sent all his sons except Isaac away with some “gifts” to get started- probably some breeding stock and tents to live in. The attention of the narrative is now solidly on Isaac.

We see a repeat of themes from the Abraham & Sarah story including a barren wife, passing off his wife as his sister to Abimelech king of Gerar, being sent away by said king, having so much livestock that it causes problems with the herdsmen, building altars, digging wells, and receiving a covenant promise from YHWH. Isaac is basically the Abraham story 2.0.

By the way- remember how I said that Abimelech was probably a title, not a name? This is why. If this is the same Abimelech from Abraham’s story, he’s at least 180 years old. Abraham died at 175 so…maybe? But it’s probably a title like Pharaoh. This is probably a different guy BUT apparently the people of Gerar are still very careful to avoid adultery. Look back at the last 2 verses of Gen. 20 to see why. I bet that event was in their history books. Anyway- back to Isaac.

Things I notice in this narrative:

Instead of taking a concubine to make up for Rebecca’s barrenness, Isaac intercedes in prayer for her. And the Lord answers his prayer. Awwww… 🥰 (Gentlemen, gonna let you in on a female secret here. And trust me on this even if it sounds too easy. Godly women find it very attractive when their men pray for them. Seriously. It’s a turn on. Be still my heart.)

When Rebecca felt the babies tussling in her womb, she went (somewhere!) to enquire of the Lord. And the Lord spoke back to her!!

Journalist Lacy wants the scoop! Where did she go to find YHWH? Did He hang out at the oaks of Mamre? Did she go to the hill in Moriah? Where? She went somewhere. She knew where to go! How?! How did she know she was talking to YHWH?! Did He look like a man? Did you have to wait in line? Was there a priest like Melchizedek? Did she offer a sacrifice on one of Abraham’s altars? What in the world?! Inquiring minds want to know! And we just read through that like- nothing to see here. Rebecca has a conversation with Almighty God and we are given zero details on what that looked like.

Ok. Rant over.

Jacob & Esau are born. I will not go off into the details of births and hand-first presentations. If you’re into obstetrics, knock yourself out.

The boys are total opposites.

Esau means “rough.” He was likely a burly, unkempt, unwashed man with manners to match. In my mind he spits a lot, speaks in a vulgar way, and thrusts his dirty boots onto furniture.

Jacob was described as a “plain” man (Strong’s: gentle, simple, pious) and a “smooth” man (later in the story). In my mind he prefers to read and converse, keep things uncluttered and ship-shape, pet the critters, and look after those around him.

Esau is outdoorsy. Jacob is indoorsy.

Esau hunts. Jacob herds.

Esau is led by his gut. Jacob by his head.

Esau is boisterous. Jacob is quiet.

Esau ventures off. Jacob prefers home.

Esau is dad’s favorite. Jacob is mom’s.

Esau wears hides. Jacob woven cloth.

You get the picture. Total opposites.

We’re not given many stories of the brothers so the ones we do have must be important. Let’s look at Esau selling his birthright.

First off, the birthright is literally the role of the firstborn son. You become the head of the household when the father dies. You inherit the vast bulk of the estate. Remember how Abraham was rich? Isaac has only expanded that. He’s as wealthy as a king. Actually more. Abimelech the king of Gerar sends Isaac away because his wealth is so intimidating.

You’d think Esau would feel the weight of that and be interested in learning the ropes so he will be ready to take over and run a small kingdom. Nope. He’d rather drink a keg of beer with the boys and watch rassslin’ while gnawing on a shank of roasted meat. (Sorry. Is my anti-uncouth bias showing? 🙄)

So one day Esau has had no luck hunting and is being an absolute drama queen about how hungry he is. “I’m dying of hunger!” “I’m about to perish!” Reminds me of a toddler. They drop their ice cream on the sidewalk and it’s the end of the ever-lovin’ world. They weep and wail and are absolutely inconsolable. Life is OVER. It will NEVER be ok. How dare you suggest it will be ok?! Also very much like a teenage girl during a breakup.

Jacob just happens to stirring up a fine pot of campfire cowboy chili. It’s odd to me that

1. Esau doesn’t just help himself to a bowl
2. Jacob doesn’t just offer his brother some food for free
3. Esau doesn’t look elsewhere for food when Jacob suggests the trade

We lack context (as the news people love to say). Jacob does come across as devious here. Perhaps he felt that Esau didn’t deserve to inherit. We can all think of people that if they had a rich uncle die and leave them a Fortune 500 company, they’d have that company in bankruptcy in a couple years. Hundreds or thousands of employees would get the pink slip. Jacob probably cringes to imagine what Bubba Gump will do to the family estate. Maybe he’s been looking for an opportunity to get Esau’s grubby hands off the money. I wonder if Jacob was surprised how easy it was.

(I’m super tempted to go off about the old game show Let’s Make A Deal, but I won’t.)

“Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”) “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭25‬:‭30‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬ (emphasis mine)

Esau didn’t appreciate what he had. He disesteemed his priceless birthright. He devalued and scorned it. It even shows a lack of respect for both Isaac and Abraham who built the wealth. He didn’t care about having tents and herds and employees and influence. Just give him a bow and some game to hunt. Birthrights look a lot like work. And responsibility.

This is the NT commentary on this event:

“Take care that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no one growing up like a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one be a sexually immoral or totally worldly person like Esau, who for one meal traded his own birthright.” Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭LEB‬‬

Totally worldly. Only concerned about himself in the here-and-now. The NT holds up Esau as a warning of what not to do.

“And when Esau was forty years old he took as wife Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.” Genesis‬ ‭26‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭LEB‬‬

The Hittites didn’t worship YHWH. I feel like his marriages were a statement- a middle finger even. Esau seems to have embraced the role of black red sheep of the family. We aren’t told exactly why the new daughters-in-law made life bitter for Isaac and Rebecca but I’d guess that Esau and his lifestyle are a far cry from what his parents had hoped for him.

And the rift in the family is only about to get worse…