Genesis Chapter 25 Deep-Dive: Abraham's Death, Birth of Esau and Jacob, Easu Sells Birthright

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Gen 25 Abraham’s Death and His Descendants

ABRAHAM WAS 137 WHEN SARAH DIED.  1Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.  2She 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. 5Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6But to the sons of his concubines (HAGAR & KETURAH, PERHAPS OTHERS) Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.  AWAY FROM CANAAN, THE PROMISED LAND THAT ISAAC WOULD INHERIT … BACK TOWARD THE OLD COUNTRY THAT ABRAHAM LEFT.

7These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. NOTE THAT NUMBERS IN THE BIBLE ARE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO TRANSLATE BECAUSE THIS WAS BEFORE THE ARABIC NUMBER SYSTEM WHICH THE WORLD NOW USES WAS USED IN THE NEAR EAST AND EUROPE.  HEBREW LETTERS REPRESENTED NUMBERS AND LARGE NUMBERS WERE DIFFICULT TO CONVEY AND CONSEQUENTLY TO TRANSLATE.  ALSO, THE BIGGEST DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS AND THE AREA THE GREEK SEPTUAGINT TRANSLATORS STRUGGLED WITH THE MOST WERE NUMBERS.  8Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. HEBREW: RESTED WITH HIS FATHERS … THE ANCIENT HEBREW BELIEF IN AN AFTERLIFE … NT COMMENTARY Lk 20:37 JESUS SPEAKING … But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”

BACK TO GEN 25 … 9Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. 11After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.  REMEMBER THAT HAGAR AND ISHMAEL SETTLED IN THE AREA CLOSE TO WHERE ABRAHAM SETTLED … THERE WAS NO ENMITY BETWEEN ISAAC AND ISHMAEL.

12These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These are the TWELVE sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes.  A PARALLEL BLESSING GIVEN TO HAGAR/ISHMAEL DIRECTLY FROM THE ANGEL OF THE LORD (JESUS) SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF YAHWEH. 17(These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen.  NEAR THEM, SOUTH OF CANAAN

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

19These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. GOD INTERACTING WITH HIS CREATION, AND DESPITE THE PROMISE GIVEN REGARDING ISAAC’S SEED IT TOOK ISAAC’S INTERCESSION FOR REBEKAH TO CONCEIVE … VERY, VERY INTERESTING WHEN YOU CONSIDER PRAYER.  22The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”  THIS IS ESAU (OLDER) AND JACOB (YOUNGER) THIS SCENE IS REFERENCED BY PAUL IN ROM 9 … A VERY FAMOUS NT PASSAGE THAT STILL CAUSES GREAT CONSTERNATION.  BEFORE WE LOOK AT THAT PASSAGE LET’S SEE WHAT GOD HAD TO SAY ABOUT ESAU THROUGHOUT THE OT:

Joel 3:19 “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom ESAU a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.  WHEN GOD PUNISHED JUDAH’S CONSTANT ONGOING SIN BY HAVING BABYLON INVADE … EDOM/ESAU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF JUDAH AND GOD WAS NOT PLEASED BY THAT

Amos 1:11Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Edom ESAU, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, and his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever.

Jer 49:10 But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more.  11 Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.” 12For thus says the Lord: “If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it THE INNOCENTS OF JUDAH THAT WERE CAUGHT UP IN THE BABYLONIAN INVASION, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink.  ESAU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE INVASION … THEY WILL BE PUNISHED.

Obad ONE CHAPTER BOOK TOTALLY DEDICATED TO A PROPHECY AGAINST ESAU/EDOM V10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. OBADIAH’S WHOLE PROPHECY IS ABOUT GOD’S RETRIBUTION ON ESAU BECAUSE OF HOW THEY TREATED JUDAH.

Ez 35:1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir EDOM-ESAU’S DECENDANTS, and prophesy against it, 3and say to it, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste. 4I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 5Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity BABYLONIAN INVASION, at the time of their final punishment, 6therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you. 7I will make Mount Seir ESAU a waste and a desolation, and I will cut off from it all who come and go.

Malachi THE LAST PROPHET OF THE OT 1: 2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’”   THERE WAS A REASON WHY THE LORD HATED ESAU

PAUL USES THIS SITUATION TO DESCRIBE HOW GOD MANAGES THE WORLD … WHEN WE PUT ON OUR NEW TESTAMENT DECODER GLASSES WE GET A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THIS SITUATION WITH JACOB AND ESAU … Rom 9:10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” (THAT’S IT … PAUL IS FINISHED DESCRIBING THE SITUATION WITH REBEKAH … THE OLDER ESAU WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER, JACOB … NOW HE’S GOING TO QUOTE MALACHI 1:2: 13As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”  BUT THAT WAS WRITTEN LONG AFTER HIS MESSAGE TO REBEKAH THAT THE OLDER WOULD SERVE THE YOUNGER, HOWEVER, THERE WAS A GOOD REASON WHY GOD HATED ESAU/EDOM AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE REASONS FROM THE REFERENCES IN THE PROPHETS THAT WE READ … PAUL IS SAYING THAT BEFORE JACOB OR ESAU DID ANYTHING GOOD OR BAD GOD HAD ALREADY DETERMINED THAT THE OLDER WOULD SERVE THE YOUNGER, HIS HATRED OF ESAU CAME LATER AFTER ESAU’S DESCENDANTS, EDOM, TREATED THEIR BROTHER NATION, ISRAEL/JUDAH, VERY BADLY.  AS A MATTER OF FACT, AT THE END OF THE EXODUS WHEN EDOM REFUSED TO LET ISRAEL PASS THROUGH THEIR TERRITORY … PROBABLY BECAUSE ISRAEL HAD BEEN CIRCLING MT SEIR FOR THE 40 YEARS THEY WERE EXILED IN THE WILDERNESS, GOD TOLD ISRAEL TO LEAVE EDOM ALONE: Deut 2:1 MOSES SPEAKING “Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days 40 YEARS!!! we traveled around Mount Seir. 2Then the Lord said to me, 3‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. 40 YEARS!! Turn northward 4and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. 5Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession DID GOD HATE ESAU AT THAT POINT?  NO, HE WAS PROTECTING THEM, THEY EARNED HIS WRATH BY THEIR ACTIONS AGAINST JUDAH MUCH LATER IN THEIR HISTORY CULMINATING IN MALACHI’S STATEMENT THAT JACOB HAVE I LOVED, ESAU I HATED … AFTER THEY HAD DONE BAD THINGS.  THE POINT OF ROM 9 IS THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN … AND … HE REWARDS/PUNISHES EVERYONE AND EVERY NATION FOR THEIR ACTIONS.  SOVEREIGNTY & FREE WILL … PARALLEL TRUTHS, AN ANTINOMY, THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES BOTH ALTHOUGH WE CAN’T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER; Rom 9:17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills … AND LATER IN ROM 9 V 28for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.”

BACK TO REBEKAH IN GEN 25:22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”  THIS OFFERS INSIGHT INTO WHY SHE PUSHED JACOB TO RECEIVE THE “BLESSING” FROM ISAAC EVEN WHEN IT INVOLVED DECEIT. 

24When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau (RED). 26Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob (GRASPER, AMBITIOUS). Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man (SOFT, GENTLE), dwelling in tents. 28Isaac loved Esau because he 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 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 sold 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.

FURTHER EXPLANATION  https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/35731/why-did-esau-despise-his-birthright#35818

The birthright goes to the eldest son. All sons receive a "portion" of the inheritance of their father, but the one who receives the birthright receives a double portion. He would also be the "head" of the family.  IN THIS CASE IT ALSO INCLUDES THE COVENANT GOD MADE WITH ABRAHAM IN GEN 17

I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.

This reiterates and expands on the promises God had already made to Abraham in Genesis 12, 13, and 15. In Genesis 25:11, it says that "after Abraham's death, God blessed Isaac." In the next chapter, God speaks to Isaac:

Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.

These are the blessings that Esau was to inherit, in addition to his father's property. He was to receive the promise of fathering many nations, being a blessing to other nations, and a close relationship with God. But this he despised.

So Esau despised his birthright. This clause, which concludes the episode, is a summary statement which reveals the underlying significance of Esau’s actions. “To despise” means to treat something as worthless or with contempt. Esau’s willingness to sell his birthright was evidence that he considered it to be unimportant.

Why did he despise it? Heb 12:16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

Esau is implicitly contrasted with Jesus, who is mentioned at the beginning of the chapter:

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Jesus endured the hardship of the cross in order to secure blessings for all nations. Esau gave in to his momentary hunger in order to forego his blessing. Ultimately the reason he despised his birthright could be said to be that his god was his stomach. Paul has this to say about such men in Philippians 3:18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

 

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