Study Desk

Now these are the records of ^(C1)the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham fathered Isaac;

and Isaac was forty years old when he took ^(C1)Rebekah, the ^(C2)daughter of Bethuel the ^(F1)Aramean of Paddan-aram, the ^(C3)sister of Laban the ^(F1)Aramean, to be his wife.

Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children; and ^(C1)the LORD ^(F1)answered him, and his wife Rebekah ^(C2)conceived.

But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If it is so, why am I in this condition?" So she went to ^(C1)inquire of the LORD.

And the LORD said to her, "^(C1)Two nations are in your womb; ^(C2)And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people will be stronger than the other; And ^(C3)the older will serve the younger."

When her days leading to the delivery were at an end, behold, there were twins in her womb.

Now the first came out red, ^(C1)all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau.

Afterward his brother came out with ^(C1)his hand holding on to Esau's heel, so ^(C2)he was named ^(F1)Jacob; and Isaac was ^(C3)sixty years old when she gave birth to them.

When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a ^(F1)civilized man, ^(C1)living in tents.

Now Isaac loved Esau because ^(F1)he had ^(C1)a taste for game; ^(C2)but Rebekah loved Jacob.

When Jacob had cooked a ^(C1)stew one day, Esau came in from the field and he was exhausted;

and Esau said to Jacob, "Please let me have a mouthful of ^(F1)that red stuff there, for I am exhausted." Therefore he was called ^(F2)Edom by name.

But Jacob said, "^(F1)First sell me your ^(C1)birthright."

Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?"

And Jacob said, "^(F1)First swear to me"; so he swore an oath to him, and ^(C1)sold his birthright to Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. So Esau despised his birthright.