Study Desk

When the day came for her to give birth, there were two babies to be born.

Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red meat, for I am very hungry." That is why his name was called Edom.

Live in this land and I will be with you and bring good to you. For I will give all these lands to you and your children. I will keep the promise I made to your father Abraham.

For Abraham obeyed Me. He did what I told him to do. He kept My Word and My Law."

When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister." He was afraid to say, "She is my wife," because he thought to himself, "The men of this place might kill me because of Rebekah, for she is beautiful."

For he had flocks and many cattle and many people working in his house. The Philistines became jealous of him.

Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us. For you are too powerful for us."

And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham. For the Philistines had closed them up after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the same names that his father had given them.

He moved away from there and dug another well. And they did not argue about it. So he gave it the name Rehoboth. For he said, "Now the Lord has made a large place for us. We will grow much in this land."

The Lord showed Himself to Isaac that same night, and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring good to you, and add many to the number of your children and their children's children, because of My servant Abraham."

They said, "It is easy for us to see that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be a promise between us, between you and us. Let us make an agreement with you,

that you will not hurt us in any way. For we have not touched you, and have done nothing to you but good. We sent you away in peace. And you now have the Lord's favor.'"

So Isaac made a special supper for them, and they ate and drank.

And they made life full of sorrow for Isaac and Rebekah.

Take your bow and arrows, and go out to the field to get meat for me.

Get some food ready for me that I love. Bring it to me to eat, so that before I die I will pray that good will come to you."

And Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for meat to bring home,

'Bring me some meat. Make good-tasting food for me to eat. And before I die I will pray to the Lord for good to come to you.'

Then you will take it to your father for him to eat. So before he dies he will pray for good to come to you."

His mother said to him, "The curse will come upon me instead of you, my son. You do what I say, and go get them for me."