Study Desk

(They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren.

Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. [fn]

Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; so his name was called Jacob. [fn] Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. [fn]

Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, "She is my sister"; for he was afraid to say, "She is my wife," because he thought, "lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold."

Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife.

So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, "He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death."

Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth.

Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them.

So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well.

Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army.

Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, "My son." And he answered him, "Here I am."

Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it.

Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death."

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man.