Genesis 25
Abraham Dies & Leaves Isaac Everything
After Sarah’s death, Abraham married Keturah [whose name means “incense”], and they had a number of kids together:
Zimran means “musician,” Jokshan means “snarer,” Medan means “contention,” Midian means “strife,” Ishbak means “he releases,” Shuah means “wealth.”
In Abraham’s will, he left everything he owned to Isaac, but before he died, he also gave gifts to his other sons who he had with his maidens. Before dying he also sent his other sons eastward away from Isaac.
Abraham was 175 years old when he gave up his spirit. He had lived a full life and died at a ripe, old age. He died feeling satisfied and went to join his predecessors. His sons, Isaac and Ishmael, buried him next to Sarah in the cave at Machpelah which Abraham had purchased from Heth’s family. After Even after Abraham passed away, God continued blessing Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi [the well named “the Living One sees me”].
Abraham also had many grandsons through Ishmael. From oldest to youngest they were:
Nebaioth, his oldest [Nebaioth means “heights”]
Kedar [which means “dark”]
Adbeel [“God’s humbled”]
Mibsam [“sweet aroma”]
Mishma [“a hearing”]
Dumah [“silence”]
Massa [“burden”]
Hadad [“mighty”]
Tema [“desert”]
Jetur [“enclosed”]
Naphish [“refreshment”]
Kedemah [“original”]
They were the 12 leaders of their tribes, and each of them grew into distinct villages and camps.
Ishmael was 137 years old when he breathed his last and was received by his family. His sons settled from the region of Havilah [probably near the Caspian Sea] all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. He met his downfall as he was going face to face with his family.
Isaac & Rebekah Have Twins
Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah (Bethuel the Syrian’s daughter and Laban’s sister.) Isaac and Rebekah couldn’t get pregnant for 20 years, so Isaac begged the Existing One, and then they became pregnant. During the pregnancy Rebekah could feel the child struggling in her belly and wondered,
“If God wanted me to be pregnant, then why is my child struggling?”
So she asked the Existing One about it, and He told her,
“There are 2 countries in your belly right now. Your body is dividing into 2 different ethnicities. One of the ethnicities will be stronger than the other, but the greater one will end up working for the lesser one.”
When the time came, sure enough, she gave birth to twins. The first one was born a healthy-looking red color with hair all over like a garment, so they named him Esau [which means “hairy”]. His brother came out with his hand was clutching Esau’s heel, so they named him Jacob [which means “heel holder; usurper”]. Isaac was 60 years old when the twins were born.
Esau Sells Birthright for Stew
Esau grew up to be a proficient hunter and outdoorsman, while Jacob was more quiet and secure and liked to stay indoors. Isaac favored Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah favored Jacob.
One day when Jacob had made a stew, Esau came in from outside completely exhausted and said,
“I’m spent! Would it be alright if I smashed that red lentil stew of yours?”
He loved that stew, which was how he got the nickname Edom [which means “red”].
Jacob said,
“I’ll give it to you if you let me take your place as the oldest son.”
Esau said,
“Well, I’m about to die of hunger here, so what good is it being the oldest son right now?”
Jacob said,
“Alright then, go ahead and swear over your firstborn rights.”
So Esau swore his firstborn son status over to Jacob in exchange for a hardy pot of lentil stew and bread. When he finished his meal, he got up and went on his way as if he didn’t even care.
Note: It’s interesting how Isaac received Abraham’s inheritance even though Ishmael was the firstborn. And it’s interesting how Jacob received the birthright even though Esau was the firstborn.