05.030. Chapter 25

Genesis 25:1-34 In 1 Chronicles 1:32 Keturah is called Abraham’s concubine. Genesis 25:8 seems to confirm this. Thus she was a lesser wife, one who did not enjoy the full privileges of a wife in the home. Once again God records marital irregularities that he never approved.

Abraham died at 175 and became the second person to be buried in the cave at Hebron (Genesis 25:7-10). The 12 sons of Ishmael listed in Genesis 25:12-18 fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham: “Twelve princes shall he beget” (Genesis 17:20). With the death of Ishmael (Genesis 25:17-18), Isaac moves to the center of the stage in the narrative. For almost 20 years after her marriage, Rebekah was barren. Then, in answer to Isaac’s prayer, she conceived. The struggle of two sons within her perplexed her (Genesis 25:22) until she was told that her sons would become the heads of rival nations (Israel and Edom) (Genesis 25:23). The firstborn twin was named Esau, meaning “hairy.” The other was named Jacob, meaning “supplanter.” Even at birth, Jacob tried to gain advantage over his brother by holding his heel (Genesis 25:26)! As the firstborn, Esau was entitled to a double portion of his father’s possessions—that is, twice as much as any other son might inherit. He also became the tribal or family head. This was known as the birthright. In Esau’s case, it would also have included being the ancestor of the Messiah. One day, as Esau was returning from a hunting trip, he saw Jacob cooking some red vegetable soup. He asked for some of the red stuff so imploringly that he got the nickname “Red” (Edom), and it stuck to him and to his posterity, the Edomites (Genesis 25:19-30). When Jacob offered some soup in exchange for Esau’s birthright, Esau foolishly agreed (Genesis 25:31-34). “No food except the forbidden fruit was as dearly bought as this broth.”13 The prophecy of Genesis 25:23 is partially fulfilled in Genesis 25:29-34. God does not condone Jacob’s wheeling and dealing, but one thing is apparent—Jacob valued the birthright and a place in the godly line, while Esau preferred the gratification of his physical appetite to spiritual blessings. The chapter closes by emphasizing Esau’s treatment of the birthright rather than Jacob’s treatment of his brother. Esau’s descendants were bitter foes of Israel. Their final doom is pronounced in Obadiah.