Esau and Jacob

Childrens

21 Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she had no children; and the Lord heard his prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. 22 The children struggled against each other in her womb, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me? What does it mean?’ She went to ask the Lord, 23 who said to her,

‘Two nations are in your womb,

two peoples divided from birth,

One will be stronger than the other,

the elder will serve the younger.’

24 When the time came for her to give birth, she became the mother of twin boys. 25 The first was from birth red, all over like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau[fn]. 26 Afterwards his brother came holding Esau’s heel with his hand; so he was named Jacob[fn]. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

27 As they grew up, Esau became a skilful hunter, a man who lived out in the fields; but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed about the tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau, for he had a taste for venison; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Once when Jacob was preparing a stew, Esau came in from the fields, and he was very hungry; 30 so he said to Jacob, ‘Let me swallow some of that red stew, for I am very hungry.’ (This is why he was called Edom.) 31 But Jacob said, ‘Sell me first of all your right as the eldest.’ 32 Esau replied, ‘See, I am nearly dead now! So of what use is this birthright to me?’ 33 Jacob said, ‘First solemnly promise to give it to me.’ So Esau solemnly promised and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and stewed lentils, and when he had finished eating and drinking, he got up and went away. In this way Esau gave away his birthright.