Gen 25 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 25:1-11: 25:1-11 Though Abraham had sons by another wife, he safeguarded Isaac’s inheritance and blessing. 25:1 Exactly when Abraham married ... Keturah is unknown. It was probably, but not necessarily, after Sarah’s death.

Summary for Gen 25:1-11: 25:1-11 ^a Though Abraham had sons by another wife, he safeguarded Isaac’s inheritance and blessing. 25:1 ^b Exactly when Abraham married ... Keturah is unknown. It was probably, but not necessarily, after Sarah’s death.
Summary for Gen 25:2-4: 25:2-4 ^c The birth of these nations from Abraham partially fulfilled God’s promise to him (12:2 ^d; 17:4 ^e).
25:3 ^f Sheba and Dedan: Cp. 10:7 ^g. Abraham’s descendants probably settled in these regions and became identified by their names, along with people of other lineage.
Summary for Gen 25:5-6: 25:5-6 ^h Abraham loved all his sons, so before he died, he gave them gifts and sent them away as he had sent Ishmael (21:8-14 ⁱ). In this way, he preserved Isaac’s position as his heir.
Summary for Gen 25:7-8: 25:7-8 ^j Abraham’s death is recorded before the births of Jacob and Esau, but he lived until they were fifteen years old (25:19-26 ^k; cp. 21:5 ^l; 25:26 ^m). This literary arrangement closes Abraham’s story before focusing on Isaac’s family.
25:11 ⁿ God’s blessing transferred to Isaac; Abraham’s other sons had been sent away. Isaac lived near Beer-lahai-roi—a special place where God had answered prayer (16:14 ^o) and where Isaac waited on the Lord (24:62 ^p).
Summary for Gen 25:12-18: 25:12-18 ^q This record lists Ishmael’s descendants before tracing Isaac’s (25:19–35:29 ^r), which is in keeping with the literary arrangement of Genesis (see Genesis Book Introduction, “Summary”).
25:16 ^s Ishmael’s twelve sons fulfilled God’s promise of blessing (17:20 ^t).
25:18 ^u Havilah was a region in north-central Arabia.

• Shur was a region between Beersheba and Egypt.

• in open hostility toward all their relatives: The wording is close to that of 16:12 ^v.
Summary for Gen 25:19: 25:19–35:29 ^w This account of the family of Isaac, the chosen son of Abraham, mostly recounts Jacob’s struggle for the blessing (25:27-34 ^x; chs 27–33 ^y).
Summary for Gen 25:19-26: 25:19-26 ^z Jacob’s struggle for supremacy began before the twins were born (see Hos 12:3 ^aa).
Summary for Gen 25:19-20: 25:19-20 ^ab Isaac ... married Rebekah: Isaac’s marriage tied him and his family even more closely to Abraham’s ancestors. Had he married a Canaanite, the covenant faith would have been imperiled by this corrupt, syncretistic people.
25:21 ^ac For twenty years, Rebekah was barren (cp. 25:20 ^ad, 26 ^ae), like Sarah (see 16:1 ^af). This condition tested their faith (see study note on 16:1-3). How could they be childless when God promised that nations would issue from them?

• Isaac pleaded with the Lord and the Lord answered Isaac’s prayer. Isaac apparently learned from his father’s mistake and responded in faith.
25:22 ^ag When the pregnancy was difficult, Rebekah went to ask the Lord about it, probably by visiting a prophet—perhaps Abraham (20:7 ^ah; see study note on 25:7-8).
25:23 ^ai rivals: Jacob and Esau fought in the womb, and their descendants (Israel and Edom) fought continuously throughout their history. In their many conflicts, Israel achieved supremacy over Edom.

• your older son will serve your younger son: God’s choice of the younger son over the elder ran against natural order (cp. 48:12-14 ^aj; see Mal 1:1-3 ^ak; Rom 9:11-16 ^al).
Summary for Gen 25:24-26: 25:24-26 ^am When the twins were born, the unusual circumstances inspired each boy’s name and hinted at what would happen to them in the future.
25:25 ^an Two wordplays anticipate Esau’s later life. Esau sounds like Hebrew se‘ar, which means “hair”; Esau’s later homeland, Edom, was known as Seir (“hairy”) because it was wooded (as though covered with hair).

• red (Hebrew ’admoni) sounds like Esau’s other name, Edom (25:27-34 ^ao); Edom had red soil.

• Esau’s >hair was like the fur coat of an animal, foreshadowing his unspiritual character (25:34 ^ap; Heb 12:16 ^aq; cp. Lev 26:22 ^ar; Deut 7:22 ^as; 1 Cor 15:32 ^at). The description of the child uses words that highlight the Edomites’ nature.
25:26 ^au The name Jacob (Hebrew ya‘aqob, from Hebrew ‘aqeb, “heel, footprint”) was originally positive, meaning “protect” (like a rear guard), but it took on the negative meaning of “heel grabber” or “deceiver” in the context of Jacob’s deceptive, grasping, usurping character (see 27:36 ^av).
Summary for Gen 25:27-34: 25:27-34 ^aw Jacob and Esau each developed in accord with his initial characteristics (25:24-26 ^ax). Esau, the reddish, hairy man, cared about physical things rather than spiritual things (see Heb 12:16 ^ay); he was finally overcome by physical appetites and sold his birthright. Jacob, the heel grabber, knew the birthright’s value and drove a ruthless bargain to gain it presumptuously from his brother. 25:27 ^az Esau was a skillful hunter and an outdoorsman—a wild man who loved wild country. Jacob had a quiet (or even) temperament and preferred to stay at home (literally dwelling in tents)—i.e., he was civilized.
25:28 ^ba The parents each practiced favoritism.

• because: Isaac’s love for Esau was conditioned upon his son’s performance. Rebekah’s love for Jacob was constant and unconditional.
25:29 ^bb Ironically, Jacob proved the more cunning hunter. The word cooking (Hebrew wayyazed, “boiling”) sounds like the word for “hunter” (Hebrew tsayid). While boiling stew, Jacob was laying a trap for the hairy red animal. He may have waited a long time for this opportunity. This word for “boil” was also used for presumptuous action (like water boiling over the rim of the pot). Jacob overstepped his boundaries when he seized the promise for himself. By contrast, Abraham knew the promise was his and was secure in giving the land away (see study note on 13:8-13).

• Esau was exhausted and hungry, but his life was not in danger (25:32 ^bc; see study note on 25:33-34).
25:30 ^bd Esau was preoccupied with his appetite. Being driven by one’s appetites leaves no place for spiritual values. The text emphasizes this by using a Hebrew word (translated give) that was normally used for feeding animals.

• Edom, which means “red”: See study note on 25:25.
Summary for Gen 25:31-33: 25:31-33 ^be Jacob was the better hunter on this occasion, but great danger lay in exercising such strong ambition. God’s people should desire the things of God, but they must not seek them in the flesh (see Zech 4:6 ^bf; Gal 5:16-17 ^bg; Eph 6:10-12 ^bh). The Lord dealt severely with Jacob to purge him of carnal methods. He later received the promise not as crafty Jacob the usurper, but as Israel (meaning, “God fights”), with God fighting on his behalf (Gen 32:28 ^bi).
Summary for Gen 25:33-34: 25:33-34 ^bj Esau eagerly took Jacob’s bait and fell into the trap. He ate and left too quickly to have been near death (25:32 ^bk). The final comment on the passage explains that Esau showed contempt for his birthright, considering it worthless (Heb 12:16 ^bl). It is foolish to sacrifice spiritual blessings to satisfy physical appetites (cp. Gen 3:6 ^bm).