Gen 25:19-26 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 25:19: 25:19–35:29 This account of the family of Isaac , the chosen son of Abraham , mostly recounts Jacob’s struggle for the blessing (25:27-34 ; chs 27–33 ). Summary for Gen 25:19-26: 25:19-26 Jacob’s struggle for supremacy began before the twins were born (see Hos 12:3 ). Summary for Gen 25:19-20: 25:19-20 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.

Summary for Gen 25:19: 25:19–35:29 ^a This account of the family of Isaac, the chosen son of Abraham, mostly recounts Jacob’s struggle for the blessing (25:27-34 ^b; chs 27–33 ^c).
Summary for Gen 25:19-26: 25:19-26 ^d Jacob’s struggle for supremacy began before the twins were born (see Hos 12:3 ^e).
Summary for Gen 25:19-20: 25:19-20 ^f 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 ^g For twenty years, Rebekah was barren (cp. 25:20 ^h, 26 ⁱ), like Sarah (see 16:1 ^j). 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 ^k When the pregnancy was difficult, Rebekah went to ask the Lord about it, probably by visiting a prophet—perhaps Abraham (20:7 ^l; see study note on 25:7-8).
25:23 ^m 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 ⁿ; see Mal 1:1-3 ^o; Rom 9:11-16 ^p).
Summary for Gen 25:24-26: 25:24-26 ^q 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 ^r 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 ^s); Edom had red soil.

• Esau’s >hair was like the fur coat of an animal, foreshadowing his unspiritual character (25:34 ^t; Heb 12:16 ^u; cp. Lev 26:22 ^v; Deut 7:22 ^w; 1 Cor 15:32 ^x). The description of the child uses words that highlight the Edomites’ nature.
25:26 ^y 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 ^z).