Genesis 25:23-26
25:23 a 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 b; see Mal 1:1-3 c; Rom 9:11-16 d).
Summary for Gen 25:24-26: 25:24-26 e 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 f 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 g); Edom had red soil.
• Esau’s >hair was like the fur coat of an animal, foreshadowing his unspiritual character (25:34 h; Heb 12:16 i; cp. Lev 26:22 j; Deut 7:22 k; 1 Cor 15:32 l). The description of the child uses words that highlight the Edomites’ nature.
25:26 m 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 n).
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