Abraham's Later Years and Death
Study note
Abraham marries a woman named Keturah and has six more sons. But he gives everything he owns to Isaac and sends the other sons away with gifts, keeping the covenant line clear. Abraham dies at 175 years old and is buried by Isaac and Ishmael together in the cave of Machpelah with Sarah. After Abraham's death, God blesses Isaac, who settles near Beer Lahai Roi.
1 Abraham married again. His new wife's name was Keturah. Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
2 She gave him six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
3 Jokshan had two sons: Sheba and Dedan. Dedan's descendants became the Ashurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites. And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
4 Midian's sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these traced back to Keturah. And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
5 Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac. And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
6 But while Abraham was still alive, he gave gifts to the sons of his other wives. Then he sent them off to the east -- far away from Isaac. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
7 Abraham lived to be 175 years old. And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
8 Then he took his last breath and died peacefully — a very old man who had lived a full and satisfying life. He joined his ancestors who had gone before him. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre. That was on the property of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
10 It was the same field Abraham had purchased from the Hittites. Abraham was laid to rest right next to his wife Sarah. The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
11 After Abraham passed away, God continued to bless Isaac. Isaac settled near Beer Lahai Roi. And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.
Ishmael's Descendants
Study note
Ishmael's twelve sons are listed, fulfilling God's promise that Ishmael would father twelve rulers. The text notes that Ishmael lived 137 years. His descendants settled in the region from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. They lived in hostility toward all their relatives, as was prophesied about Ishmael.
12 Here is the record of Ishmael's family. Ishmael was Abraham's son. Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian servant, bore him. Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
13 These are Ishmael's sons, listed from oldest to youngest: Nebaioth (the firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
16 These were Ishmael's sons, and these are the names of the twelve tribal chiefs, listed by their camps and settlements. These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
17 Ishmael lived to be 137 years old. Then he took his last breath, died, and joined his ancestors. And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
18 Ishmael's children spread from Havilah to Shur. Shur is near Egypt's eastern border on the way to Assyria. They always clashed with their nearby kin. And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
The Birth of Esau and Jacob
Study note
Isaac is forty years old when he marries Rebekah. Like Sarah before her, Rebekah is unable to have children. Isaac prays to the Lord, and Rebekah becomes pregnant with twins. The babies struggle inside her, and when she asks God about it, he tells her that two nations are in her womb and the older will serve the younger. Esau is born first, red and hairy. Jacob is born right after, gripping Esau's heel. Isaac is sixty years old. As the boys grow, Esau becomes a skillful hunter while Jacob stays among the tents. Isaac favors Esau while Rebekah favors Jacob.
19 Here is the story of Isaac's family. Abraham had a son named Isaac. And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:
20 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. She was the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean. And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
21 Isaac prayed hard to the Lord for his wife because she couldn't get pregnant. The Lord answered his prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant. And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 But the twins inside her kept pushing and shoving against each other. She said, "What on earth is going on inside me?" So she went and asked the Lord about it. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.
23 The Lord told her, "You've got two whole nations growing inside you. Two separate peoples will come from your body. One group will be stronger than the other, and the older one will end up serving the younger." And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
24 When it was time to deliver, sure enough — there were twins! And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25 The first baby came out red-skinned and covered all over with hair, like he was wearing a fur coat. They named him Esau. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
26 Right behind him came his brother, gripping Esau's heel with his hand. They named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
27 As the boys grew up, Esau became an outdoorsman — an excellent hunter who loved the wild open country. Jacob was more of a homebody who preferred staying close to camp. And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
28 Isaac had a soft spot for Esau because he loved eating the wild game Esau brought home. But Rebekah's favorite was Jacob. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Esau Sells His Birthright
Study note
One day Esau comes in from the field exhausted and hungry. Jacob is cooking stew, and Esau asks for some. Jacob seizes the moment and demands Esau's birthright in exchange. The birthright was the special privilege of the firstborn, including a double share of the inheritance and leadership of the family. Esau, thinking only of his immediate hunger, agrees and swears an oath giving his birthright away. The text says Esau despised his birthright, showing he valued temporary comfort over his permanent inheritance.
29 One day Jacob was making some stew. Esau came stumbling in from the wilderness, starving. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 Esau begged, "Give me some of that red stew right now! I'm about to pass out from hunger!" That's why people started calling him Edom, which means 'red.' And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 Jacob replied, "Sure — but first, sell me your rights as the firstborn." And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 Esau said, "I'm practically dying here! What good is a birthright if I'm dead?" And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 Jacob said, "Then swear to me right now that it's mine." So Esau made an oath and handed over his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 Jacob gave Esau bread and a bowl of lentil stew. Esau gulped it all down, got up, and walked away without a second thought. That shows how little the birthright meant to him. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.