The Bible Book

54

MAY NATIONS SERVE

YOU AND PEOPLES

BOW DOWN TO YOU

GENESIS 27:29, ESAU AND JACOB

T

he story of Esau and Jacob

involves sibling rivalry,

favoritism, and deceit.

The twin sons of Isaac and

Rebekah have been fighting since

they were in the womb. “Two

nations are in your womb,” God

tells the pregnant Rebekah, “and

are not stated, though some

scholars suggest she is the

instrument of God, whose plan for

Jacob was revealed to her during

her pregnancy. She tells Jacob to

slaughter two kids from their flock,

which she will cook. Jacob should

then take the dish to his near-blind

father, pretending to be Esau.

Before he does this, she covers

his hands and neck with goatskin

to make him feel hairy like Esau.

The deceit works: Jacob receives

his father’s blessing.

Shortly after this, Esau returns

and discovers he has been cheated,

but the blessing has already been

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

Genesis 25:25–29:28

THEME

The power of blessing

SETTING

Second millennium bce

Beersheba and Haran.

KEY FIGURES

Isaac Son of Abraham

and Sarah.

Rebekah The wife of Isaac.

Esau The older twin brother

of Jacob.

Jacob The younger twin

of Esau.

Laban Rebekah’s brother.

two peoples from within you will

be separated, one people will be

stronger than the other, and the

older will serve the younger.”

According to Genesis 25:25,

Esau was the firstborn (“the first

to come out was red, and his whole

body was like a hairy garment”),

but Jacob followed promptly, his

hand clinging to his brother’s heel.

The boys grow up to be different

characters: Esau is a hunter; Jacob

is quieter. Once, when Esau returns

from hunting, he finds his brother

cooking a stew. When Esau asks for

some, Jacob agrees on the condition

that Esau surrenders his birthright—

an elder son’s entitlement to a

double portion of any inheritance.

Too hungry to care, Esau agrees.

The favorite son

Esau is Isaac’s favorite son, Jacob

his mother’s. When Isaac is old,

almost blind, and near death, he

tells Esau to go out and hunt some

game. Esau must then cook the

meat and take the dish to Isaac so

that he may bless his favorite son,

a deathbed ritual believed to confer

God’s presence and protection on

the recipient. Overhearing this

exchange, Rebekah wants Jacob to

receive the blessing. Her reasons

I am with you and will

watch over you wherever

you go ... I will not leave you

until I have done what I

have promised to you.

Genesis 28:15

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