GenesisChapter 25

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¹Abraham had married another wife. Her name was Keturah. ²She had these sons with him: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. ³Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites. ⁴The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these came from Keturah. ⁵Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. ⁶But while Abraham was still alive, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Then he sent them away from his son Isaac. He sent them to the land of the east. ⁷Abraham lived 175 years in all. ⁸Then he took his last breath and died at a good old age. He was old and had lived a full life. And he joined his people who had died before him. ⁹His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. It was in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. ¹⁰Abraham had bought this field from the Hittites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah. ¹¹After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived near Beer-lahai-roi. ¹²This is the story of Abraham's son Ishmael. Hagar had him with Abraham. She was from Egypt, and she was Sarah's servant. ¹³These are the names of Ishmael's sons, from oldest to youngest. Nebaioth was Ishmael's firstborn. Then came Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, ¹⁴Mishma, Dumah, Massa, ¹⁵Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. ¹⁶These were Ishmael's sons. Their villages and camps were named after them. They were twelve princes of their tribes. ¹⁷Ishmael lived 137 years in all. Then he took his last breath and died. And he joined his people who had died before him. ¹⁸Ishmael's descendants lived in the land from Havilah to Shur. Shur is near the border of Egypt on the way to Asshur. And they lived at odds with all their relatives. ¹⁹This is the story of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham was the father of Isaac. ²⁰Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. She was the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram. She was the sister of Laban the Aramean. ²¹Isaac's wife could not have children. So Isaac prayed to the LORD for her. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. ²²But the babies inside her pushed against each other. She said, "Why is this happening to me?" So Rebekah went to ask the LORD about it. ²³The LORD said to her,
"Two nations are inside you.
Two peoples from you will be split apart.
One people will be stronger than the other.
The older will serve the younger." ²⁴When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins inside her. ²⁵The first one came out red. His whole body was covered with hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau.a ²⁶Then his brother came out holding on to Esau's heel. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when the twins were born.b ²⁷The boys grew up. Esau became a skilled hunter who loved the outdoors. But Jacob was a quiet man who stayed near the tents. ²⁸Isaac liked to eat wild game, so he loved Esau. But Rebekah loved Jacob. ²⁹One day Jacob was cooking some stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was starving. ³⁰He said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew. I'm starving!" That is why he was also called Edom.c ³¹Jacob answered, "First sell me your rights as the firstborn son." ³²"Look," Esau said, "I'm about to die. What good are a firstborn's rights to me?" ³³Jacob said, "First make a promise to me." So Esau made a promise to Jacob. He sold Jacob his rights as the firstborn. ³⁴Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank. Then he got up and left. So Esau treated his rights as the firstborn as if they were worth nothing.