Genesis 25

NSB(i) 1 Abraham married another woman. Her name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan, and the descendants of Dedan were the Asshurim, the Letushim, and the Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were Keturah’s descendants. 5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 While Abraham was still alive, he gave gifts to the sons of Hagar and Keturah. He also sent their sons to live in the east far from his son Isaac. 7 Abraham lived one hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then he took his last breath and died at a very old age. After a long and full life, he joined his ancestors in death. 9 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 This was the field Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. Abraham and Sarah his wife were buried there. 11 After the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived by Beer-lahai-roi. (The Well of the Living One, My Beholder). 12 This is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maid, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, and Kedar and Adbeel and Mibsam 14 and Mishma and Dumah and Massa, 15 Hadad and Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages, and by their camps: twelve leaders according to their tribes. 17 Ishmael lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. Then he died and was gathered to his ancestors. 18 His descendants lived as nomads from the region of Havilah to Shur. This is near Egypt, in the direction of Assyria. He died in the presence of all his brothers. 19 This is the genealogy of Abraham’s son Isaac and his descendants. Abraham was the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram, and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to Jehovah for his wife because she was childless. Jehovah answered his prayer. His wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 She was going to have twins. Before they were born they struggled against each other in her womb. She said: »Why should something like this happen to me?« She asked Jehovah for an answer. 23 Jehovah said: »Two nations are within you. You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger.« 24 The time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to twin sons. 25 The first one was reddish. His skin was like a hairy robe, so he was named Esau. 26 The second one was born holding on tightly to the heel of Esau. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born. 27 The boys grew up. Esau became a skilled hunter, a man who loved the outdoors. Jacob was an upright man who stayed at home. 28 Isaac preferred Esau. This is because he enjoyed eating the animals Esau killed. Rebecca preferred Jacob. 29 One day while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from hunting. He was hungry. 30 He said to Jacob: »I am starving! Give me some of that red stuff.« (That is why he was named Edom.) 31 Jacob answered: »I will give it to you if you give me your birthright as the firstborn son.« 32 Esau said: »All right! I am about to die. What good are rights as firstborn to me?« 33 Jacob answered: »First make a vow that you will give me your birthright.« Esau made the vow and gave his rights as firstborn to Jacob. 34 Jacob gave him some bread and some of the soup. He ate and drank and then got up and left. Esau did not care about his birthright.