Genesis 25

Abraham’s Death

1Now Abraham took another wife, #25:1 Lit and her namewhose name was Keturah. 2She bore to him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were the sons of Keturah. 5Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac; 6but to the sons of #25:6 Lit concubines which belonged to Abrahamhis concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east.

7These are #25:7 Lit the days ofall the years of Abraham’s life that he lived, 175 years. 8Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people. 9Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, 10the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11It came about after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac #25:11 Lit dweltlived by Beer-lahai-roi.

Descendants of Ishmael

12Now these are the records of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s slave woman, bore to Abraham; 13and these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, #25:13 Lit in regard to their generationsin the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages, and by their camps; twelve princes according to their #25:16 Or peoplestribes. 17These are the years of the life of Ishmael, 137 years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. 18They #25:18 Lit dweltsettled from Havilah to Shur which is #25:18 Lit beforeeast of Egypt #25:18 Lit as you gogoing toward Assyria; he #25:18 Lit fell over againstsettled in defiance of all his relatives.

Isaac’s Sons

19Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac; 20and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the #25:20 I.e., SyrianAramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the #25:20 I.e., SyrianAramean, to be his wife. 21Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children; and the Lord #25:21 Lit was entreated of himanswered him, and his wife Rebekah conceived. 22But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why am I in this condition?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb;

And two peoples will be separated from your body;

And one people will be stronger than the other;

And the older will serve the younger.”

24When her days leading to the delivery were at an end, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25Now the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. 26Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so he was named #25:26 I.e., one who takes by the heel or supplantsJacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.

27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a #25:27 Lit completecivilized man, living in tents. 28Now Isaac loved Esau because #25:28 Lit game was in his mouthhe had a taste for game; but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29When Jacob had cooked a stew one day, Esau came in from the field and he was exhausted; 30and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a mouthful of #25:30 Lit the red, this redthat red stuff there, for I am exhausted.” Therefore he was called #25:30 I.e., redEdom by name. 31But Jacob said, “#25:31 Lit TodayFirst sell me your birthright.” 32Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33And Jacob said, “#25:33 Lit TodayFirst swear to me”; so he swore an oath to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

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Genesis 25

1-2Abraham married a second time; his new wife was named Keturah. She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

3Jokshan had Sheba and Dedan.

Dedan’s descendants were the Asshurim, the Letushim, and the Leummim.

4Midian had Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah—all from the line of Keturah.

5-6But Abraham gave everything he possessed to Isaac. While he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons he had by his concubines, but then sent them away to the country of the east, putting a good distance between them and his son Isaac.

7-11Abraham lived 175 years. Then he took his final breath. He died happy at a ripe old age, full of years, and was buried with his family. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, next to Mamre. It was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham was buried next to his wife Sarah. After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived at Beer Lahai Roi.

The Family Tree of Ishmael

12This is the family tree of Ishmael son of Abraham, the son that Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maid, bore to Abraham.

13-16These are the names of Ishmael’s sons in the order of their births: Nebaioth, Ishmael’s firstborn, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah—all the sons of Ishmael. Their settlements and encampments were named after them. Twelve princes with their twelve tribes.

17-18Ishmael lived 137 years. When he breathed his last and died he was buried with his family. His children settled down all the way from Havilah near Egypt eastward to Shur in the direction of Assyria. The Ishmaelites didn’t get along with any of their kin.

Jacob and Esau

19-20This is the family tree of Isaac son of Abraham: Abraham had Isaac. Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan Aram. She was the sister of Laban the Aramean.

21-23Isaac prayed hard to God for his wife because she was barren. God answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant. But the children tumbled and kicked inside her so much that she said, “If this is the way it’s going to be, why go on living?” She went to God to find out what was going on. God told her,

Two nations are in your womb,

two peoples butting heads while still in your body.

One people will overpower the other,

and the older will serve the younger.

24-26When her time to give birth came, sure enough, there were twins in her womb. The first came out reddish, as if snugly wrapped in a hairy blanket; they named him Esau (Hairy). His brother followed, his fist clutched tight to Esau’s heel; they named him Jacob (Heel). Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

27-28The boys grew up. Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman. Jacob was a quiet man preferring life indoors among the tents. Isaac loved Esau because he loved his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29-30One day Jacob was cooking a stew. Esau came in from the field, starved. Esau said to Jacob, “Give me some of that red stew—I’m starved!” That’s how he came to be called Edom (Red).

31Jacob said, “Make me a trade: my stew for your rights as the firstborn.”

32Esau said, “I’m starving! What good is a birthright if I’m dead?”

33-34Jacob said, “First, swear to me.” And he did it. On oath Esau traded away his rights as the firstborn. Jacob gave him bread and the stew of lentils. He ate and drank, got up and left. That’s how Esau shrugged off his rights as the firstborn.

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