Genesis 25:19-34

19This is the report about Abraham's son, Isaac, and his family. Abraham became the father of Isaac.

20When Isaac was 40 years old, he married Rebekah. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel. Bethuel was an Aramean from Paddan Aram. She was the sister of Laban the Aramean.

21Rebekah could not have children. So Isaac prayed to the Lord for Rebekah. The Lord did as Isaac asked. And Isaac's wife, Rebekah, became pregnant.

22The babies inside her were fighting with each other. Rebekah said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So Rebekah went to ask the Lord.

23The Lord said to Rebekah, ‘The two children who are in your body will become two separate nations of people. One group will be stronger than the other. The older son will become a servant to the younger son.’

24The time came for Rebekah to give birth. There were two babies inside her.

25The first baby to come out had a red body. Hair covered the whole of his body. They called him Esau.

26After this, his brother came out. His hand was holding the back of Esau's foot. They called him Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

27Time passed and the boys grew. Esau became a good hunter, out in the fields. Jacob was a quiet man. He stayed near to the tents.

28Isaac liked to eat the meat from the animals that Esau killed. So he loved Esau. But Rebekah loved Jacob.

29One day, Jacob was cooking a meal. Esau came back from the country. He was very hungry.

30He said to Jacob ‘Quick, let me have some of that red food! I am very hungry.’ (That is why he was also called Edom.)

31Jacob said, ‘You must first sell me your birthright.’

32Esau said, ‘Look, I am so hungry that I will die. Then my birthright will not help me at all!’

33Jacob said, ‘First, make a serious promise to me.’ So Esau promised to sell his birthright to Jacob.

34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and the soup made from grains. Esau ate the food and he drank. Then he got up and he left. In that way, Esau showed that he did not think that his birthright was important.