Genesis 25:19-34

19This is the account of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac.

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

21Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.

22But the children struggled inside her, and she said, “If it is going to be like this, I’m not so sure I want to be pregnant!” So she asked the Lord,

23and the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

24When the time came for Rebekah to give birth, there were twins in her womb.

25The first came out reddish all over, like a hairy garment, so they named him Esau.

26When his brother came out with his hand clutching Esau’s heel, they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter, a man of the open fields, but Jacob was an even-tempered man, living in tents.

28Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for fresh game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29Now Jacob cooked some stew, and when Esau came in from the open fields, he was famished.

30So Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me some of the red stuff – yes, this red stuff – because I’m starving!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

31But Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

32“Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die! What use is the birthright to me?”

33But Jacob said, “Swear an oath to me now.” So Esau swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.

34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew; Esau ate and drank, then got up and went out. So Esau despised his birthright.