It contains a few sections including the death and burial of Abraham, an account of Ishmael´s twelve sons, and the birth and birthright account of Esau / Jacob.
“The Lord said to [Rebekah], ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.’ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, ‘Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!’ Jacob replied, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ ‘Look, I am about to die,’ Esau said. ‘What good is the birthright to me?’ So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” (v23,27,29-34 abr)
This is the beginning of a long, dramatic saga of Esau vs Jacob and how their personalities and choices affect the entire Hebrew people (Abrahamic line). Initially, the two boys fought in their mother’s womb, and even at birth, though Esau emerged first, Jacob was holding onto his heel on the way out. This is where the name “Jacob”, meaning “grasps the heel” which is a Hebrew idiom for deceptive behavior.
We learn that the fraternal twins could not be more different – Jacob is more of a calculating, shrewd homebody and Esau is more of a wild, impulsive adventurer. We also learn that their parents each favor a different child: “Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (v28) which adds even more fuel to the rivalry (more in this later).
One day Esau, being somewhat over-dramatic, stumbles into camp “dying” of hunger (he’s “a skilled hunter” who just came back from a hunting trip, so he could have cooked his own game). He impulsively/foolishly trades his birthright for a bowl of stew. This account is indicative of both their natures – Jacob (the deceiver) is constantly tricking people (more examples later) in order to get ahead (possibly because he started out in second place and ambitiously wants more than that). Esau, the impulsive one, makes a series of poor choices that cost him more and more throughout his life, eventually isolating him and his descendants from the Abrahamic line.
The funny thing is, God still blesses the Abrahamic line through Jacob (later renamed Israel) despite his deception and poor treatment of people. This continues to show that God works in and through all circumstances in order to redeem people and keep His covenant promises.
Father God, thank you for continuing to work in and through us, even when we make poor choices. I know I have hurt people with decisions I have made, and I am truly sorry. Please continue to transform me into the man You have created me to be, someone who is “honoring God” in all that I say and do. With your guidance I hope I will one day live up to my given name, just as Jacob, over time, lived up to the name Israel and Abram lived up to the name Abraham. I praise You for your patience with me as I stumble along on this journey of learning.
~ Conqueror in Training