The Death of Abraham

Click here to read Genesis 25.

Chapter 25 records the marriage of Abraham to Keturah, an Arabian, who bore him 6 sons. Before Abraham died he gave gifts to them and then sent them away beyond the Jordan.

Abraham died when he was 175 years old and was buried, by Isaac and Ishmael, the same place that Sarah was buried. Ishmael had 12 sons and he died at age 137. His descendants settled opposite Egypt toward Assyria.

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. They were married 20 years before they had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the first-born. Esau literally means "hairy", which he was. Jacob literally means, "may God protect", which He did. They grow up in Beersheba, a town in southern Canaan. Esau was a skillful hunter and his father's favorite. Jacob was smooth skinned, crafty, a good business head and very emotional. He was his mother's favorite. Even before they were born, they struggled with each other. This struggle was obvious to Rebekah and she inquired of the Lord and the Lord told her that she had two nations in her womb. The two would be divided, one would be stronger than the other and the elder would serve the younger. She delivered the two boys but not without a struggle. Both wanted to be born first. Esau was born first but as he was being born, Jacob grabbed his heal. The struggled continued during most of their lives.

One time when Esau came in from hunting he was quite hungry and when he saw that Jacob had cooked a pot of red pottage he asked for some of it. Jacob said he would trade him some for his birthright. Esau agreed, for he "put no importance " upon it. (Note that Esau is called Edom in the 30th. verse. Edom means "red". The pottage was red and his complexion was red.)


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