19 This is the agenealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. bAbraham begot Isaac.
20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, athe daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, bthe sister of Laban the Syrian.
21 Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; aand the Lord granted his plea, band Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If allis well, why amIlike this?” aSo she went to inquire of the Lord.
23 And the Lord said to her: a“Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than bthe other, cAnd the older shall serve the younger.”
24 So when her days were fulfilled forher to give birth, indeed therewere twins in her womb.
25 And the first came out red. Hewasalike a hairy garment all over; so they called his name1 Esau.
26 Afterward his brother came out, and ahis hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so bhis name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27 So the boys grew. And Esau was aa skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was ba mild man, cdwelling in tents.
28 And Isaac loved Esau because he aate ofhis game, bbut Rebekah loved Jacob.
Esau Sells His Birthright
29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.
30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called1 Edom.
31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so awhat is this birthright to me?”
33 Then Jacob said,1 “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and asold his birthright to Jacob.
34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then ahe ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau bdespised his birthright.
God's revelation to Rebekah regarding the struggling twins is that two kinds or types of people were in her womb. They were definitely not identical twins. The word "manner," as used in the King James Version, indicates the reason for their rivalry; they were so different despite having the same parents. Their struggling in Rebekah's womb was a precursor of what continued after their birth, which significantly influenced the history of Isaac's descendants.
Each son's approach toward and manner of life irritated the other. Each rubbed the other the wrong way. Rebekah seems naturally drawn to Jacob and Isaac to Esau, exacerbating an already volatile situation. Thus, each boy became a victim of the parent's favoritism and was encouraged to take advantage of it.
Women who have carried a child can relate to morning sickness and fetal movements, but what Rebekah experienced with these two fetuses engaging in wrestling matches in her womb is probably beyond our comprehension! Having an upset stomach or being somewhat queasy just does not compare with the abnormal amount of jostling and grappling the unborn brothers were doing. It grabbed her attention!
