Esau

He that came forth first was red, and hairy like a skin: and his name was called Esau. Immediately the other coming forth, held his brother's foot in his hand: and therefore he was called Jacob.

Isaac was threescore years old when the children were born unto him.

And when they were grown up, Esau became a skilful hunter, and a husbandman: but Jacob, a plain man, dwelt in tents.

Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his hunting: and Rebecca loved Jacob.

And Jacob boiled pottage: to whom Esau, coming faint out of the field,

Said: Give me of this red pottage, for I am exceeding faint. For which reason his name was called Edom.

He answered: Lo I die, what will the first birthright avail me?

And so taking bread and the pottage of lentils, he ate, and drank, and went on his way; making little account of having sold his first birthright.

And Esau being forty years old, married wives, Judith, the daughter of Beeri, the Hethite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon, of the same place.

Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see: and he called Esau, his elder son, and said to him: My son? And he answered: Here I am.

And when Rebecca had heard this, and he was gone into the field to fulfil his father's commandment,

She said to her son Jacob: I heard thy father talking with Esau, thy brother, and saying to him:

And he answered her: Thou knowest that Esau, my brother, is a hairy man, and I am smooth:

And she put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at home with her:

And Jacob said: I am Esau, thy firstborn: I have done as thou didst command me: arise, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

And Isaac said: Come hither, that I may feel thee, my son, and may prove whether thou be my son Esau, or no.

He came near to his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said: The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob; but the hands, are the hands of Esau.

And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like to the elder. Then blessing him,

He said: Art thou my son Esau? He answered: I am.

Isaac had scarce ended his words, when, Jacob being now gone out abroad, Esau came,

And Isaac said to him: Why! who art thou? He answered: I am thy firstborn son, Esau.

Esau having heard his father's words, roared out with a great cry; and, being in a consternation, said: Bless me also, my father.

Isaac answered: I have appointed him thy lord, and have made all his brethren his servants: I have established him with corn and wine, and after this, what shall I do more for thee, my son?

And Esau said to him: Hast thou only one blessing, father? I beseech thee bless me also. And when he wept with a loud cry,

Esau therefore always hated Jacob, for the blessing wherewith his father had blessed him; and he said in his heart: The days will come of the mourning for my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob.