Abraham: The Covenant

These are the sons of Ismael: and these are their names by their castles and towns, twelve princes of their tribes.

And the years of Ismael's life were a hundred and thirty-seven, and decaying he died, and was gathered unto his people.

And he dwelt from Hevila as far as Sur, which looketh towards Egypt, to them that go towards the Assyrians. He died in the presence of all his brethren.

These also are the generations of Isaac the son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac:

Who when he was forty years old, took to wife Rebecca the daughter of Bathuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, sister to Laban.

And Isaac besought the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and he heard him, and made Rebecca to conceive.

But the children struggled in her womb, and she said: If it were to be so with me, what need was there to conceive? And she went to consult the Lord.

And he answering, said: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be divided out of thy womb, and one people shall overcome the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.

And when her time was come to be delivered, behold twins were found in her womb.

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.

And Jacob said to him: Sell me thy first birthright.

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

Jacob said: Swear therefore to me. Esau swore to him, and sold his first birthright.

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.