Abraham: The Covenant

these are sons of Ishmael, and these their names, by their villages, and by their towers; twelve princes according to their peoples.

And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty and seven years; and he expireth, and dieth, and is gathered unto his people;

and they tabernacle from Havilah unto Shur, which is before Egypt, in thy going towards Asshur; in the presence of all his brethren hath he fallen.

And these are births of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham hath begotten Isaac;

and Isaac is a son of forty years in his taking Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramaean, from Padan-Aram, sister of Laban the Aramaean, to him for a wife.

And Isaac maketh entreaty to Jehovah before his wife, for she is barren: and Jehovah is entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceiveth,

and the children struggle together within her, and she saith, `If it is right--why am I thus?' and she goeth to seek Jehovah.

And Jehovah saith to her, `Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples from thy bowels are parted; and the one people than the other people is stronger; and the elder doth serve the younger.'

And her days to bear are fulfilled, and lo, twins are in her womb;

and the first cometh out all red as a hairy robe, and they call his name Esau;

and afterwards hath his brother come out, and his hand is taking hold on Esau's heel, and one calleth his name Jacob; and Isaac is a son of sixty years in her bearing them.

And the youths grew, and Esau is a man acquainted with hunting, a man of the field; and Jacob is a plain man, inhabiting tents;

and Isaac loveth Esau, for his hunting is in his mouth; and Rebekah is loving Jacob.

And Jacob boileth pottage, and Esau cometh in from the field, and he is weary;

and Esau saith unto Jacob, `Let me eat, I pray thee, some of this red red thing, for I am weary;' therefore hath one called his name Edom Red ;

and Jacob saith, `Sell to-day thy birthright to me.'

And Esau saith, `Lo, I am going to die, and what is this to me--birthright?'

and Jacob saith, `Swear to me to-day:' and he sweareth to him, and selleth his birthright to Jacob;

and Jacob hath given to Esau bread and pottage of lentiles, and he eateth, and drinketh, and riseth, and goeth; and Esau despiseth the birthright.