Add parallel Print Page Options

Abraham’s Second Marriage and His Death(A)

25 Abraham married again, and his wife’s name was Keturah. Keturah gave birth to these sons of Abraham: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Assyrians, the Letushites, and the Leummites. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were the descendants of Keturah.

Abraham left everything he had to Isaac. But while he was still living, Abraham had given gifts to the sons of his concubines.[a] He sent them away from his son Isaac to a land in the east.

Abraham lived 175 years. Then he took his last breath, and died at a very old age. After a long and full life, he joined his ancestors in death. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ephron, son of Zohar the Hittite. The cave is east of Mamre. 10 This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer Lahai Roi.

The 12 Tribes of Ishmael(B)

12 This is the account of the descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael. He was the son of Sarah’s Egyptian slave Hagar and Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and their names listed by their settlements and camps—12 leaders of their tribes.

17 Ishmael lived 137 years. Then he took his last breath and died. He joined his ancestors in death. 18 His descendants lived as nomads from the region of Havilah to Shur, which is near Egypt, in the direction of Assyria. They all fought with each other.

Esau and Jacob

19 This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac and his descendants. Abraham was the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 When the children inside her were struggling with each other, she said, “If it’s like this now, what will become of me?” So she went to ask the Lord.

23 The Lord said to her,

“Two countries are in your womb.
Two nations will go their separate ways from birth.
One nation will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.”

24 When the time came for her to give birth, she had twins. 25 The first one born was red. His whole body was covered with hair, so they named him Esau [Hairy]. 26 Afterwards, his brother was born with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, and so he was named Jacob [Heel]. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.

27 They grew up. Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman. Jacob remained a quiet man, staying around the tents. 28 Because Isaac liked to eat the meat of wild animals, he loved Esau. However, Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Once, Jacob was preparing a meal when Esau, exhausted, came in from outdoors. 30 So Esau said to Jacob, “Let me have the whole pot of red stuff to eat—that red stuff—I’m exhausted.” This is why he was called Edom.[b]

31 Jacob responded, “First, sell me your rights as firstborn.”

32 “I’m about to die.” Esau said. “What good is my inheritance to me?”

33 “First, swear an oath,” Jacob said. So Esau swore an oath to him and sold him his rights as firstborn. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau a meal of bread and lentils. He ate and drank, and then he got up and left.

This is how Esau showed his contempt for his rights as firstborn.

Footnotes

  1. 25:6 A concubine   is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.
  2. 25:30 There is a play on words here between Hebrew ʾadom (red stuff) and Edom.

Abraham’s Death

25 Now Abraham took another wife, [a]whose name was Keturah. (A)She bore to him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were the sons of Keturah. (B)Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac; but to the sons of [b]his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and (C)sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east.

These are [c]all the years of Abraham’s life that he lived, (D)175 years. Abraham breathed his last and died (E)at a good old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was (F)gathered to his people. Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in (G)the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, 10 (H)the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 It came about after the death of Abraham, that (I)God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac [d]lived by (J)Beer-lahai-roi.

Descendants of Ishmael

12 Now these are the records of the generations of (K)Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s slave woman, bore to Abraham; 13 and these are the names of (L)the sons of Ishmael, by their names, [e]in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages, and by their camps; (M)twelve princes according to their [f]tribes. 17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael, (N)137 years; and he breathed his last and died, and was (O)gathered to his people. 18 They [g]settled from (P)Havilah to (Q)Shur which is [h]east of Egypt [i]going toward Assyria; (R)he [j]settled in defiance of all his relatives.

Isaac’s Sons

19 Now these are the records of (S)the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac; 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took (T)Rebekah, the (U)daughter of Bethuel the [k]Aramean of Paddan-aram, the (V)sister of Laban the [l]Aramean, to be his wife. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children; and (W)the Lord [m]answered him, and his wife Rebekah (X)conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why am I in this condition?” So she went to (Y)inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,

(Z)Two nations are in your womb;
(AA)And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people will be stronger than the other;
And (AB)the older will serve the younger.”

24 When her days leading to the delivery were at an end, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 Now the first came out red, (AC)all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with (AD)his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so (AE)he was named [n]Jacob; and Isaac was (AF)sixty years old when she gave birth to them.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a [o]civilized man, (AG)living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau because [p]he had (AH)a taste for game; (AI)but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 When Jacob had cooked a (AJ)stew one day, Esau came in from the field and he was exhausted; 30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a mouthful of [q]that red stuff there, for I am exhausted.” Therefore he was called [r]Edom by name. 31 But Jacob said, “[s]First sell me your (AK)birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33 And Jacob said, “[t]First swear to me”; so he swore an oath to him, and (AL)sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:1 Lit and her name
  2. Genesis 25:6 Lit concubines which belonged to Abraham
  3. Genesis 25:7 Lit the days of
  4. Genesis 25:11 Lit dwelt
  5. Genesis 25:13 Lit in regard to their generations
  6. Genesis 25:16 Or peoples
  7. Genesis 25:18 Lit dwelt
  8. Genesis 25:18 Lit before
  9. Genesis 25:18 Lit as you go
  10. Genesis 25:18 Lit fell over against
  11. Genesis 25:20 I.e., Syrian
  12. Genesis 25:20 I.e., Syrian
  13. Genesis 25:21 Lit was entreated of him
  14. Genesis 25:26 I.e., one who takes by the heel or supplants
  15. Genesis 25:27 Lit complete
  16. Genesis 25:28 Lit game was in his mouth
  17. Genesis 25:30 Lit the red, this red
  18. Genesis 25:30 I.e., red
  19. Genesis 25:31 Lit Today
  20. Genesis 25:33 Lit Today

The Death and Descendants of Abraham

25 Now Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bore to him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. And Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim and Letushim and Leummim. And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All of these were the children of Keturah. And Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. But to the sons of Abraham’s concubines Abraham gave gifts. And while he was still living he sent them away eastward, away from his son Isaac, to the land of the east. Now these are the days of the years of the life of Abraham:[a] one hundred and seventy-five years. And Abraham passed away and died in a good old age, old and full of years. And he was gathered to his people. And Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, son of Zohar the Hittite, that was east of Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites.[b] There Abraham was buried and Sarah his wife. 11 And it happened that after the death of Abraham God blessed Isaac his son, and Isaac settled at Beer-Lahai-Roi.

12 Now these are the generations[c] of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, that Hagar the Egyptian, the maidservant of Sarah, bore to Abraham. 13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names according to their family records. The firstborn of Ishmael was Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their villages and by their encampments—12 leaders according to their tribes. 17 Now these are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. And he passed away and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which was opposite[d] Egypt, going toward Asshur, opposite;[e] he settled[f] opposite[g] all his brothers.

Jacob and Esau

19 Now these are the generations[h] of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 And Isaac was forty years old[i] when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, as his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to Yahweh on behalf of his wife, for she was barren. And Yahweh responded to his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children in her womb jostled each other, and she said, “If it is going to be like this, why be pregnant?”[j] And she went to inquire of Yahweh. 23 And Yahweh said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from birth[k] shall be divided. And one people shall be stronger than the other.[l] And the elder shall serve the younger.” 24 And when her days to give birth were completed,[m] then—behold—twins were in her womb. 25 And the first came out red, all his body[n] was like a hairy coat, so they called his name Esau. 26 And afterward his brother came out, and his hand grasped the heel of Esau, so his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old[o] at their birth. 27 And the boys grew up. And Esau was a skilled[p] hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he could eat of his game,[q] but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Once[r] Jacob cooked a thick stew, and Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Give me some of that red stuff[s] to gulp down, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom). 31 Then Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright first.”[t] 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am going to die; now what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me first.”[u] And he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread, and thick lentil stew, and he ate and drank. Then he got up and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:7 Literally “the years of the life of Abraham which he lived”
  2. Genesis 25:10 Or “sons of Heth”
  3. Genesis 25:12 Or “family records”
  4. Genesis 25:18 Or “upon the face of”
  5. Genesis 25:18 Or “upon the face of”
  6. Genesis 25:18 Literally “fell”
  7. Genesis 25:18 Or “upon the face of”
  8. Genesis 25:19 Or “family records”
  9. Genesis 25:20 Literally “a son of forty years”
  10. Genesis 25:22 Literally “if so, why this I?”
  11. Genesis 25:23 Literally “from your bowels”
  12. Genesis 25:23 Literally “people than people shall be stronger”
  13. Genesis 25:24 Or “full”
  14. Genesis 25:25 Literally “of him”
  15. Genesis 25:26 Literally “a son of sixty years”
  16. Genesis 25:27 Or “knowing” (knowledgeable)
  17. Genesis 25:28 Literally “game in his mouth”
  18. Genesis 25:29 Or “and”
  19. Genesis 25:30 Literally “some of the red, this red”
  20. Genesis 25:31 Literally “as the day”
  21. Genesis 25:33 Literally “as the day”