Genesis 25:24-26

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 25:25

Genesis 25:25. Red all over like an hairy garment— With his head and body covered all over with a red hair, or down, like an hairy garment; whence he was called Esau, or hairy, by his parents. Jacob taking hold of his brother's heel was thence named a supplanter, one that trips up the heel, or displaces by stratagem, &c. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 25:26

Genesis 25:26. Isaac was threescore years old, &c.— It has been asked, why God permitted Sarah and Rebekah to continue so long barren? To which it is answered, not only to prove and exercise the faith of these patriarchs, but to render the propagation of the blessed Seed more remarkable. It prepared the way for the coming of the Son of God in the flesh, and, as St. Chrysostom expresses it, predisposed the world to the belief of the miraculous conception of the Blessed Virgin. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 25:19-26

1. Isaac’s twin sons 25:19-26Genesis 25:19-34 introduce the whole Jacob and Esau saga.In the first pericope (Genesis 25:19-26) we have the record of God answering Isaac’s prayers by making Rebekah fertile (blessing). He gave her two sons, Esau and Jacob, and foretold that from them two nations would come with the elder serving the younger.The emphasis of this section is on the divine oracle (Genesis 25:23) as is clear from the chiastic structure of the narrative."A Isaac was forty years old... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 25:19-29

C. What became of Isaac 25:19-35:29A new toledot begins with Genesis 25:19. Its theme is "the acquisition of the blessing and its development and protection by the Lord." [Note: Ross, Creation and . . ., p. 433.] Moses set up the whole Jacob narrative in a chiastic structure that emphasizes the fulfillment of the promise of the seed and the seed’s prosperity."A Oracle sought; Rebekah struggles in childbirth; bekorah birthright; birth; themes of strife, deception, fertility (Genesis 25:19-34).B... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 25:24-26

"Reddish" (Heb. ’admoni) is wordplay with "Edomites," Esau’s descendants. Esau means "hairy one" (Heb. sa’ar, similar to "Seir," later the Edomites’ [probably] wooded homeland). Jacob means "El will protect." [Note: Hamilton, The Book . . . Chapters 18-50, p. 178.] Hairiness seems to have been a mark of incivility in the ancient world, indicative of an animal-like nature. [Note: Bruce Vawter, On Genesis: A New Reading, p. 288. See also Waltke, Genesis, p. 356.] The Hebrew ya’aqob ("Jacob") is... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:1-34

The Sons of Abraham by Keturah. Death and Burial of Abraham. Descendants of Ishmael. Birth and Youth of Esau and Jacob1. It is not known at what period of his life Abraham took Keturah as his secondary wife or concubine; for it is clear from Genesis 25:6 and 1 Chronicles 1:32 that she only held that position. Some of the names of Keturah’s children have been identified in Arabia as tribes. 2. Midian] The Midianites became a considerable nation, spreading over the country S. and SE. of Palestine... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 25:19-34

THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS.Abraham begat Isaac—The Tôldôth in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his descent to Shem, and showing thereby that the right of primogeniture belonged to him; but the inspired historian uses only so much of this as is necessary for tracing the development of the Divine plan of human redemption.The Syrian.—Really, the Aramean, or descendant of Aram. (See Genesis 10:22-23.) The... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 25:25

(25) Red.—Heb., admoni, a secondary reason for the name Edom. (See Genesis 25:30,)All over like an hairy garment.—Heb., all of him—that is, completely—like a garment of hair: words rendered “a rough garment” in Zechariah 13:4, where it is used of the jacket of sheepskin worn by the prophets. It appears, therefore, that Esau’s body was entirely covered with red down, which developed in time into hair as coarse as that of a kid (Genesis 27:16), and betokened a strong and vigorous, but sensual... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 25:26

(26) His hand took hold on Esau’s heel.—Usually there is a considerable interval—an hour or more—between the birth of twins; but here Jacob appeared without delay, following immediately upon his brother. This is expressed by the metaphorical phrase that his hand had hold on Esau’s heel—that is, there was absolutely no interval between them. Though very rare, yet similar cases have been chronicled from time to time.His name was called Jacob.—The name signifies one who follows at another’s heels.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 25:1-34

Genesis 25:32 Esau's weakness and fall in the presence of his overmastering temptation. I. Esau's good qualities are very evident, being of the kind easily recognized and easily popular among men, the typical sportsman who is only a sportsman, bold and frank and free and generous, with no intricacies of character, impulsive and capable of magnanimity. The very opposite of the prudent, dexterous, nimble man of affairs, rather reckless indeed and hotheaded and passionate. His virtues are, we see,... read more

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