Genesis 25:1-32 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:16

These are their names - By which their descendants were called. Their towns - places of encampment in the wilderness, such as have been used by the Arabs from the remotest times. Their castles, טירתם tirotham , their towers, probably mountain tops, fortified rocks, and fastnesses of various kinds in woods and hilly countries. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:18

They dwelt from Havilah unto Shur - The descendants of Ishmael possessed all that country which extends from east to west, from Havilah on the Euphrates, near its junction with the Tigris, to the desert of Shur eastward of Egypt; and which extends along the isthmus of Suez, which separates the Red Sea from the Mediterranean. As thou goest toward Assyria - "These words," says Calmet, "may refer either to Egypt, to Shur, or to Havilah. The desert of Shur is on the road from Egypt to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:19

These are the generations of Isaac - This is the history of Isaac and his family. Here the sixth section of the law begins, called יעחק תולדת toledoth yitschak ; as the fifth, called שרה חיי chaiye Sarah , which begins with Genesis 23, ends at the preceding verse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:21

Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife - Isaac and Rebekah had now lived nineteen years together without having a child; for he was forty years old when he married Rebekah, Genesis 25:20 , and he was threescore years of age when Jacob and Esau were born, Genesis 25:26 . Hence it is evident they had lived nineteen years together without having a child. The form of the original in this place is worthy of notice: Isaac entreated Jehovah, אשתו לנכח lenochach ishto , directly, purposely,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:22

The children struggled together - יתרצצו yithrotsatsu , they dashed against or bruised each other, there was a violent agitation, so that the mother was apprehensive both of her own and her children's safety; and, supposing this was an uncommon case, she went to inquire of the Lord, as the good women in the present day would go to consult a surgeon or physician; for intercourse with God is not so common now, as it was in those times of great primitive simplicity. There are different... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:23

Two nations are in thy womb - "We have," says Bishop Newton, "in the prophecies delivered respecting the sons of Isaac, ample proof that these prophecies were not meant so much of single persons as of whole nations descended from them; for what was predicted concerning Esau and Jacob was not verified in themselves, but in their posterity. The Edomites were the offspring of Esau, the Israelites were of Jacob; and who but the Author and Giver of life could foresee that two children in the womb... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:24

There were twins - תומם thomim , from which comes Thomas, properly interpreted by the word Διδυμος , Didymus , which signifies a twin; so the first person who was called Thomas or Didymus, we may take for granted, had this name from the circumstance of his being a twin. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:25

Red, all over like a hairy garment - This simply means that he was covered all over with red hair or down; and that this must be intended here is sufficiently evident from another part of his history, where Rebekah, in order to make her favourite son Jacob pass for his brother Esau, was obliged to take the skins of kids, and put them upon his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. They called his name Esau - It is difficult to assign the proper meaning of the original עשו esau or ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:26

His name was called Jacob - יעקב Yaccob , from עקב akab , to defraud, deceive, to supplant, i.e., to overthrow a person by tripping up his heels. Hence this name was given to Jacob, because it was found he had laid hold on his brother's heel, which was emblematical of his supplanting Esau, and defrauding him of his birthright. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:27

A man of the field - שדה איש ish sadeh , one who supported himself and family by hunting and by agriculture. Jacob was a plain man - תם איש ish tam , a perfect or upright man; dwelling in tents - subsisting by breeding and tending cattle, which was considered in those early times the most perfect employment; and in this sense the word תם tam , should be here understood, as in its moral meaning it certainly could not be applied to Jacob till after his name was changed, after... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:25

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:26

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:27

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