Genesis 25:21-28

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 25:19-28

We have here an account of the birth of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah: their entrance into the world was (which is not usual) one of the most considerable parts of their story; nor is much related concerning Isaac but what had reference to his father while he lived and to his sons afterwards. For Isaac seems not to have been a man of action, nor much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness and silence. Now concerning Jacob and Esau we are here told, I. That they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:21

And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife ,.... Was very earnest and constant in his supplications for her, as the word signifies, as is observed by Jarchi; or, "before his wife" F1 לנכח אשתו "praesente uxore sua", Munster, Fagins. , she being present, and joining with him in his prayers: the reason was: because she was barren ; which appeared by the length of time they had been married, which was near twenty years, see Genesis 25:26 . The Jewish writers F2 Pirke... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:22

And the children struggled together within her ,.... When she was quick with child: this was some time before her delivery, and was not a common and ordinary motion felt by women in such circumstances, but an extraordinary one; the two children in her strove with each other, as if it was for mastery, or who should get out first before the proper time; which not only gave her great uneasiness of mind, but pain of body: this was an emblem of the future difference between those two children,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:23

And the Lord said unto her ,.... Either by one or other of the above persons she acquainted with this affair, and entreated to seek the Lord for her; or by an impulse upon her own mind: two nations are in thy womb ; or two persons, from whom two nations will spring, the Edomites and Israelites, the one from Esau, the other from Jacob: and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels ; different in their bodies, complexions, manner of life, religion, as well as place of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:24

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled ,.... The nine months were up from the time of her conception; or, as the Targum of Jonathan, when the two hundred and seventy days she went with child were completed: behold, there were twins in her womb ; as was perceived by the midwife; a double mercy was granted, more given than asked for; probably only one child was asked for, but two given. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:25

And the first came out red ,.... Either his body, or rather the hair it was covered with, red; which was a sign, as Jarchi observes, that he would be a shedder of blood, fierce and cruel as were he and his posterity: all over like an hairy garment ; his body was all over full of hair, which stood as thick as a garment made of hair, and was a sign of the roughness of his disposition, as well as of the strength of his body: and they called his name Esau ; his parents, and those present... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:26

And after that came his brother out ,.... Out of his mother's womb, either by his own strength, or by the help of the midwife: and his hand took hold on Esau's heel ; to pluck him back and get out first; and this was not casual, but was so ordered in Providence, and had a meaning and mystery in it: and his name was called Jacob ; by his parents and others, and that for the above reason, because he took his brother by the heel, which his name has the signification of, and Esau has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:27

And the boys grew ,.... In stature, became strong and fit for business, and betook themselves to different employments: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field : whose business lay in tilling and sowing it, which his father Isaac followed sometimes; or rather he chose to range about the field and hunt after beasts and birds, in which he was very expert, and contrived traps and snares to catch them in; and this course of life was most agreeable to his temper and disposition,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:28

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison ,.... Better than Jacob, not only because he was his firstborn, but because he brought him of the flesh of creatures, which he took in hunting, and being dressed, were savoury food to him: it is in the original, "because venison (or what he hunted) was in his mouth" F8 כי ציד בפיו "quia venatio in ore ejus", Pagninus, Montanus. , into which he put it, and was very grateful to his taste: but Rebekah loved Jacob ; more... 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

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