Genesis 25:25-34

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 25:29-34

We have here a bargain made between Jacob and Esau about the birthright, which was Esau's by providence but Jacob's by promise. It was a spiritual privilege, including the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power, as well as the double portion, Gen. 49:3. It seemed to be such a birthright as had then the blessing annexed to it, and the entail of the promise. Now see, I. Jacob's pious desire of the birthright, which yet he sought to obtain by indirect courses, not agreeable to his... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:29

And Jacob sod pottage ,.... Or boiled broth; this he did at a certain time, for this was not his usual employment; the Targum of Jonathan says, it was on the day in which Abraham died; and whereas this pottage was made of lentiles, as appears from Genesis 25:34 ; this the Jewish writers F9 Pirke Eliezer, c. 35. say was the food of mourners; and so this circumstance furnishes out a reason for Jacob's boiling pottage of lentiles at this time: and hence also they F11 Seder Olam... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:30

And Esau said to Jacob, feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage ,.... Or, "with that same red F12 מנ־האדם האדם הזה "de rufo, rufo isto", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; so Piscator, Schmidt. , red"; not knowing what it was, or what it was made of, and therefore only calls it by its colour; and the word being doubled, may denote that it was very red; or he, being in haste and greedy of it through hunger, repeats it in a quick and short way: this pottage was made of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:31

And Jacob said, sell me this day thy birthright. Which had many privileges annexed to it, as honour and authority in the family next to parents; a double portion of inheritance; some say the exercise of priesthood, but that is questioned; the parental blessing, and especially in this the promises of the Messiah, and of inheritance of the land of Canaan, and which was typical of the heavenly inheritance: all which Rebekah knew by the divine oracle were designed for Jacob, and which no doubt... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:32

And Esau said, behold, I am at the point to die ,.... Or, "going to die" F25 הולך למות "vadens ad moriendum", Montanus. , going the way of all flesh; which he might say on account of the common frailty and mortality of man, and the brevity of life at most, or by reason of the danger of life he was always exposed to in hunting of wild beasts, as Aben Ezra suggests; or rather, because of his present hunger and faintness, which, unless immediately relieved, must issue in death. Dr.... read more

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