(25:2) "Keturah … bear him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah."
Abraham needed God's help to father Isaac when
he was 100 years old (Gen.21:1-2, Rom.4:19,
Heb.11:12).
But here, when he is even older, he manages to have six more children without
any help from God.
Since Abraham had so many sons, why does the bible say that he had only one? How many sons did Abraham have?
25:6But unto the sons of
the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent
them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
25:7
And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which
he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
25:8
Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man,
and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
25:9
And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the
field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
25:10
The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham
buried, and Sarah his wife.
25:11
And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son
Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
25:12Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the
Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
(25:12-18) "Now these are the generations of Ishmael...."
25:13
And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according
to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and
Adbeel, and Mibsam,
25:15
Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
25:16
These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns,
and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
25:17
And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and
seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his
people.
(25:17) Ishmael lived 137 years.
25:18
And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest
toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
25:19
And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat
Isaac:
25:20
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter
of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
(25:21) "Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren ...
and Rebekah ... conceived."
In the Bible it's always the women that are "barren", never the men.
And when God "opens their womb," the resulting babies are always little boys.
(25:22-26) Esau and Jacob were already fighting each other in the womb.
Esau, who was born first, was red red and hairy. Then came Jacob hanging on the Esau's heel.
(25:22) "The children struggled together within her."
(25:25) "The first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau."
(25:26) "After that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob."
25:21
And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the
LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
25:22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so,
why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
25:23
And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of
people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be
stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
25:24
And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins
in her womb.
25:25
And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they
called his name Esau.
25:26
And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's
heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when
she bare them.
25:27
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and
Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
25:28And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison:
but Rebekah loved Jacob.
(25:28) "Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob."
Isaac loved Esau because Esau was a hunter and Isaac loved venison. Rebekah loved Jacob, but God hated Esau (see
Rom.9:13). No reason is given for why one son is loved while
the other is hated. But since God chose to act this way, it must have been as an example for parents to follow. Have
you decided which of your children to hate?
25:29
And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
25:30
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage;
for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
25:31
And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
25:32
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall
this birthright do to me?
(25:33-34) Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bit of bread and a bowl of lentil soup.
(25:33) "He sold his birthright unto Jacob."
(25:34) "Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles."
25:33
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold
his birthright unto Jacob.
25:34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and
drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Esau's Birthright