Abraham’s Death

1Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. 5Now Abraham gave [a]everything that he had to Isaac; 6but to the sons of his [b]concubines [Hagar and Keturah], Abraham gave gifts while he was still living and he sent them to the east country, away from Isaac his son [of promise].

7The days of Abraham’s life were a hundred and seventy-five years. 8Then Abraham breathed his last and he died at a good old age, an old man who was satisfied [with life]; and he [c]was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death]. 9So his sons [d]Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is east of Mamre, 10the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried with Sarah his wife. 11Now after the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac lived at Beer-lahai-roi.

Descendants of Ishmael

12Now [e]these are the records of the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maid, bore to Abraham; 13and these are the names of the [twelve] sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their births: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their settlements, and by their encampments (sheepfolds); twelve princes (sheiks) according to their tribes. 17Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years; then he breathed his last and died, and [f]was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death]. 18Ishmael’s sons (descendants) settled from Havilah to Shur which is [g]east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria; he [h]settled [i]opposite (east) of all his relatives.

Isaac’s Sons

19Now these are the records of the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac. 20Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean (Syrian) of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean. 21Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was unable to conceive children; and the LORD granted his prayer and Rebekah his wife conceived [twins]. 22But the children struggled together within her [kicking and shoving one another]; and she said, “If it is so [that the LORD has heard our prayer], why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the LORD [praying for an answer]. 23The LORD said to her,

“[The founders of] two nations are in your womb;

And the separation of two nations has begun in your body;

The one people shall be stronger than the other;

And the older shall serve the younger.” 24When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25The first came out reddish all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau (hairy). 26Afterward his brother came out, and his hand grasped Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob ([j]one who grabs by the heel, supplanter). Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

27When the boys grew up, Esau was an able and skilled hunter, a man of the outdoors, but Jacob was a quiet and peaceful man, living in tents. 28Now Isaac loved [and favored] Esau, because [k]he enjoyed eating his game, but Rebekah loved [and favored] Jacob. 29Jacob had cooked [reddish-brown lentil] stew [one day], when Esau came from the field and was famished; 30and Esau said to Jacob, “Please, let me have a quick swallow of that red stuff there, because I am exhausted and famished.” For that reason Esau was [also] called Edom (Red). 31Jacob answered, “First sell me your [l]birthright (the rights of a firstborn).” 32Esau said, “Look, I am about to die [if I do not eat soon]; so of what use is this birthright to me?” 33Jacob said, “Swear [an oath] to me today [that you are selling it to me for this food]”; so he swore [an oath] to him, and sold him his birthright. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. In this way Esau scorned his birthright.

[a] 5 As the legal firstborn, Isaac was entitled to at least a double share of his father’s estate.
[b] 6 See note 22:24.
[c] 8 This expression is a reference to the Old Testament belief in a life after death and to the expectation of a reunion with loved ones.
[d] 9 Isaac was seventy-five and Ishmael nearly ninety years of age when their father died. Jacob and Esau were fifteen, and may have been present.
[e] 12 Lit these are the generations of.
[f] 17 See note v 8.
[g] 18 Lit before.
[h] 18 Lit fell over against his brothers.
[i] 18 Or in defiance.
[j] 26 Another meaning may be protect, i.e. may God protect.
[k] 28 Lit game was in his mouth.
[l] 31 In later times, this was the right of the firstborn to take over as head of the family and to receive a double share of the inheritance (cf Deut 21:17). The rewards given to Jacob appear to have been even greater (Gen 27:37). Furthermore, in Jewish tradition it was reported that before the tabernacle was set up, sacrifices were offered by the firstborn of a family.