Genesis 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._ AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HER. The answer, like the speech of the angel to Hagar (Genesis 16:11-12), is obviously given in parallelisms: _ TWO NATIONS ARE IN THY WOMB, AND TWO MANNERS OF PEOPLE SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THY BOWELS; AND THE ONE PEOPLE SHALL BE STRONGER THAN THE OTHER PEOPLE:_ And the older shall serve the younger х_ YIPAAREEDUW_ (H6504)].-shall separate themselves; i:e., from the moment of their birth). A pre-intimation having been given to Abraham of the character and greatness of his posterity by Ishmael, the son of the bond-woman, it was a reasonable expectation

23._Two nations_. In the first place, God answers that the contention between the twin-brothers had reference to something far beyond their own persons; for in this way he shows that there would be discord between their posterities. When he says, there are two nations, the expression is emphatical; for since they were brothers and twins, and therefore of one blood, the mother did not suppose that they would be so far disjoined as to become the heads of distinct nations; yet God declares that dissension should take place between those who were by nature joined together. Secondly, he describes their different conditions, namely, that victory would belong to one of these nations, forasmuch as this was the cause of the contest, that they could not be equal, but one was chosen and the other rejected. For since the reprobate give way reluctantly, it follows of necessity that the children of Go...

19-26 Isaac seems not to have been much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness. Jacob and Esau were prayed for; their parents, after being long childless, obtained them by prayer. The fulfilment of God's promise is always sure, yet it is often slow. The faith of believers is tried, their patience exercised, and mercies long waited for are more welcome when they come. Isaac and Rebekah kept in view the promise of all nations being blessed in their posterity, therefore were not only desirous of children, but anxious concerning every thing which seemed to mark their future character. In all our doubts we should inquire of the Lord by prayer. In many of our conflicts with sin and temptation, we may adopt Rebekah's words, "If it be so, why am I thus?" If a child of God, why so careless or carnal? If not a child of God, why so afraid of, or so burdened with sin?...

Verse 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_ would multiply into _two nations_? _Jacob_ had twelve sons, and their descendants were all united and incorporated into one nation; and what an overruling providence was it that two nations should arise from the two sons only of Isaac! and that they should be two such diffe...

- LIII. Birth of Esau and Jacob 20. פדן _padān_, Paddan, “plowed field;” related: “cut, plow.” 25. עשׂי _‛__êśâv_, ‘Esaw, “hairy, or made.” 26. יעקב _ya‛ăqôb_, Ja’aqob, “he shall take the heel.” 27. תם _tām_, “perfect, peaceful, plain.” The epithet refers to disposition, and contrasts the comparatively civilized character of Jacob with the rude temper of Esau. 30. אדים _'ědôm_, Edom, “red.” The ninth document here begins with the usual phrase, and continues to the end of the thirty-fifth chapter. It contains the history of the second of the three patriarchs, or rather, indeed, as the opening ph

§ 9. THE GENERATIONS OF ISAAC (Genesis 25:19-1). EXPOSITION GENESIS 25:19 AND THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF ISAAC, ABRAHAM'S SON. The usual formula for the opening of a new section (cf. Genesis 2:4). ABRAHAM BEGAT ISAAC. A reiteration in perfect harmony not only with the style of the present narrative, but of ancient historiography in general; in this instance specially designed to connect the subsequent streams of Isaac's posterity with their original fountain-head in Abraham. Genes

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 abode: AND [THE ONE] PEOPLE SHALL BE STRONGER THAN [THE OTHER] PEOPLE: the Edomites, the posterity of Esau, were a very potent people, and had a succession of dukes and kings, before the Israelites, the posterity of Jacob, made any figure in the world, and while they were slaves in Egypt, see Genesis 36:1; though in later times the Israelites became the strong

IX. THE GENERATIONS OF ISAAC CHAPTER 25:19-34 Esau and Jacob _ 1. Rebekah barren and the answered prayer (Genesis 25:19)_ 2. The birth of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:23) 3. The growth of the boys (Genesis 25:27) 4. Esau sells his birthright (Genesis 25:29) It was 25 years after Abraham entered Canaan before Isaac was born. It was 20 years after Isaac's marriage before the birth of Esau and Jacob. The barren condition of Rebekah led Isaac to exercise faith and to cast himself upon the Lord for help. And He answered him. God delights to take up what is weak and barren and manifest H

THE BIRTH OF JACOB AND ESAU. JACOB TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ESAU TO SECURE HIS BIRTHRIGHT. At this point we pass to the story of Jacob. In the present section Genesis 25:19 f., Genesis 25:26_ b_ belong to P, the rest to Jeremiah Genesis 25:21 is from J, and so in the judgment of most critics Genesis 25:29, though some assign it to E. Like Sarah and Rachel, Rebekah is for long without a child. P fixes the interval from marriage to motherhood as thirty years, but in view of the untrustworthiness of his chronological statements elsewhere no dependence can be placed on them here. Before their birth the mother's life is made int

_And the Lord said_ How the Divine answer was granted, whether by priest or soothsayer, by dream or by vision, we are not told. It is in the form of a rhythmic oracle, in four _stichoi_, or lines. The oracle proclaims, that (1) there are two children who shall be two nations; (2) from the first there shall be separation and discord between the two; (3) one shall overmaster the other; (4) the younger shall be the lord of the elder. The historic rivalry between Israel and Edom is thus prefigured. _separated … bowels_ The English is ambiguous, as in Galatians 1:15, "the good pleasure of God who separated me even from my mother's womb." The meaning is, "even from birth" the destinies of the two men and of their descendants will be divergent: cf. Genesis 13:11, "and they separated themselves th