Commentary
Skeptic's Annotated Bible
25:1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
I'm assuming that Abraham is still married to Hagar at this point too, right? Remember in Genesis 16:3: "And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife." So he's a polygamist twice over now.
25:2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
25:3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
25:4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
25:5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
25:6 But 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.
In addition to the three wives (Hagar, Sarah and Keturah), Abraham also had sex with his slaves and had many bastard children. Nice.
25:7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
175 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.
25:12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
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,
25:14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
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.
Because each nation has to be started by a single individual named in the Bible. (Yes, I'm rolling my eyes.)
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.
25:18 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.
And the grand-daughter of Abraham's brother, Nahor (who was married to his niece, Micah). Just trying to keep track of this incestuous family.
25:21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Bizarre.
25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire 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.
This is all just metaphor, right? For two nations that are closely related but are in conflict, yes? Or do people actually believe that this is literally true?
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.
Why do I get the feeling that this will be used as the justification for the mistreatment of a group of people? In Hebrew, "Esau" means "hairy."
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.
I wonder why Isaac waited 20 years before having children with Rebekah?
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.
25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Why love one more than another? Is the message of the Bible really that you should not love your children equally, or each in their own way? "Family values"? Strange.
25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
"sod pottage." Made stew.
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.
In Hebrew, "Edom" means "red." Esau was born both hairy and red, and now because he wants some red stew they call him "Red" (Edom). Sounds like a taunt to me.
25:31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
What? I'll trade you this red soup for your birthright, Red? That's such a crazy and unreasonable request; an incredibly dishonorable thing for Jacob to ask for. Of course Esau will refuse.
25:32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
25:33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
At every turn, people behave in ways that are insane, for no good reason. I'll give you everything that I am to inherit, in exchange for some red stew? Nonsense.
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