Genesis 25

Modern English Version

The Death of Abraham^(A)

25 Then Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. ² And she bore to him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. ³ Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites. ⁴ The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

⁵ Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. ⁶ But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living, he sent them away from his son Isaac eastward to the east country.

⁷ These are the years of Abraham’s life that he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. ⁸ Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. ⁹ His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, ¹⁰ the field that Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. ¹¹ After the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived at Beer Lahai Roi.

Sons of Ishmael^(B)

¹² These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham.

¹³ These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, and then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, ¹⁴ Mishma, Dumah, Massa, ¹⁵ Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. ¹⁶ These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their peoples. ¹⁷ These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died; and he was gathered to his people. ¹⁸ They lived from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He died in the presence of all his relatives.

The Births of Jacob and Esau

¹⁹ These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son.

Abraham was the father of Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as his wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

²¹ Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. ²² But the children struggled together within her, and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

²³ Then the Lord said to her,

²⁴ Now when the time of her delivery came, there were twins in her womb. ²⁵ The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment, and they called his name Esau. ²⁶ After that his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

²⁷ So the boys grew. Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a calm man, living in tents. ²⁸ Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright

²⁹ Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field and he was famished. ³⁰ So Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.

³¹ Then Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.”

³² Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; of what use is the birthright to me?”

³³ Then Jacob said, “Swear to me this day.” So he swore to him, and he sold his birthright to Jacob.

³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. Then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way.

Thus Esau despised his birthright.