⁹ For this is what the promise said: “About this time [next year] I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.”^{(A) 10} And not only that, but this too: Rebekah conceived twin sons by one man [under the same circumstances], by our father Isaac; ¹¹ and though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything either good or bad, so that God’s purpose [His choice, His election] would stand, not because of works [done by either child], but because of [the plan of] Him who calls them, ¹² it was said to her, “The ^[a]older (Esau) will serve the ^[b]younger (Jacob).”^(B)