Genesis 25

Ge 25:1-6.

SONS OF

ABRAHAM.

1. Abraham took a wife--rather, "had taken"; for Keturah is

called Abraham's concubine, or secondary wife

(1Ch 1:32);

and as, from her bearing six sons to him, it is improbable that he

married after Sarah's death; and also as he sent them all out to seek

their own independence, during his lifetime, it is clear that this

marriage is related here out of its chronological order, merely to form

a proper winding up of the patriarch's history.

5, 6. Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac . . . unto

the sons of the concubines . . . Abraham gave

gifts--While the chief part of the inheritance went to Isaac; the

other sons (Ishmael included) migrated to "the East country," that is,

Arabia, but received each a portion of the patrimony, perhaps in cattle

and other things; and this settlement of Abraham's must have given

satisfaction, since it is still the rule followed among the pastoral

tribes.

Ge 25:7-11.

DEATH OF

ABRAHAM.

7. these are the days of . . . Abraham--His death is

here related, though he lived till Jacob and Esau were fifteen years,

just one hundred years after coming to Canaan; "the father of the

faithful," "the friend of God"

[Jas 2:23],

died; and even in his death, the promises were fulfilled (compare

Ge 15:15).

We might have wished some memorials of his deathbed experience; but the

Spirit of God has withheld them--nor was it necessary; for (see

Mt 7:16)

from earth he passed into heaven

(Lu 16:22).

Though dead he yet liveth

(Mt 22:32).

9, 10. his sons . . . buried him--Death often puts an

end to strife, reconciles those who have been alienated, and brings

rival relations, as in this instance, to mingle tears over a father's

grave.

Ge 25:12-18.

DESCENDANTS OF

ISHMAEL.

Before passing to the line of the promised seed, the historian gives a

brief notice of Ishmael, to show that the promises respecting that son

of Abraham were fulfilled--first, in the greatness of his posterity

(compare

Ge 17:20);

and, secondly, in their independence.

18. he died--rather, "it [their lot] fell" in the presence of

his brethren (compare

Ge 16:12).

Ge 25:19-34.

HISTORY OF

ISAAC.

19. these are the generations--account of the leading events in

his life.

21. Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife--Though tried in a

similar way to his father, he did not follow the same crooked policy.

Twenty years he continued unblessed with offspring, whose seed was to

be "as the stars"

[Ge 26:4].

But in answer to their mutual prayers

(1Pe 3:7),

Rebekah was divinely informed that she was to be the mother of twins,

who should be the progenitors of two independent nations; that the

descendants of the younger should be the more powerful and subdue those

of the other

(Ro 9:12;

2Ch 21:8).

27. the boys grew--from the first, opposite to each other in

character, manners, and habits.

28. The parents were divided in their affection; and while the

grounds, at least of the father's partiality, were weak, the

distinction made between the children led, as such conduct always does,

to unhappy consequences.

29. Jacob sod pottage--made of lentils or small beans, which are

common in Egypt and Syria. It is probable that it was made of Egyptian

beans, which Jacob had procured as a dainty; for Esau was a stranger to

it. It is very palatable; and to the weary hunter, faint with hunger,

its odor must have been irresistibly tempting.

31. Jacob said, Sell me . . . thy birthright--that is,

the rights and privileges of the first-born, which were very important,

the chief being that they were the family priests

(Ex 4:22)

and had a double portion of the inheritance

(De 21:17).

32. Esau said . . . I am at the point to die--that is,

I am running daily risk of my life; and of what use will the birthright

be to me: so he despised or cared little about it, in comparison with

gratifying his appetite--he threw away his religious privileges for a

trifle; and thence he is styled "a profane person"

(Heb 12:16;

also

Job 31:7, 16; 6:13;

Php 3:19).

"There was never any meat, except the forbidden fruit, so dear bought,

as this broth of Jacob" [BISHOP HALL].