Genesis 25:21–30

²¹Rebekah couldn’t have children. So Isaac prayed to the Lord for her. And the Lord answered his prayer. His wife Rebekah became pregnant.

²²The babies struggled with each other inside her. She said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to ask the Lord what she should do.

²³The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your body.

Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated.

One nation will be stronger than the other.

The older son will serve the younger one.”

²⁴The time came for Rebekah to have her babies. There were twin boys in her body. ²⁵The first one to come out was red. His whole body was covered with hair. So they named him Esau.

²⁶Then his brother came out. His hand was holding onto Esau’s heel. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah had them.

²⁷The boys grew up. Esau became a skillful hunter. He was a man who liked the open country. But Jacob was a quiet man. He stayed at home among the tents. ²⁸Isaac liked the meat of wild animals. So Esau was his favorite son. But Rebekah’s favorite was Jacob.

²⁹One day Jacob was cooking some stew. Esau came in from the open country. He was very hungry. ³⁰He said to Jacob, “Quick! Let me have some of that red stew! I’m very hungry!” That’s why he was also named Edom.