A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

let the children separate them and become an issue of contention. “Isaac loved Esau ... but
Rebekah loved Jacob” (v. 28). Perhaps in fairness to Isaac, it should be noted that the prophecy
that his younger son would receive the birthright was given to Rebekah, and there is no
indication it was ever communicated to her husband.
The first was born covered with hair and appropriately named Esau, meaning “hairy or
thick-haired.” His brother was apparently not as dark or hairy and was named Jacob.
Traditionally, evangelical writers have argued the name means “supplanter” and note Jacob was
born grabbing at the heel of his brother, trying to supplant his brother. Additional support for this
interpretation is found in Esau’s linking of the name Jacob with his brother’s actions of
supplanting or deceiving him (27:36). Jewish commentators and some evangelicals disagree,
arguing the interpretation of the name Jacob to mean supplanter is an expression of anti-
Semitism, which began with a bitter brother and has continued to this day. This second group argue
the name Jacob is based on the verbal root, “he leads,” and suggest the meaning of his name
is that “he is led by Jehovah” or “he follows Jehovah.”
As the two boys matured in the same home, their distinctiveness became even more
apparent. Esau was everything his father could have hoped for in a son. He quickly caught on to
the secrets of hunting and became popular with his father by hunting and preparing one of
Isaac’s favorite meals, venison. Jacob, on the other hand, was more content to remain in the
tents. While his brother went out to test his skill against whatever game may be in the fields
surrounding the camp at Beer Lahai Roi, Jacob might be found involved in one of any number of
activities necessary to the efficient maintenance of the camp.
The first hint as to the character of the two boys was revealed in an account of an
incidental meeting and discussion about the birthright. As Esau returned from the field tired, he
met Jacob busy boiling “pottage,” which means to cook in a pot rather than roast over an open
flame. The Scriptures describe the contents of the pot as “stew of lentils” (25:34) which was a
pot of “red stew” (v. 30). When Esau, probably a meat eater, saw the bean soup, he longed for
some. It would be a spiritually expensive bowl of soup. Jacob agreed Esau could have all he
wanted in exchange for the birthright. The attitude of these two boys revealed their spiritual
priorities. Most commentators agree Jacob probably had the right desire of faith in seeking the
birthright, but his “devious” method revealed his character, supplanter or deceiver. In contrast,
before agreeing to his brother’s proposition, Esau remarked, “What profit shall this birthright be
to me?” (v. 32) The grammar of the question demonstrates he expected or assumed the birthright
was of no real value to him. The Scriptures evaluate this attitude, “Thus Esau despised his
birthright” (v. 34). As a result, Esau became a type of the profane man (Heb. 12:16-17), while his
brother Jacob was listed among the great men of faith (11:21).
This simple event formed the basis for the identification of the future descendants of
Esau. Because of his willingness to give up his birthright for a bowl of red lentils, he was
nicknamed Edom, which means red. The beans in the bowl were probably red. Later, his brother
Jacob would also have his name changed from “supplanter” to Israel, meaning “Prince with
God.” In both cases, their descendants would identify with the changed named. In the years to
come, the nations of Edom and Israel would engage in what would seem to be an ongoing war
against each other.
A LAPSE OF FAITH (Gen. 26:1-16)
As one reads the account of the sale of the birthright, one wonders at Esau’s extreme
statement, “I am about to die” (Gen. 25:32). Certainly that is a melodramatic response to a poor