Genesis 25:19-34,Genesis 26:24-28:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:22

The children struggled together - יתרצצו yithrotsatsu , they dashed against or bruised each other, there was a violent agitation, so that the mother was apprehensive both of her own and her children's safety; and, supposing this was an uncommon case, she went to inquire of the Lord, as the good women in the present day would go to consult a surgeon or physician; for intercourse with God is not so common now, as it was in those times of great primitive simplicity. There are different... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:23

Two nations are in thy womb - "We have," says Bishop Newton, "in the prophecies delivered respecting the sons of Isaac, ample proof that these prophecies were not meant so much of single persons as of whole nations descended from them; for what was predicted concerning Esau and Jacob was not verified in themselves, but in their posterity. The Edomites were the offspring of Esau, the Israelites were of Jacob; and who but the Author and Giver of life could foresee that two children in the womb... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:24

There were twins - תומם thomim , from which comes Thomas, properly interpreted by the word Διδυμος , Didymus , which signifies a twin; so the first person who was called Thomas or Didymus, we may take for granted, had this name from the circumstance of his being a twin. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:25

Red, all over like a hairy garment - This simply means that he was covered all over with red hair or down; and that this must be intended here is sufficiently evident from another part of his history, where Rebekah, in order to make her favourite son Jacob pass for his brother Esau, was obliged to take the skins of kids, and put them upon his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. They called his name Esau - It is difficult to assign the proper meaning of the original עשו esau or ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:26

His name was called Jacob - יעקב Yaccob , from עקב akab , to defraud, deceive, to supplant, i.e., to overthrow a person by tripping up his heels. Hence this name was given to Jacob, because it was found he had laid hold on his brother's heel, which was emblematical of his supplanting Esau, and defrauding him of his birthright. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:27

A man of the field - שדה איש ish sadeh , one who supported himself and family by hunting and by agriculture. Jacob was a plain man - תם איש ish tam , a perfect or upright man; dwelling in tents - subsisting by breeding and tending cattle, which was considered in those early times the most perfect employment; and in this sense the word תם tam , should be here understood, as in its moral meaning it certainly could not be applied to Jacob till after his name was changed, after... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:28

Isaac loved Esau - but Rebekah loved Jacob - This is an early proof of unwarrantable parental attachment to one child in preference to another. Isaac loved Esau, and Rebekah loved Jacob; and in consequence of this the interests of the family were divided, and the house set in opposition to itself. The fruits of this unreasonable and foolish attachment were afterwards seen in a long catalogue of both natural and moral evils among the descendants of both families. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:29

Sod pottage - נזיד יזד yazed nazid , he boiled a boiling; and this we are informed, Genesis 25:34 , was of עדשים adashim , what the Septuagint render φακος , and we, following them and the Vulgate lens , translate lentils, a sort of pulse. Dr. Shaw casts some light on this passage, speaking of the inhabitants of Barbary. "Beans, lentils, kidney beans, and garvancos," says he, "are the chiefest of their pulse kind; beans, when boiled and stewed with oil and garlic, are the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:30

I am faint - It appears from the whole of this transaction, that Esau was so completely exhausted by fatigue that he must have perished had he not obtained some immediate refreshment. He had been either hunting or laboring in the field, and was now returning for the purpose of getting some food, but had been so exhausted that his strength utterly failed before he had time to make the necessary preparations. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:31

Sell me this day thy birthright - What the בחרה bechorah or birthright was, has greatly divided both ancient and modern commentators. It is generally supposed that the following rights were attached to the primogeniture: Authority and superiority over the rest of the family. A double portion of the paternal inheritance. The peculiar benediction of the father. The priesthood, previous to its establishment in the family of Aaron. Calmet controverts most of these rights, and with... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:25

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:26

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:27

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:28

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:29

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:30

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:31

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