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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:34

Pottage of lentils - See note Genesis 25:29 . Thus Esau despised his birthright - On this account the apostle, Hebrews 12:16 , calls Esau a profane person, because he had, by this act, alienated from himself and family those spiritual offices connected with the rights of primogeniture. While we condemn Esau for this bad action, (for he should rather have perished than have alienated this right), and while we consider it as a proof that his mind was little affected with Divine or... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:19

Verse 19 19.These are the generations of Isaac. Because what Moses has said concerning the Ishmaelites was incidental, he now returns to the principal subject of the history, for the purpose of describing the progress of the Church. And in the first place, he repeats that Isaac’s wife was taken from Mesopotamia. He expressly calls her the sister of Laban the Syrian, who was hereafter to become the father-in-law of Jacob, and concerning whom he had many things to relate. But it is chiefly worthy... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:21

Verse 21 21.And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife. Some translate the passage, Isaac entreated the Lord in the presence of his wife; and understand this to have been done, that she also might add her prayers, and they might jointly supplicate God. But the version here given is more simple. Moreover, this resort to prayer testifies that Isaac knew that he was deprived of children, because God had not blessed him. He also knew that fruitfulness was a special gift of God. For although the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:22

Verse 22 22.And the children struggled together. Here a new temptation suddenly arises, namely, that the infants struggle together in their mother’s womb. This conflict occasions the mother such grief that she wishes for death. And no wonder; for she thinks that it would be a hundred times better for her to die, than that she have within her the horrible prodigy of twin — brothers, shut up in her womb, carrying on intestine war. They, therefore, are mistaken, who attribute this complaint to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:23

Verse 23 23.Two nations. In the first place, God answers that the contention between the twin-brothers had reference to something far beyond their own persons; for in this way he shows that there would be discord between their posterities. When he says, there are two nations, the expression is emphatical; for since they were brothers and twins, and therefore of one blood, the mother did not suppose that they would be so far disjoined as to become the heads of distinct nations; yet God declares... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:24

Verse 24 24.And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled. Moses shows that the intestine strife in her womb continued to the time of bringing forth; for it was not by mere accident that Jacob seized his brother by the heel and attempted to get out before him. The Lord testified by this sign that the effect of his election does not immediately appear; but rather that the intervening path was strewed with troubles and conflicts. Therefore Esau’s name was allotted to him on account of his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:27

Verse 27 27.And the boys grew. Moses now briefly describes the manners of them both. He does not, indeed, commend Jacob on account of those rare and excellent qualities, which are especially worthy of praise and of remembrance, but only says that he was simple. The word תם (tam,) although generally taken for upright and sincere, is here put antithetically. After the sacred writer has stated that Esau was robust, and addicted to hunting, he places on the opposite side the mild disposition of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:28

Verse 28 28.And Isaac loved Esau. That God might more clearly show his own election to be sufficiently firm, to need no assistance elsewhere, and even powerful enough to overcome any obstacle whatever, he permitted Esau to be so preferred to his brother, in the affection and good opinion of his father, that Jacob appeared in the light of a rejected person. Since, therefore, Moses clearly demonstrates, by so many circumstances, that the adoption of Jacob was founded on the sole good pleasure of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:29

Verse 29 29.And Jacob sod pottage. This narration differs little from the sport of children. Jacob is cooking pottage; his brother returns from hunting weary and famishing, and barters his birthright for food. What kind of bargain, I pray, was this? Jacob ought of his own accord to have satisfied the hunger of his brother. When being asked, he refuses to do so: who would not condemn him for his inhumanity? In compelling Esau to surrender his right of primogeniture, he seems to make an illicit... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:30

Verse 30 30.Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage (34) Although Esau declares in these words that he by no means desires delicacies, but is content with food of any kind, (seeing that he contemptuously designates the pottage from its color only, without regard to its taste,) we may yet lawfully conjecture that the affair was viewed in a serious light by his parents; for his own name had not been given him on account of any ludicrous matter. In desiring and asking food he commits... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:34

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:24

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:27

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:28

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:29

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:30

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