After Sarah’s death, Abraham takes another wife, Keturah, who bares him six more children, who have more children. I could list their names, but I have a feeling we’ll never hear from these kids again. Abraham gives everything he has to Isaac, but to his concubine’s sons, gives gifts and sends them away. Abraham lives 175 years before giving up the ghost; Isaac and Ishmael bury him in the same cave as Sarah.
Ishmael has twelve sons, in fact “twelve princes according to their nations.” 1-2 princes here before us–princes, princes who adore us. Ishmael gives up his ghost at 137 years, dying in the presence of his brethren.
Isaac takes Rebekah as his wife at the age of forty, but she was barren, which seems like a common affliction in Genesis, but God acts even faster than He did with Sarah, although it still takes twenty years for her to conceive. Carrying twins, Rebekah can feel them struggle within her, and God tells her that two nations are in her womb, one of which will be stronger than the other, with the elder serving the younger. This sibling rivalry trope is not at all overused.
The first child is red and hairy, and named Esau. His brother, who literally arrives on Esau’s heel, is named Jacob. Esau grows up to be a hunter and outdoorsman while Jacob is a farmer and tent-dweller. Isaac, who loves him some venison, also loves Esau, whereas Rebekah loves Jacob most of all.
Esau, coming home weak from the hunt, asks Jacob for some soup; Jacob tells Esau to sell him his birthright. Talk about a soup Nazi! Esau, starving now, sees more value in soup today than birthright tomorrow, and sells his future to Jacob, who throws in some bread as well, a filling meal by any measure.
Bible Schmible 