-
†. Gen 25:23b . . One people shall be mightier than the other, and
the older shall serve the younger.
Esau will come out first; hence, chronologically, he's the eldest son.
However, the right of primogeniture was taken from him and given to Jacob.
That was God's sovereign prerogative as the paterfamilias of Yhvh's people.
Later on down the line, Jacob will exercise the same prerogative by taking
the right of primogeniture from Manasseh and giving it to Ephraim.
So then, biblically, the firstborn son's birthright isn't inalienable; but rather
quite transferable to a younger sibling; e.g. Rueben and Joseph. (1Chrn 5:1)
"Rebecca's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet,
before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-- in order that
God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls -
she was told: "The older will serve the younger." (Rom 9:7-12)
There was certainly nothing in Jacob's infant character that earned him the
firstborn position, and it was just as assuredly not his eventual craftiness
that got it for him either. It was simply Divine prerogative. In some things,
God is sovereign and there is not one single thing h.sapiens can do about it.
†. Gen 25:24 . .When her time to give birth was at hand, there were
twins in her womb.
Multiple births in human beings arise either from the simultaneous
impregnation of more than one ovum or from the impregnation of a single
ovum that divides into two or more parts, each of which develops into a
distinct embryo. Plural offspring developing from a single egg are known as
"identical"-- they are always of the same gender, resemble one another very
closely, and have similar fingerprints and blood types.
Offspring produced from separate ova are "fraternal"-- not necessarily of the
same gender; they have the usual family resemblance of brothers and
sisters.
Precisely of which type Jacob and Esau were, is difficult to tell. However,
they are definitely not identical; either in physical appearance nor in
personality, nor in speech.
†. Gen 25:25a . .The first one emerged red, like a hairy mantle all
over;
The word for "red" is 'admoniy (ad-mo-nee') which can refer to either red
hair or to a reddish, rosy complexion. In Esau's case, it's difficult to know for
certain which applied. That he was a hairy kid right from birth is
uncontested. However, to avoid the association with red hair; some feel that
the conjunction "and" should be inserted just after the comma, so that the
verse would read: The first one emerged red, and hairy all over like a
mantle.
Jacob looked like most babies do at birth: a little cherub; bald and smooth
skinned.
Esau, in contrast, was not only hairy, but because of his fur, he was rough to
the touch; sort of like a woolen G.I. blanket. Esau wasn't your typical cuddly
little tykester. When Rebecca held him, it wasn't like holding a little boy, it
was more like holding a grizzly bear cub, so to speak. Maybe that was a
contributing factor in Rebecca's favoritism of Jacob? How many mothers can
really warm up to a baby who looks like he'll morph into a werewolf any
second?
†. Gen 25:25b . . they named him Esau.
The Hebrew word for Esau is from 'Esav (ay-sawv'); the meaning of which
isn't known for certain. Some say it means rough-- like rough to the touch.
Others think it might mean to cover, or envelop like a blanket --a distinct
possibility given Esau's appearance as one covered with hair all over his
body. (maybe even on his little tush too.)
†. Gen 25:26a . .Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of
Esau;
Sibling rivalry between the two baby brothers was very intense. Jacob
undoubtedly held on to Esau's heel to slow him down so he wouldn't get too
far ahead-- and also an aggressive attempt to stop him from going first even
though Esau was legitimately first in line to be born.
†. Gen 25:26b . . so they named him Jacob.
The Hebrew word for Jacob is from Ya' aqob (yah-ak-obe') which means:
heel-catcher.
Esau defined a heel-catcher like this:
"Esau said: Was he, then, named Jacob that he might supplant me these
two times? First he took away my birthright and now he has taken away my
blessing!" (Gen 27:36)
Supplanters take things by coup, usurping, artifice and/or treachery. Right
from the womb, Jacob desired supremacy over his brother Esau and
struggled to get out ahead of him. How male infants can be so competitive
at such an early age is a total mystery; but not impossible. Boys are
competitive by nature, and don't like to come in second place; especially
against a brother. For some strange reason, it is much easier for a boy to
suffer defeat by a non-kin ale opponent than by his own sibling.
Jacob is one very tricky Dicky who knows how to trip people up, and how to
keep them from getting ahead, and how to cleverly separate them from
what is rightfully theirs.
That boy was born way too soon. He should have been on Wall Street;
manipulating stocks, marketing derivatives, and raiding corporations. Jacob
isn't usually portrayed in Scripture as a man of muscle and brute strength,
but as a man of cunning and determination, a man who gets what he wants
by patience, stealth, intelligence, and/or trickery rather than by brute force.
Maybe he should have been a corporate lawyer?
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†. Gen 25:23b . . One people shall be mightier than the other, and
the older shall serve the younger.
Esau will come out first; hence, chronologically, he's the eldest son.
However, the right of primogeniture was taken from him and given to Jacob.
That was God's sovereign prerogative as the paterfamilias of Yhvh's people.
Later on down the line, Jacob will exercise the same prerogative by taking
the right of primogeniture from Manasseh and giving it to Ephraim.
So then, biblically, the firstborn son's birthright isn't inalienable; but rather
quite transferable to a younger sibling; e.g. Rueben and Joseph. (1Chrn 5:1)
"Rebecca's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet,
before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-- in order that
God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls -
she was told: "The older will serve the younger." (Rom 9:7-12)
There was certainly nothing in Jacob's infant character that earned him the
firstborn position, and it was just as assuredly not his eventual craftiness
that got it for him either. It was simply Divine prerogative. In some things,
God is sovereign and there is not one single thing h.sapiens can do about it.
†. Gen 25:24 . .When her time to give birth was at hand, there were
twins in her womb.
Multiple births in human beings arise either from the simultaneous
impregnation of more than one ovum or from the impregnation of a single
ovum that divides into two or more parts, each of which develops into a
distinct embryo. Plural offspring developing from a single egg are known as
"identical"-- they are always of the same gender, resemble one another very
closely, and have similar fingerprints and blood types.
Offspring produced from separate ova are "fraternal"-- not necessarily of the
same gender; they have the usual family resemblance of brothers and
sisters.
Precisely of which type Jacob and Esau were, is difficult to tell. However,
they are definitely not identical; either in physical appearance nor in
personality, nor in speech.
†. Gen 25:25a . .The first one emerged red, like a hairy mantle all
over;
The word for "red" is 'admoniy (ad-mo-nee') which can refer to either red
hair or to a reddish, rosy complexion. In Esau's case, it's difficult to know for
certain which applied. That he was a hairy kid right from birth is
uncontested. However, to avoid the association with red hair; some feel that
the conjunction "and" should be inserted just after the comma, so that the
verse would read: The first one emerged red, and hairy all over like a
mantle.
Jacob looked like most babies do at birth: a little cherub; bald and smooth
skinned.
Esau, in contrast, was not only hairy, but because of his fur, he was rough to
the touch; sort of like a woolen G.I. blanket. Esau wasn't your typical cuddly
little tykester. When Rebecca held him, it wasn't like holding a little boy, it
was more like holding a grizzly bear cub, so to speak. Maybe that was a
contributing factor in Rebecca's favoritism of Jacob? How many mothers can
really warm up to a baby who looks like he'll morph into a werewolf any
second?
†. Gen 25:25b . . they named him Esau.
The Hebrew word for Esau is from 'Esav (ay-sawv'); the meaning of which
isn't known for certain. Some say it means rough-- like rough to the touch.
Others think it might mean to cover, or envelop like a blanket --a distinct
possibility given Esau's appearance as one covered with hair all over his
body. (maybe even on his little tush too.)
†. Gen 25:26a . .Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of
Esau;
Sibling rivalry between the two baby brothers was very intense. Jacob
undoubtedly held on to Esau's heel to slow him down so he wouldn't get too
far ahead-- and also an aggressive attempt to stop him from going first even
though Esau was legitimately first in line to be born.
†. Gen 25:26b . . so they named him Jacob.
The Hebrew word for Jacob is from Ya' aqob (yah-ak-obe') which means:
heel-catcher.
Esau defined a heel-catcher like this:
"Esau said: Was he, then, named Jacob that he might supplant me these
two times? First he took away my birthright and now he has taken away my
blessing!" (Gen 27:36)
Supplanters take things by coup, usurping, artifice and/or treachery. Right
from the womb, Jacob desired supremacy over his brother Esau and
struggled to get out ahead of him. How male infants can be so competitive
at such an early age is a total mystery; but not impossible. Boys are
competitive by nature, and don't like to come in second place; especially
against a brother. For some strange reason, it is much easier for a boy to
suffer defeat by a non-kin ale opponent than by his own sibling.
Jacob is one very tricky Dicky who knows how to trip people up, and how to
keep them from getting ahead, and how to cleverly separate them from
what is rightfully theirs.
That boy was born way too soon. He should have been on Wall Street;
manipulating stocks, marketing derivatives, and raiding corporations. Jacob
isn't usually portrayed in Scripture as a man of muscle and brute strength,
but as a man of cunning and determination, a man who gets what he wants
by patience, stealth, intelligence, and/or trickery rather than by brute force.
Maybe he should have been a corporate lawyer?
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=