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†. Gen 25:29 . . Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in
from the open, famished.
I guess Esau never heard of the Boy Scouts' motto: Be prepared. Well . .
next time, maybe he'll be a little more careful to fill his ALICE pack with
some LRRP rations before going out in the boonies.
The word for "stew" is from naziyd (naw-zeed') which means: something
boiled, e.g. soup. According to Gen 25:34, one of the ingredients in Jacob's
soup was lentils: a type of flat, round seed related to the pea and is eaten as
a vegetable.
†. Gen 25:30a . . And Esau said to Jacob: Give me some of that red
stuff to gulp down, for I am famished
The word for "red" (stuff) is from 'adom (aw-dome') which means: rosy.
†. Gen 25:30b . . which is why he was named Edom.
Edom is from 'Edom (ed-ome') or possibly 'Edowm (ed-ome') which mean:
red. 'Edom and 'Edowm are derived from 'adom; the word for rosy.
I actually knew a man when I was a kid whose nick-name was Rose; and
who hasn't heard of the pro footballer Rosey Grier?
†. Gen 25:31 . . Jacob said: First sell me your birthright.
The birthright consists of two distinct components. One is material, and the
other is spiritual. If Israel's covenanted law can be used as a guideline in this
instance, then the holder of the birthright (which is transferable) is entitled
to twice the amount of material inheritance given to his siblings. (Deut
21:15-17)
But Jacob isn't asking for Esau's material birthright; it's the spiritual one that
he's after. Jacob wanted very much to be the family's next patriarch; and no
doubt Rebecca wanted him too.
The position of patriarch carries heavy responsibilities. If Esau was to rule
over the family, then he would be responsible to provide for them both
materially and spiritually. Abraham was a very successful patriarch in both
respects, but most especially in the spiritual.
It was the patriarch's duty to build, and officiate at, the family's altar; just
as Abraham had done all those years (cf. Job 1:5). It was also the
patriarch's duty to dispense the knowledge God and make sure it was carried
forward in the family so as to prevent its loss to future generations (cf. Gen
18:19). I think what Jacob was really after was the inspiration that came
with being the spiritual patriarch. (cf. Gen 20:7)
As far as Esau was concerned, the material aspect of his birthright was all
that mattered. He was totally secular and cared nothing at all for his spiritual
birthright. On the other hand, Jacob dearly longed for the spiritual aspect--
the material part being only incidental. No doubt the two brothers had
discussed these very things over the years so that Jacob already knew
exactly how Esau felt about it. So that, half in jest, and probably half in
disgust, he proposed that Esau barter his spiritual birthright for food. Being
a secular man entirely dominated by carnal appetites: Esau accepted.
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†. Gen 25:29 . . Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in
from the open, famished.
I guess Esau never heard of the Boy Scouts' motto: Be prepared. Well . .
next time, maybe he'll be a little more careful to fill his ALICE pack with
some LRRP rations before going out in the boonies.
The word for "stew" is from naziyd (naw-zeed') which means: something
boiled, e.g. soup. According to Gen 25:34, one of the ingredients in Jacob's
soup was lentils: a type of flat, round seed related to the pea and is eaten as
a vegetable.
†. Gen 25:30a . . And Esau said to Jacob: Give me some of that red
stuff to gulp down, for I am famished
The word for "red" (stuff) is from 'adom (aw-dome') which means: rosy.
†. Gen 25:30b . . which is why he was named Edom.
Edom is from 'Edom (ed-ome') or possibly 'Edowm (ed-ome') which mean:
red. 'Edom and 'Edowm are derived from 'adom; the word for rosy.
I actually knew a man when I was a kid whose nick-name was Rose; and
who hasn't heard of the pro footballer Rosey Grier?
†. Gen 25:31 . . Jacob said: First sell me your birthright.
The birthright consists of two distinct components. One is material, and the
other is spiritual. If Israel's covenanted law can be used as a guideline in this
instance, then the holder of the birthright (which is transferable) is entitled
to twice the amount of material inheritance given to his siblings. (Deut
21:15-17)
But Jacob isn't asking for Esau's material birthright; it's the spiritual one that
he's after. Jacob wanted very much to be the family's next patriarch; and no
doubt Rebecca wanted him too.
The position of patriarch carries heavy responsibilities. If Esau was to rule
over the family, then he would be responsible to provide for them both
materially and spiritually. Abraham was a very successful patriarch in both
respects, but most especially in the spiritual.
It was the patriarch's duty to build, and officiate at, the family's altar; just
as Abraham had done all those years (cf. Job 1:5). It was also the
patriarch's duty to dispense the knowledge God and make sure it was carried
forward in the family so as to prevent its loss to future generations (cf. Gen
18:19). I think what Jacob was really after was the inspiration that came
with being the spiritual patriarch. (cf. Gen 20:7)
As far as Esau was concerned, the material aspect of his birthright was all
that mattered. He was totally secular and cared nothing at all for his spiritual
birthright. On the other hand, Jacob dearly longed for the spiritual aspect--
the material part being only incidental. No doubt the two brothers had
discussed these very things over the years so that Jacob already knew
exactly how Esau felt about it. So that, half in jest, and probably half in
disgust, he proposed that Esau barter his spiritual birthright for food. Being
a secular man entirely dominated by carnal appetites: Esau accepted.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=