1. A. After twenty (20) years of marriage, in answer to prayer, Rebekah conceived.

1. Isaac was 40 years of age when he married Rebekah, a sister to Laban the Syrian.
        
2. At age 60, The LORD gave them twin boys whom they named Esau & Jacob.

Esau = 'Esav {Ay-sawv'}
= "hairy." He was called "red," because he came out the womb, & because he loved "red" pottage made from venison. This word for red = 'Edom {ed-ome'}
His descendants = the Edomites. The "Edomites" settled in the area of Mt. Seir.

Jacob = Ya'aqob {yah-ak-obe'}
= "heel holder" or "supplanter." (trickster).

Genesis 25:19-26
And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: ²⁰And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. ²¹And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. ²²And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. ²³And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. ²⁴And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. ²⁵And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. ²⁶And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. (KJV)

intreated = 'athar {aw-thar'}
= to pray, entreat;
= Qal stem(simple or casual action) & Imperfect mood (a single action, suggesting the process preliminary to its completion; adds color & movement).

struggled together = ratsats {raw-tsats'}
= to crush each other.
In Hithpoel stem = Heb. Intensive reflexive, meaning within herself.

2. A very marked & distinctive difference was evident in these twins.

1. Esau was the firstborn & thus was heir to the "birthright." 
   
   Primogeniture = the right of the first born son to receive a double share of the inheritance, and, as the expected successor of his father as head of the family, he was to assume leadership in matters of judgment, war, & worship.

1. Since this unique birthright had to do with spiritual blessings & an inheritance based on faith in Jehovah God & His promised blessings to Abraham and his "Promised son, Isaac," it was not possible for the principle of "primogeniture" to obtain in a spiritually blinded person like Esau.
        
2. Because of Jehovah's sovereignty & His election, the right of "primogeniture" is to pass from Esau, who despised it, to Jacob who would be changed into Israel.
        
3. Esau was a "cunning hunter & a man of the field." = had great knowledge about hunting & like to "spread out" in fields. (Didn't like to be shut up in a tent.)
        
4. Esau was a "here & now," person: He looked with more favor toward a mess of red pottage than to the eternal promises of Almighty God.
        
5. Esau had the favor of his father, Isaac, because they both liked to eat venison & it was being provided by Esau, the cunning hunter.

2. Jacob was a "plain" man = tam {tawm} = complete, sound, wholesome; quiet sort of a person; morally innocent; undefiled, upright; having integrity. He was able to see the value in the birthright.

1. dwelling in tents = content to be at "home," not spreading out like Esau.
        
2. Jacob was the favorite of his mother, Rebekah.
        
3. Although Jacob was called a "supplanter," he was not foolish; He said to his brother, Esau, "Give me an oath on this first," and then I will give you pottage.

Genesis 25:27-34
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. ²⁸And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
²⁹And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: ³⁰And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. ³¹And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. ³²And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? ³³And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. ³⁴Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. (KJV)

3. The New Testament insight into these twins and Jehovah's election.

Romans 9:10-13
And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; ¹¹(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) ¹²It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. ¹³As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (KJV)

Hosea 12:2-5
The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. ³He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: ⁴Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; ⁵Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.

Hebrews 12:14-17
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: ¹⁵Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; ¹⁶Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. ¹⁷For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. (KJV)

profane = bebelos {beb'-ay-los}
= ungodly; unhallowed place. It sums up the character of Esau. It means, "outside the temple," and refers to the plot of ground just in front of the fane which was "common" to everyone, as being outside the sacred enclosure.

rejected = apodokimazo {ap-od-ok-ee-mad'-zo}
= to disapprove; repudiate.
In the Aorist tense (punctiliar action = past tense in English) &
in the Passive voice(the subject is the receiver of the action.)

place = topos {top'-os}
= opportunity, power, or occasion for acting.