18
The descendants of Ishmael lived in the territory between Havilah and Shur, to the east of Egypt on the way to Assyria. They lived apart from the other descendants of Abraham.
19
This is the story of Abraham's son Isaac.
20
Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel (an Aramean from Mesopotamia) and sister of Laban.
21
Because Rebecca had no children, Isaac prayed to the Lord for her. The Lord answered his prayer, and Rebecca became pregnant.
22
She was going to have twins, and before they were born, they struggled against each other in her womb. She said, "Why should something like this happen to me?" So she went to ask the Lord for an answer.
23
The Lord said to her,
1 "Two nations are within you; You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other; The older will serve the younger."
24
The time came for her to give birth, and she had twin sons.
25
The first one was reddish, and his skin was like a hairy robe, so he was named Esau.
26
The second one was born holding on tightly to the heel of Esau, so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
27
The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilled hunter, a man who loved the outdoors, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.
28
Isaac preferred Esau, because he enjoyed eating the animals Esau killed, but Rebecca preferred Jacob.