The Beginning:
Isaac and Rebekah have twin sons, Esau and Jacob, whose rivalry begins even before birth. Esau grows into a skilled hunter, while Jacob stays among the tents. Isaac favors Esau, but Rebekah favors Jacob, setting a tension within the household.
The Middle:
One day Esau returns from the field exhausted and asks Jacob for some of the stew Jacob has prepared. Jacob offers food only if Esau will sell him his birthright, the firstborn’s privilege within the family. Esau, focused on his immediate hunger, swears an oath and sells the birthright to Jacob for bread and stew. The narrative highlights Esau’s disregard for what he is giving up.
The End:
Jacob gives Esau the meal, and Esau eats and leaves. The episode ends with the biblical assessment that Esau despised his birthright. The family’s inheritance order has been altered, setting the stage for later conflict over the blessing.
This story shows that covenant privileges in Genesis are not treated as ordinary family assets but as weighty gifts tied to God’s promises to Abraham’s line. Esau’s willing exchange of the birthright for a momentary need exposes a heart that undervalues what God has attached to the firstborn’s role. Jacob’s actions are morally complex, yet the broader Genesis narrative continues to show God advancing His covenant purposes through unexpected heirs, emphasizing divine sovereignty while still holding human choices accountable.
In the ancient Near East, the birthright commonly involved legal and social privileges of the firstborn, often including leadership within the family and a larger share of inheritance. Genesis portrays this right as transferable by a binding oath, reflecting the seriousness of sworn agreements in patriarchal society.
“So Esau despised his birthright.” — Genesis 25:34
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. What did Jacob require from Esau before giving him some of the stew?
2. After Esau sold his birthright, what did Jacob give him in exchange?