This is the family tree of Isaac son of Abraham: Abraham had Isaac. Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan Aram. She was the sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed hard to God for his wife because she was barren. God answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant. But the children tumbled and kicked inside her so much that she said, “If this is the way it’s going to be, why go on living?” She went to God to find out what was going on. God told her,
   Two nations are in your womb,
      two peoples butting heads while still in your body.
   One people will overpower the other,
      and the older will serve the younger.
 When her time to give birth came, sure enough, there were twins in her womb. The first came out reddish, as if snugly wrapped in a hairy blanket; they named him Esau (Hairy). His brother followed, his fist clutched tight to Esau’s heel; they named him Jacob (Heel). Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
 The boys grew up. Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman. Jacob was a quiet man preferring life indoors among the tents. Isaac loved Esau because he loved his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
 One day Jacob was cooking a stew. Esau came in from the field, starved. Esau said to Jacob, “Give me some of that red stew—I’m starved!” That’s how he came to be called Edom (Red).
 Jacob said, “Make me a trade: my stew for your rights as the firstborn.”
 Esau said, “I’m starving! What good is a birthright if I’m dead?”
 Jacob said, “First, swear to me.” And he did it. On oath Esau traded away his rights as the firstborn. Jacob gave him bread and the stew of lentils. He ate and drank, got up and left. That’s how Esau shrugged off his rights as the firstborn.
Oh God, how often have I given up part of my “inheritence” in exchange for instant gratification. It felt at the time like I was starving, and then afterwards I realised that I’d exchanged the future I could have had for the desire of the moment.
Yes, I read it just as you did, Richard. Appetite conquers rational thought: present conquers future. But what’s amazing is that God can work with our failures to bring us a future we never dreamed about.
What a deal – I agree with you both: the right and blessing (but also duty and fate – including being the one who is and belongs to God) of the firstborn male in the semitic culture on the one side – long run, and a red lentil stew – here and now.
Esau refuses what is put aside for him as predestination in favour for immediate symptomatic relief. Jacob\’s swindle was probably his only opportunity to overcome the power imbalance between the two of them; – interesting how their two opposing cultural and characterological predispositions are sketched in this paragrap. I haven\’t looked at it as yet from a gendered perspective – but it is probably worthwhile.
My very basic, very gut-driven response to Essau\’s choice might sound cynical at first sight: I always disliked lentils and I am female…
I have to say I struggle with this one as it seems that Esau didn\’t have a hope in the first place – when you read the bit that God said to Rebekah!
I do wonder how manipulative Jacob was – I have to say I have always had a soft spot for Esau, and the same for Cain!!