I. The Birth of Esau and Jacob 19-26
A. Family Line of Isaac 19-20
1. Introduction: This is an account of the family line of Abrahams son Isaac 19a
2. Isaac’s Background 19b-20a
a. Abraham became the father of Isaac 19b
b. Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah 20a
3. Rebekah’s Background 20b
a. daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram 20b
b. and sister of Laban the Aramean 20b
B. Isaac prayed for Rebekah to get pregnant and she conceives 21
1. Prayer: 21a
a. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife 21a
b. because she was childless 21a
2. Answer: 21b
a. The Lord answered his prayer 21b
b. and Rebekah became pregnant 21b
C. Rebekah questions the Lord and the Lord answers 22-23
1. Rebekah Inquires of God 22
a. Narrative of action: The babies jostled within her, 22a
b. Introduction to speech: and she said, 22b
c. Speech: “Why is this happening to me?” 22b
d. Narrative of action: So she went to inquire of the Lord. 22c
2. The Lord Answers Rebekah 23
a. Introduction of Speech: And the Lord said to her 23a
b. Explanation: 23b-e
1. Two nations are in your womb 23b
2. and two peoples from within you will be separated 23c
3. one people will be stronger than the other, 23d
4. and the older will serve the younger 23e
D. Description of Jacob and Esau during birth 24-26
1. Setting the scene 24
a. A time: When the time came to give birth, 24a
b. Situation: there were twin boys in her womb 24b
in her womb
a. Description of Esau at Birth 25
a. The first to come out was red 25a
b. And his whole body was like a hairy garment 25b
c. Narrative of action: so they named him Esau 25c
b. Description of Jacob at Birth 26
a. Narrative of action: after this his brother came out 26a
b. With his...