Read Genesis 25:1-34 at Bible Gateway.
Hebrew paragraph divisions
Gen 25:1-11 {p} The seed of Abraham
Gen 25:12-18 {p} The seed of Ishmael
Gen 25:19-34 {p} The seed of Isaac
The common theme of these three paragraphs can be more easily seen this way:
Gen 25:1-11 {p} The offspring of Abraham by Keturah
Gen 25:12-18 {p} The offspring of Abraham by Hagar (Ishmael’s seed)
Gen 25:19-34 {p} The offspring of Abraham by Sarah (Isaac’s seed)
Suggesting a strong theme: Gen 25:1-34 {px3} The record of all the offspring of Abraham
Gen 25:1-11 {p} chiastic structure: the offspring of Abraham by Keturah
1a.1) Gen 25:1-4 Abraham’s sons by Keturah;
1a) Gen 25:1 Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah;
1b) Gen 25:2a And she bore him;
central axis) Gen 25:2b-4a Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah;
2b) Gen 25:4b All these were the children;
2a) Gen 25:4c Of Keturah;
1a.2) Gen 25:5-6 And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac;
1b) Gen 25:7a This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived;
central axis) Gen 25:7b One hundred and seventy-five years;
2b) Gen 25:8 Then Abraham breathed his last + died in a good old age, an old man full of years, and was gathered to his people;
2a.1) Gen 25:9-10 Abraham’s sons Isaac + Ishmael (by Sarah + Hagar) buried him;
1a) Gen 25:9a And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him;
2b) Gen 25:9b In the cave of Machpelah;
central axis) Gen 25:9c Which is before Mamre;
2b) Gen 25:9d-10a In the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth;
2a) Gen 25:10b There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife;
2a.2) Gen 25:11 {p} After the death of Abraham God blessed his son Isaac who dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.
Gen 25:12-18 {p} chiastic structure: the offspring of Abraham by Hagar (Ishmael’s seed)
1a) Gen 25:12a These are the generations of Ishmael;
1b) Gen 25:12b Abraham’s son;
central axis) Gen 25:12c Whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid;
2b) Gen 25:12d Bore to Abraham;
2a) Gen 25:13-18 {p} These are the names of Ishmael’s sons by their generations;
1a) Gen 25:13a These are the names of the sons of Ishmael according to their generations;
central axis) Gen 25:13b-15 The first-born of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa; Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, Kedem;
2a) Gen 25:16-18 {p} These are the sons + names of Ishmael according to their nations;
1a) Gen 25:16 These are the sons + names of Ishmael, by their villages + encampments; 12 princes according to their nations;
1b) Gen 25:17a And these are the years of the life of Ishmael;
central axis) Gen 25:17b One hundred and thirty-seven years;
2b) Gen 25:17c And he breathed his last + died/ was gathered to his people;
2a) Gen 25:18 {p} They dwelt from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria: over against all his brethren he did settle.
Gen 25:19-34 {p} chiastic structure: The offspring of Abraham by Sarah (Isaac’s seed)
1a) Gen 25:19 This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac;
1b) Gen 25:20-21a Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife;
central axis) Gen 25:21b Because she was barren;
2b) Gen 25:21c And the Lord granted his plea;
2a) Gen 25:21d-34 {p} Isaac begot Esau and Jacob;
1a) Gen 25:21d And Rebekah his wife conceived;
1b) Gen 25:22a But the children struggled together within her;
central axis) Gen 25:22b And she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord;
2b) Gen 25:23 And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger;”
2a) Gen 25:24-34 {p} Rebekah bore two sons to Isaac;
1a.1) Gen 25:24 When her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb;
1a.2) Gen 25:25 The first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau;
1a.3) Gen 25:26a Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob;
central axis) Gen 25:26b Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them;
2a.1) Gen 25:27-28 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob;
2a.2) Gen 25:29-30 Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom;
2a.3) Gen 25:31-34 {p} Jacob took hold of Esau’s birthright, which Esau despised;
1a) Gen 25:31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day;”
1b) Gen 25:32a And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die;
1c) Gen 25:32b So what is this birthright to me?”
central axis) Gen 25:33a Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him;
2c) Gen 25:33b And sold his birthright to Jacob;
2b) Gen 25:34a Jacob gave Esau bread + stew of lentils/ he ate + drank, arose, and went his way;
2a) Gen 25:34b {p} Thus Esau despised his birthright.
For further study on site
Who are the children of Israel? (The significance of the birthright Esau despised)
Genesis index of studies
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