Genesis 25

Genesis 25:1

TOoke] Some have held, that he tooke her whilst Sarah was yet living, but it is uncertaine; & this strength to beget Children, was miraculously reewed in him, whereby he begat not only Isaac, but all these besides Wife] That is to say Concubine, verse 6. 1 Chronicles 1:32. Such women were marryed by the custome of inhabiting together, but were not partakers of their husbands dignity and estate, as the true wives, called Ladies: An abuse of Gods first Ordinance, tolerated in those dayes, Genesis 30:4; Genesis 30:9.

Genesis 25:2

Zi〈…〉ram] These were the heads of many people of Arabia, and neighbouring Nations.

Genesis 25:3

Ashurim] See concerning these names that have a plurall termination, Genesis 10:4.

Genesis 25:5

Gave] Made him his full and generall heire.

Genesis 25:6

The East Country] Called afterwards Arabia, which people were called the children of the East, or Easterne in regard of Palestina. See Judg. 6. 3. and 7. 12. Job 1:3.

Genesis 25:8

Gathered] See upon Genesis 15:15.

Genesis 25:13

According] As they have beene set down in their Registers, and Genealogies: and their names as being heads of Nations, have remained to their posterity Nebaioth] The Nabateans, and the Chadarens, named in histories amongst the people of Arabia, descended from these.

Genesis 25:16

By their] That is to say, the names of these heads were given to the places where their pstrity dwelt; which through the craggednesse of the Countrey, were either strong castles, or unwalled townes.

Genesis 25:18

And he dyed, &c.] The Italian hath, And his Countrey fell to him before all his brethren] As well that which he first inhabited, as that which hee afterwards usurped.

Genesis 25:20

Padan Aram] was a part of Mesopotamia, where Charran was.

Genesis 25:22

Struggled] By an extraordinary and prodigious kind of moving, which was by Rebecca her selfe found to be such If it be so] fore-seeing by this prodigi that her burthen was of two brethe, which should hate, and hurt one another To enquire] By some Prophet, or by some divine revelation, in a dreame, or by some Angels message; obtained by prayers and devotion.

Genesis 25:23

Two nations] The heads of two nations, the one blessed, and the other rejected Shall be stronger] bodily, the people issuing from Jacob, the younger, shall bring into subjection, the other which issued from the Elder, 2 Sam. 8 14. 1 King. 22. 48. and spiritually the Church, little and weake in the world shall overcome by the word, and by the spirit, and by the power of God, the world, and its kingdome, represented by the wicked Idumeans, perpetuall and capitall enemies to Gods people Shall serve] Being by me bere of his right of first borne, which was to command his brethren, and all the house under his Father, Gen. 4. 7. and 49. 3. See concerning this accursed slavery, Malachi 1:3.

Genesis 25:25

Ra] That is with a red hayre all over his body Esau] That is to say, a man of his hands, valiant and of deeds, as ordinarily your red and hairy men are: Or a man already wholly formed; because that when a body is hairy; he is a man already, and not like a new borne babe.

Genesis 25:26

Tooke hold] A miraculous signe, to signifie that Jacob should in a manner strike up Esau’s heels, by getting away his birth-right: and that the Church by the only power of the spirit, should overthrow her enemies, though mightier than she.Iacob] That is to say, supplanter, or a wrestler, that striketh up ones heeles.

Genesis 25:27

Hunter] The qualities of the Children of the world, to be violent and fierce, and of the children of God to be simple and milde, are here pointed out, by the two different natures of these two brothers. See Genesis 10:9 Of the field] A man having a sociable, civill, and homely life, loving to live in the fields Dwelling] homely, stayed, and peacefull.

Genesis 25:29

Sod] All this was brought to passe by a secret providence of God, which doth not for all that cleare Jacob from all manner of deceit, and evill cunning: yet makes Esau his prophanenesse evident, in despising that which was taken from him by Gods decree, 23.

Genesis 25:30

Edom] That is to say, red; Gods people used this name more than the other: Esau in remembrance of this voluntary sale, which justified their contention against the Idumeans, their perpetuall emulators and adversaries, Amos 1:11. deriving this name more from the red pottage, than from his haire, ver. 25.

Genesis 25:31

Thy] Which in those dayes carryed the Patriarchship with it, and the first degree in the blessed race, and the dignity of the sacred function. See Genesis 4:7. Exodus 19:22. Numbers 8:16. to this is answerable the spirituall birth-right of the Church, Exodus 4:22. Jeremiah 31:9. James 1:18.

Genesis 25:32

I am at] That is to say, I am mortall, and any manner of living doth daily expose me to a thousand dangers: why should I then debarre my selfe of a present pleasure, for this imaginary dignity? Here is his prophanenesse found noted in him, Hebrews 12:16. whereby hee despised the signes, and earnests of the spirituall graces

Genesis 25:34

He did eat] This plaine relation shewe〈◊〉 Esau his security, and astonishment in his sin.