Good Evening fellow humans. Today's reading covers the descendants of Ishmael, Isaac's Sons (including Jacob and Esau), Isaac's settlement in Gerar, a quarrel over the wells, and a covenant with Abimelech. Here are few things I would like to mention:
Jacob was holding Esau's heel when they were born. I just found that interesting.
Esau means hairy, later on he is also called Edom which means "red" because not only was his hair red, but he traded his birthright for some "red" stew.
Like father, like son; Isaac tries the same old "she is my sister" tactic, and once again Abimelech (which is a title by the way, not a person, like "King" or "Pharaoh") finds out. This time, however, he finds out by natural means instead of in a vision from God.
Although Isaac had every right to go to war with the Philistines for stopping up the wells dug by his father, he did not. He simply dug new wells, and when the locals claimed the water belonged to them, he didn't fight, he simply dug yet another well, and again the argued so he dug a third well. This is a very vivid example of Christ's later teaching in Matthew 5.
Esau married a local lady, which upset Isaac and Rebekah greatly since it went against the standard set by Abraham for Isaac.
