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THE STORY OF JACOB
After Abraham died, his son Isaac lived in the land of Canaan. Like his
father, Isaac had his home in a tent; around him were the tents of his
people, and many flocks of sheep and herds of cattle feeding wherever
they could find grass to eat and water to drink.
Isaac and his wife Rebekah had two children. The older was named Esau
and the younger Jacob.
Esau was a man of the woods and very fond of hunting; and he was rough
and covered with hair.
Jacob was quiet and thoughtful, staying at home, dwelling in a tent, and
caring for the flocks of his father.
Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob, because Esau brought to his father
that which he had killed in his hunting; but Rebekah liked Jacob,
because she saw that he was wise and careful in his work.
Among the people in those lands, when a man dies, his older son receives
twice as much as the younger of what the father has owned. This was
called his "birthright," for it was his right as the oldest born. So
Esau, as the older, had a "birthright" to more of Isaac's possessions
than Jacob. And besides this, there was the privilege of the promise of
God that the family of Isaac should receive great blessings.
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