1 Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah,
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 The holy Apostle always furnishes us with occasions for spiritual understanding and, though few, nevertheless shows to the diligent the necessary indications by which it may be recognized in all things that "the law is spiritual." He himself, then, in discussing Abraham and Sarah, says in a certain place: "He was not weakened in faith," he says, "when he considered his own body…
Jerome · AD 420 (Chapter 25, Verse 1) And Abraham added and took another wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. And Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 As for those who prefer to read no symbolic meanings into such facts, they still have no ground of complaint against Abraham.
2 and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites.
4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.
5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.
6 But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 If then we are the sons of the free Jerusalem, let us realize that some gifts belong to those who are disinherited; others, to the heirs. For they are heirs to whom it is said, "You have not received a spirit of bondage so as to be again in fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by virtue of which we cry: 'Abba! Father!' "
7 Abraham lived a total of 175 years.
Bede · AD 735 Isaac, the son of the promise, was born in Abraham's hundredth [year], because the blessing of the inheritance that is promised to all the families of the earth through his seed will doubtless be conferred in the heavenly homeland that is to come.
8 And at a ripe old age he breathed his last and died, old and contented, and was gathered to his people.
Jerome · AD 420 I am reviewing carefully the places in Scripture where I might find old age mentioned for the first time. Adam lived for 930 years, yet he is not called an old man. Methuselah's life was 969 years, and he is not called an old man. I am coming down all the way to the flood, and after the flood for almost three thousand years, and I find no one who has been called old.
9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.
10 This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Yet the bodies of the dead, especially of the just and faithful, are not to be despised or cast aside. The soul has used them as organs and vessels for all good work in a holy manner.
11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 "And it came to pass," it says, "after Abraham died, the Lord blessed Isaac his son, and he dwelt at the well of vision." Concerning the death of Abraham, what more must we say than what the word of the Lord in the gospels contains, saying: "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read how he says in the bush: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the G…
12 This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham.
13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 13) And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations. The firstborn of Ishmael was Nebaioth, and Kedar, and the rest, up to the place where it is said: They lived from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt as you go towards Assyria. He fell in the sight of all his brothers.
14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names by their villages and encampments—twelve princes of their tribes.
17 Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
18 Ishmael’s descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which is near the border of Egypt as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.
19 This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac,
20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.
21 Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 At every single reading, "when Moses is read," we must pray to the Father of the Word, that He may fulfill even in us that which is written in the Psalms: "unveil my eyes, and I will consider the wonders of your law." For unless He Himself opens our eyes, how shall we be able to see these so great mysteries that are shaped in the Patriarchs, which are figured now in wells, now…
John Chrysostom · AD 407 These things are told for our benefit so that we may give evidence of much goodwill and not pry into God's plans. Yet we need to explain the reason why these women were barren. What, then, is the reason? So that when you see the Virgin giving birth to our common Lord you may not be incredulous.
Bede · AD 735 Thus Isaac, the son of the promise, who as a figure of our Redeemer became obedient to his father even unto death, was born of parents who were old. He had a mother who had long been barren.
22 But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD,
Tertullian · AD 220 The very vitals of Rebekah are stirred, though the child is a long way from birth and there is no breath of air. Behold, the twin offspring struggles in the womb of their mother, though there yet is no sign of the two nations.
Ephrem the Syrian · AD 373 "God blessed Isaac," and Isaac prayed for Rebekah, who was barren. After twenty years God heard him, and she conceived. Her sons struggled together within her womb. She went to inquire of the Lord, and it was told her, "Two nations are in your womb," that is, the Edomite and Hebrew nations. To whom did she go to inquire?
Caesarius of Arles · AD 542 Almost everyone accepts the fact that blessed Isaac represented a type of the Lord our Savior. Therefore Isaac prefigured Christ and blessed Rebekah the church, because although like the church she remained sterile for a long time, she conceived through the prayer of blessed Isaac and the Lord's gift.
23 and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Romans · AD 56 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 We must now take a look at the history of the city of God, as it takes its course from this point on among the descendants of Abraham. In the period from Isaac's birth to his seventieth year, when his first children were born, there is one memorable fact: He asked God that his wife, who was barren, might bear him a child.
Cosmas Indicopleustes · AD 550 Eighthly, a second time through Isaac and Rebecca, when twins were born, it was said: The elder shall serve the younger, thereby again showing there are two states, one of bondage and the other of freedom.
24 When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 "And her days were fulfilled," it says, "that she should bring forth, and there were twins in her belly." This saying, that is, "her days were fulfilled that she should bring forth," is almost never written except of holy women. For this was said of this Rebekah, and of Elizabeth the mother of John, and of Mary the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
25 The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 "And the firstborn son came forth," it says, "ruddy, and all hairy like a hide. And she called his name Esau. And afterward his brother came forth, and his hand was entwined about the heel of Esau; and he called his name Jacob." Another Scripture recounts of these that "Jacob supplanted his brother in the womb," and the indication of this thing is that his hand was entwined abo…
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 25) And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was threescore years old when Rebekah bare them.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Two twins were born at so short an interval of time that the second had a hold on the foot of the first. Yet they were so unlike in their lives, character, conduct and the love their parents bore them that this unlikeness made them enemies one of the other.
26 After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 In addition, because [Christ] supplanted the activity of the adversary and because he alone sees the Father, he is "Jacob" and "Israel" when he has become man. As we become light because he is the light of the world, so we become Jacob because he is called "Jacob" and Israel because he is named "Israel."
Gregory of Nyssa · AD 395 An example might be found in the patriarch Isaac. He married Rebecca when he was past the flower of his age and his prime was well-nigh spent, so that his marriage was not the deed of passion, but because of God's blessing that should be upon his seed.
27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.
Philoxenus of Mabbug · AD 523 And the history of Jacob and Esau testifieth. "Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field, and Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in a tent," and from their works we are able to understand the difference of their characters. In all places the Scriptures call Esau cunning and crafty, and one who layeth up anger, and keepeth wrath.
28 Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Ambrose of Milan · AD 397 However, even parents should not be excused for abandoning us, because they have preferred a younger son to an older one. At the same time, care must be taken that no one, while following their example, has an unfair judgment between their children; so that they think one should be loved, the other should be disregarded.
29 One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished.
30 He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 30) And Esau said to Jacob: Give me a taste of that red stew, for I am famished. That is why he was called Edom. Red or tawny is called Edom in the Hebrew language. Therefore, from the fact that he sold his birthright for red food, he obtained the name Edom, which means tawny.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Let frugality be joined to fasting. Just as overeating is to be censured, so stimulants of the appetite must be eliminated. It is not that certain kinds of food are to be detested but that bodily pleasure is to be checked. Esau was censured not for having desired a fat calf or plump birds but for having coveted a dish of lentils.
31 “First sell me your birthright,” Jacob replied.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 This vice of gluttony delivered Adam up to death; by the pleasure of the appetite consummate evil was brought into the world. Through it Noah was mocked, Canaan was cursed, Esau was deprived of his birthright and married into a Canaanite family. Lot became his own son-in-law and father-in-law, by marrying his own daughter.
Ambrose of Milan · AD 397 Reason would then curtail the attractions of gluttony and the other excessive desires and would check the passions and emotions of the body. Therefore temperance comes before correction and is the mistress of learning.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 I have already put it to your holinesses yesterday that the reason why the elder son is called Esau is that no one becomes spiritual without first having been "of the flesh" or materialistic. But if they persist in "the mind of the flesh," they will always be Esau. If, however, they become spiritual, they will then be the younger son.
32 “Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”
33 “Swear to me first,” Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright.
Philoxenus of Mabbug · AD 523 Esau, because of his meat, cast away the birthright together with the blessings, and he became a slave unto sin, and one who was subject under the hand of his brother.
34 Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to Esau, who ate and drank and then got up and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Ephrem the Syrian · AD 373 Jacob saw that the right of the firstborn was despised by Esau, and he contrived to take it from him, trusting in God who had said, "The elder shall serve the younger." Jacob boiled some lentils, and "Esau came home famished after hunting and said to Jacob, 'Let me eat some of that red pottage,' " that is, "Let me eat some of your lentils." "Jacob said to him, 'Give me your bir…
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Listening to this, however, let us learn the lesson never to neglect the gifts from God or forfeit important things for worthless trifles.