After Sarah died, Abraham married Keturah, and they had six sons. Before he died at 175, Abraham gave gifts to Keturah and her sons and sent them to the East, leaving all his possessions to Isaac. Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham with Sarah.

Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, was initially childless, but after Isaac prayed, she conceived twins. Near birth, she felt intense struggle inside and asked God why. God said two nations were in her womb, with the older serving the younger. The firstborn, Esau, was red and hairy; the second, Jacob, held Esau’s heel at birth. Isaac was 60 then.

Esau became a skilled hunter, while Jacob preferred home life. Rebekah loved Jacob; Isaac favoured Esau for his wild game. One day, Esau, exhausted and hungry, traded his birthright to Jacob for a pot of stew, swearing the birthright was Jacob’s.

When Isaac grew blind, he planned to bless Esau. Rebekah overheard and instructed Jacob to deceive Isaac by pretending to be Esau. Jacob wore Esau’s clothes and goatskins to mimic his brother’s hairy arms. Isaac, though suspicious, blessed Jacob, believing him to be Esau, granting him prosperity and dominion over his brothers.

Esau returned with food, but Isaac confirmed he had already blessed Jacob and could not revoke it. Esau, furious, vowed to kill Jacob after Isaac’s death. Rebekah warned Jacob to flee to her brother’s house for safety and arranged Isaac’s approval for him to find a wife there.