Genesis 25 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

Abraham dies

1 Abraham had married another woman. Her name was Keturah. 2 She had Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah by Abraham. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The children of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All of them were members of Keturah’s family line. 5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Then he sent them away from his son Isaac. He sent them to the land of the east. 7 Abraham lived a total of 175 years. 8 He took his last breath and died when he was very old. He had lived a very long time. Then he joined the members of his family who had already died. 9 Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him. They put his body in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. It was in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite. 10 Abraham had bought the field from the Hittites. He was buried there with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac. At that time Isaac was living near Beer Lahai Roi.

The sons of Ishmael

12 Here is the story of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael by Abraham. Hagar was Sarah’s slave from Egypt. 13 Here are the names of the sons of Ishmael. They are listed in the order they were born. Nebaioth was Ishmael’s eldest son. Then came Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. 16 All of them were Ishmael’s sons. They were rulers of 12 tribes. They all lived in their own settlements and camps. 17 Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he took his last breath and died. He joined the members of his family who had already died. 18 His children settled in the area between Havilah and Shur. It was near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go towards Ashur. Ishmael’s children weren’t friendly towards any of the tribes related to them.

Jacob and Esau

19 Here is the story of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham was the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. She was the daughter of Bethuel, the Aramean from Paddan Aram. She was also the sister of Laban, the Aramean. 21 Rebekah couldn’t have children. So Isaac prayed to the LORD for her. And the LORD answered his prayer. His wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies struggled with each other inside her. She said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to ask the LORD what she should do. 23 The LORD said to her, ‘Two nations are in your body. Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated. One nation will be stronger than the other. The elder son will serve the younger one.’ 24 The time came for Rebekah to have her babies. There were twin boys in her body. 25 The first one to come out was red. His whole body was covered with hair. So they named him Esau. 26 Then his brother came out. His hand was holding onto Esau’s heel. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah had them. 27 The boys grew up. Esau became a skilful hunter. He liked the open country. But Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28 Isaac liked the meat of wild animals. So Esau was his favourite son. But Rebekah’s favourite was Jacob. 29 One day Jacob was cooking some stew. Esau came in from the open country. He was very hungry. 30 He said to Jacob, ‘Quick! I’m very hungry! Let me have some of that red stew!’ That’s why he was also named Edom. 31 Jacob replied, ‘First sell me the rights that belong to you as the eldest son in the family.’ 32 ‘Look, I’m dying of hunger,’ Esau said. ‘What good are those rights to me?’ 33 But Jacob said, ‘First promise to sell me your rights.’ So Esau promised to do it. He sold Jacob all the rights that belonged to him as the eldest son. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. Esau ate and drank. Then he got up and left. So Esau didn’t value the rights that belonged to him as the eldest son.

Nuova Riveduta 2006

from Società Biblica di Ginevra

Morte di Abraamo

1 Poi Abraamo prese un’altra moglie, di nome Chetura. 2 Questa gli partorì Zimran, Iocsan, Medan, Madian, Isbac e Suac. 3 Iocsan generò Seba e Dedan. I figli di Dedan furono gli Assurim, i Letusim e i Leummim. 4 E i figli di Madian furono Efa, Efer, Anoc, Abida ed Eldaa. Tutti questi furono i figli di Chetura. 5 Abraamo diede tutto ciò che possedeva a Isacco; 6 ma ai figli delle sue concubine fece dei doni e, mentre era ancora in vita, li mandò lontano da suo figlio Isacco, verso levante, nella terra d’Oriente. 7 La durata della vita di Abraamo fu di centossettantacinque anni. 8 Poi Abraamo spirò in prospera vecchiaia, attempato e sazio di giorni, e fu riunito al suo popolo. 9 Isacco e Ismaele, suoi figli, lo seppellirono nella grotta di Macpela nel campo di Efron, figlio di Soar l’Ittita, di fronte a Mamre: 10 campo che Abraamo aveva comprato dai figli di Chet. Lì furono sepolti Abraamo e sua moglie Sara. 11 Dopo la morte di Abraamo, Dio benedisse suo figlio Isacco; e Isacco abitò presso il pozzo di Lacai-Roi.

Discendenti d’Ismaele

12 Or questi sono i discendenti d’Ismaele, figlio di Abraamo, che Agar l’Egiziana, serva di Sara, aveva partorito ad Abraamo. 13 Questi sono i nomi dei figli d’Ismaele, secondo le loro generazioni: Nebaiot, il primogenito d’Ismaele; poi Chedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Misma, Duma, Massa, 15 Adad, Tema, Ietur, Nafis e Chedma. 16 Questi sono i figli d’Ismaele e questi i loro nomi, secondo i loro villaggi e i loro accampamenti. Furono i dodici capi dei loro popoli. 17 Gli anni della vita d’Ismaele furono centotrentasette; poi morì, e fu riunito al suo popolo. 18 I suoi figli abitarono da Avila fino a Sur, che è di fronte all’Egitto, andando verso l’Assiria. Egli si era stabilito di fronte a tutti i suoi fratelli.

Discendenti d’Isacco

19 Questi sono i discendenti d’Isacco, figlio di Abraamo. 20 Abraamo generò Isacco; Isacco aveva quarant’anni quando prese per moglie Rebecca, figlia di Betuel, l’Arameo di Paddan-Aram^[1], e sorella di Labano l’Arameo. 21 Isacco implorò il Signore per sua moglie Rebecca, perché ella era sterile. Il Signore lo esaudì e Rebecca, sua moglie, concepì. 22 I bambini si urtavano nel suo grembo ed ella disse: «Se così è, perché vivo?» E andò a consultare il Signore. 23 Il Signore le disse: «Due nazioni sono nel tuo grembo e due popoli separati usciranno dal tuo seno. Uno dei due popoli sarà più forte dell’altro, e il maggiore servirà il minore». 24 Quando venne per lei il tempo di partorire, ecco che lei aveva due gemelli nel grembo. 25 Il primo che nacque era rosso e peloso come un mantello di pelo. Così fu chiamato Esaù^[2]. 26 Dopo nacque suo fratello, che con la mano teneva il calcagno di Esaù e fu chiamato Giacobbe^[3]. Isacco aveva sessant’anni quando Rebecca li partorì.

Esaù vende il suo diritto di primogenitura

27 I due bambini crebbero. Esaù divenne un esperto cacciatore, un uomo di campagna, e Giacobbe un uomo tranquillo che se ne stava nelle tende. 28 Isacco amava Esaù, perché la cacciagione era di suo gusto. Rebecca invece amava Giacobbe. 29 Or mentre Giacobbe faceva cuocere una minestra, Esaù sopraggiunse dai campi, tutto stanco. 30 Esaù disse a Giacobbe: «Dammi per favore da mangiare un po’ di questa minestra rossa, perché sono stanco». Perciò fu chiamato Edom^[4]. 31 Giacobbe gli rispose: «Vendimi prima di tutto la tua primogenitura^[5]». 32 Esaù disse: «Ecco, io sto morendo; a che mi serve la primogenitura?» 33 Giacobbe disse: «Prima, giuramelo». Esaù glielo giurò e vendette la sua primogenitura a Giacobbe. 34 Allora Giacobbe diede a Esaù del pane e della minestra di lenticchie. Egli mangiò e bevve; poi si alzò e se ne andò. Fu in questo modo che Esaù disprezzò la primogenitura.