21 Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
22 When the children inside her were struggling with each other, she said, “If it’s like this now, what will become of me?” So she went to ask the Lord.
23 The Lord said to her,“Two countries are in your womb.Two nations will go their separate ways from birth.One nation will be stronger than the other,and the older will serve the younger.”
24 When the time came for her to give birth, she had twins.
25 The first one born was red. His whole body was covered with hair, so they named him Esau [Hairy].
26 Afterwards, his brother was born with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, and so he was named Jacob [Heel]. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.
27 They grew up. Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman. Jacob remained a quiet man, staying around the tents.