Now Rebecca was barren, and Isaac prayed to the Lord for her. And the Lord answered his prayer, and Rebecca conceived. And when it was time for her to give birth, twins came out of her womb. And the first one was red and hairy like a fur cloak; so they named him Esau, The Shaggy One. And then his brother came out, with one hand grasping Esau’s heel; so they named him Jacob, Heel-Grasper.
And when the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter, a man of the open country, and Jacob was a peaceful man who stayed near the tents. And Isaac loved Esau because he brought him venison to eat; but Rebecca loved Jacob.
One day, as Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came back from hunting, and he was famished. And he said to Jacob, “Give me a heap of that red stuff: I’m famished.”
And Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.”
And Esau said, “I am dying of hunger: what good is my birthright to me?”
And Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him and sold him his birthright. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went away. That is how Esau showed how little he valued his birthright.