Jacob, Esau, and that Red Lentil Stew!

Genesis 25:19-34

Abraham’s son, Isaac, was 40 when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel and sister of Laban. Isaac prayed for his wife Rebekah since she was barren, and in Genesis 25:21, “the Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.”  There were two babies jostling around inside her, so she prayed to the Lord about what was happening. The Lord said, “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.” The first boy to come out was hairy and red, so they named him Esau. Edom also means red, so Esau is at times referred to as Edom. The second boy came out with his hand grasping Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob “he grasps the heel”, or, “he deceives”. Isaac was 60 when Rebekah gave birth to them; this was 20 years after he married Rebekah.

Esau became a skillful hunter, while Jacob was a quiet man and preferred to stay home among the tents. Their father, Isaac, had a taste for wild game, so he loved Esau; but, their mother Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau came in from the open country famished and asked Jacob for a bowl of red stew. Jacob asked for Esau’s birthright in return. Esau said, “Look! I am about to die [of hunger]…what good is the birthright to me?” Jacob made him swear an oath. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and red lentil stew. He ate and drank, then got up and left, despising his birthright.

My summary wouldn’t be complete without finding a recipe for Jacob’s red lentil stew! I came across this fascinating website, “The History Kitchen”. The author gives a wonderful history of ancient Israelite cooking, including step-by-step photos and instructions on how to prepare a historically similar red lentil stew. The lentils are red, but they turn a light brown when cooked. If the above link gives you trouble, click here. Now, if my family only enjoyed lentils, we could have a feast worthy of stealing a birthright!