Gen.25:2. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

These were half-brothers with Ishmael (Arab peoples), but not the 'seed of Promise', which was and still is, Isaac.

     As can possibly be seen today, with the conflicts between the Arab peoples and the Nation state of Israel, since Ishmael was Abraham's 'firstborn', and the 'birthright' is to go to the 'firstborn' by Law, Ishmael feels cheated out of his birthright, and wishes to claim It.

These are part of the reasons why the Palestinians have refused to declare Israel as a Nation, and are so vehemently opposed to Israelites, including Christians. It's an 'old wound' that will not be healed until Shiloh (Christ) returns.

The Promise Continues in Jacob

      At Genesis 25:19, the 'seed of the Promise' continues, as Isaac's wife Rebekah, births twins Jacob and Esau the firstborn. Because of the struggle within Rebekah's womb she asks of God why:

Gen 25:23   And the LORD said unto her, "Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger."

       These two children of Jacob (supplanter or contender), and Esau (hairy, rough) being the firstborn, represented 'two nations', Jacob becoming re-named 'Israel' and father of the twelve Patriarchs of Israel (God prevails),

Esau would become the nation 'Edom' meaning 'red' in the Hebrew.

 Gen.25:30.And Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am feint:” therefore was his name called Edom.

 If you haven't read and understood how and why Esau, who was the firstborn of Isaac and Rebekah, lost his birthright to the younger Jacob, I suggest you cover it.

Gen.25-28: Read All. Esau despised his 'birthright' and sold it as 'wares' to Jacob, for a bowl of 'red pottage' beans. This is not the way to treat a heritage which Jehovah Almighty gives as a blessing. For this reason, the 'birthright' was to go to Jacob, Esau's younger brother. It took a little craftiness on the part of Rebekah and Jacob, but it was God's Plan.

     In Malachi 1:3, God stated that He 'loved Jacob', but 'hated Esau'. The word 'hate' is 'sane'' in the Hebrew meaning 'to hate (personally)' (Strong's no. 8130), so it did not mean that God just preferred Jacob, no, God literally 'hated' Esau. Paul tells us more of the conditions for this in...

 Romans 9: Read All.

Rom 9:10   And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11    (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of