11, 12. Describe the attributes of the boys Jacob and Esau as they grew up.

¹¹ The Bible record reads: “And the boys got bigger, and Esau became a man knowing how to hunt, a man of the field, but Jacob a blameless man, dwelling in tents.”​—Gen. 25:27.

¹² How do these words shed light on the attitude of the boys? They reveal what was in the heart of each. Esau was a man of hunting prowess. He spent his time out in the field learning the art of the hunter.

13. How, later, did the boys give a very strong evidence of their attitudes toward the inheritance?

¹³ Later the two boys gave stronger evidence of their attitudes. We read:

“Once Jacob was boiling up some stew, when Esau came along from the field and he was tired. So Esau said to Jacob: ‘Quick, please, give me a swallow of the red​—the red there, for I am tired!’ . . . To this Jacob said: ‘Sell me, first of all, your right as firstborn!’ And Esau continued: ‘Here I am simply going to die, and of what benefit to me is a birthright?’ And Jacob added: ‘Swear to me first of all!’ And he proceeded to swear to him and to sell his right as firstborn to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he went to eating and drinking. Then he got up and went his way.”​—Gen. 25:29-34.

A QUESTION OF APPRECIATION

14, 15. Was Jacob taking selfish advantage of Esau in buying the birthright, and how was Jehovah’s judgment vindicated by the transaction?

¹⁴ Was Jacob selfish, taking wrongful advantage of Esau? It might appear so. But consider: Did Esau really appreciate the wonderful things for which his birthright stood? He was not actually near death, as he said. This is shown by his getting up after eating and going his way. The Bible says, “he was tired.” Why was Esau motivated to do what he did? The account tells us: “So Esau despised the birthright.” The apostle Paul corroborated this statement when he called Esau one “not appreciating sacred things, . . . who in exchange for one meal gave away his rights as firstborn.”​—Gen. 25:34; Heb. 12:16.

¹⁵ All this proved God’s judgment right when, foreseeing the characteristics of the boys, he had said to their mother Rebekah before they were born: “The older will serve the younger.”​—Gen. 25:23; Rom. 9:12.

16. Why did Jacob have the right to receive the blessing of the firstborn from his father, but why, apparently, did he not take the initiative to ask for it?

¹⁶ Jacob possessed the right of firstborn now by two things: by the promise of God, and by right of purchase. But he did not yet have Isaac’s blessing upon the firstborn. Still Jacob evidently was acting unselfishly, not making any moves to get ahead of Esau in this. Undoubtedly he was waiting on Jehovah. Isaac was now blind, and not fully aware of the events occurring. No doubt moved by Jehovah to act, Rebekah, remembering God’s words to her before the boys’ birth, instructed Jacob so as to get the blessing for him.

17, 18. Show that Rebekah and Jacob were not dishonest, and that Jehovah’s hand was in the matter of Jacob’s getting the blessing.

¹⁷ In what followed, some Bible readers charge Rebekah and Jacob with trickery and dishonesty. But is it so? Who at this point really occupied the position of firstborn by every right? Who cared for the inheritance? Why did Esau withhold from Isaac knowledge of the fact that Jacob had bought the birthright, but instead tried to get the blessing for himself? Isaac, it is true, blessed Jacob, mistakenly thinking he was blessing Esau. But later he recognized that the action of Jacob and Rebekah was right. He saw the hand of Jehovah in the matter, again blessing Jacob, this time knowingly, with a prophecy concerning the “seed.” Then he gave Jacob instructions and sent him away for safety from his angry brother Esau. Additionally, God himself blessed Jacob with the promise that the “seed” would come through his line of descent.​—Genesis chap. 27; 28:1-4.

¹⁸ Further proving that Jacob’s action was not for selfish gain is the fact that he left home, not taking charge of the household property. And there is no evidence that he ever claimed his double portion. What was of surpassing value to him was the inheritance to come. He wanted God’s covenant to stay with the family. His appreciation of Jehovah and His promise overshadowed every other consideration.

19. (a) How did Jacob feel when he was about to meet up again with Esau? (b) What very unusual circumstance occurred before Jacob met Esau?

¹⁹ In contrast with the lack of appreciation that Esau had shown, the great regard that Jacob had for the inheritance of God was again made evident by something that took place when Jacob returned home twenty years later to visit his father. Jacob had reason to believe that Esau might harm him, and for this reason was somewhat fearful and cautious. He sent a gift to Esau ahead of his migrating household. If Esau accepted it, this would mean that there was peace between them. But before the meeting took place, a very unusual circumstance occurred. The Bible reports:

“Later during that night [Jacob] rose and took his two wives and his two maidservants and his eleven young sons and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. So he took them and brought them over the torrent valley, and he brought over what he had. Finally Jacob was left by himself. Then a man began to grapple with him until the dawn ascended. When he got to see that he had not prevailed over him, then he touched the socket of his thigh joint; and the socket of Jacob’s thigh joint got out of place during his grappling with him. After that he said: ‘Let me go, for the dawn has ascended.’ To this he said: ‘I am not going to let you go until you first bless me.’ So he said to him: ‘What is your name?’ to which he said: ‘Jacob.’ Then he said: ‘Your name will no longer be called Jacob but Israel, for you have contended with God and with men so that you at last prevailed.’ In turn Jacob inquired and said: ‘Tell me, please, your name.’ However, he said: ‘Why is it that you inquire for my name?’ With that he blessed him there. Hence Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, because, to quote him, ‘I have seen God face to face and yet my soul was delivered.’ And the sun began to flash upon him as soon as he passed by Penuel, but he was limping upon his thigh.”​—Gen. 32:22-31.

20. Why did Jacob grapple with the angel all night?

²⁰ Here is revealed the great difference in the attitudes of Jacob and Esau as to the inheritance. Whereas Esau would not suffer even a little hunger for the birthright, Jacob wrestled all night with an angel of God who had materialized as a man. This Jacob did in order to get a word of blessing from Jehovah through the angel.