37 years passed between Jacob's acquisition of the birthright and his later reception of the blessing.
In [Clip 7] Les establishes that Jacob and Esau were 24 years old when Jacob traded food for the birthright. In [Clip 1] he notes they were 77 years old at the time of the blessing. The interval between those two events is 37 years. Les also specifically says in [Clip 1] that there was no enmity between them during that long period because Esau cared nothing for the birthright.
Genesis 25:29-34 — Records the incident of Jacob obtaining Esau's birthright for a bowl of soup.
Genesis 27:1-40 — Records the later event when Jacob received the blessing from Isaac.
Scripture records two distinct events in the life of Jacob and Esau: the transfer of the birthright in exchange for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25:29-34), and the later bestowal of Isaac's blessing upon Jacob (Genesis 27:1-40). The Bible does not state the ages of the twins at the birthright, but it does record that Esau was forty years old when he took wives from the Hittites (Genesis 26:34). That chronological marker, combined with the later events in Genesis 27, allows students of Scripture to determine the length of time between the two events. The birthright itself was despised by Esau, and the blessing was the inheritance blessing spoken by Isaac.
Les Feldick emphasizes that many readers assume the birthright and the blessing happened close together, but the Bible's own timeline shows a 37-year gap. In [Clip 7] he points out that at the time of the soup trade, the twins were 24 years old. He then shows that Esau married at 40 (16 years after the birthright), and that the blessing occurred when the boys were 77, making the total interval 37 years. In [Clip 1] he uses this long gap to explain why the blessing mattered so much more to Esau: during all that time there was no animosity over the birthright because Esau didn't care about it, but the blessing was a material matter affecting his inheritance. Les also notes in [Clip 2] that Jacob had only a spiritual glimpse of the value of the birthright and blessing, while Esau was destitute of faith.
Les Feldick teaches that the twins were 24 years old when Esau came in from the field famished and sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of bean soup. He tells listeners they can mark 24 in the margin of their Bible at that point [Clip 7].
Les Feldick says there was no hostility between the brothers over the birthright during the entire period from age 24 to age 77. Esau did not care about the birthright, so it did not cause turmoil or hard feelings [Clip 1]. The blessing, however, was a different matter because it involved the double portion of the material estate — something Esau cared about deeply [Clip 1].
Les teaches that although Jacob seemed to connive to get everything away from Esau, it was in God's sovereign plan from the beginning. He points to God's answer to Rebekah when the twins struggled within her, showing that God had already declared the older would serve the younger [Clip 3]. He also emphasizes that Esau deserved neither the birthright nor the blessing because he had no faith, and he showed his unbelief by marrying Canaanite women [Clip 4].
Jacob & Esau: The Sovereignty of God in the Birthright & Blessing | Genesis 25-27
his wife Sarah to bring about the childish male. Now that was all done in the energy of the flesh, and yet what was it in? It was in God's sovereign plan. And so keep these things in mind now as we go back to chapter 27 and pick up now the stolen blessing. But before we look at the Scripture, I just want to lay this out on the board before we get started, just a brief outline of the time element.
Esau's Attitude at the Blessing
Les explicitly contrasts the 37-year period of no enmity over the birthright with Esau's sudden distress over the blessing, which he calls the double portion of the material estate.
Jacob's Faith vs. Esau's Destitution
Les explains that Jacob had just a flicker of faith that made the birthright and blessing worth obtaining, while Esau was destitute of faith — which is why the birthright meant nothing to him.
God's Sovereign Choice Before Birth
Les points out that God's sovereign plan had already chosen Jacob over Esau before they were born, so Jacob's later actions in getting the birthright and blessing were in line with God's purpose.
Esau's Unworthiness
Les argues that Esau deserved neither the birthright nor the blessing because he had no faith and was immoral, marrying among the Hittites and Canaanites.
What Does the Bible Say About Deception? Jacob, Esau, and the Stolen Blessing.
Well now the first time, that wasn't Jacob's fault. That was Esau's own asking. But nevertheless, he puts it in words. And he says, He took away my birthright. Now that's not true. Jacob didn't take it away. He just simply was in a position where he could say, Now Esau, I've got this food that you want, but I'm not going to give it to you for nothing. Sell me your birthright.
Why God Led Israel the Long Way: The Red Sea & The Pillar of Fire
And again, after the last taping, I read the Jerusalem Post, and one of the rabbis' articles used again the same year's number, 215 years, from the time that Jacob came in until—now look at the next verse, verse 41—and it came to pass at the end of the 430 years.
Ages at the Birthright
Les identifies that the twins were 24 years old at the famished Esau episode, providing the crucial starting point for the 37-year calculation.
Genesis 25:29-30: And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
This is the passage where the famished Esau asks for the red stew, leading to the sale of the birthright.
Genesis 25:31-34: And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
The actual transaction of the birthright for a bowl of pottage, showing Esau's contempt for it.
Genesis 26:34: And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
This verse provides a chronological anchor that helps Les calculate the 37-year gap, since Esau married at 40 and the boys were 24 at the birthright.
Genesis 27:1-4: And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
This begins the blessing event, which Les places when the twins were 77 years old.
Les Feldick teaches that they were 24 years old at the time Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of bean soup [Clip 7]. This is based on the observation that Esau was 40 when he married [Clip 7].
Les Feldick indicates they were 77 years old at the time of the stolen blessing [Clip 1]. This means the blessing came 37 years after the birthright transaction.
No, Les says there was no enmity or hard feelings over the birthright during the 37-year period because Esau did not care about the birthright. It only became an issue when the blessing, which involved the material inheritance, was given to Jacob [Clip 1].
Les Feldick teaches that Esau deserved neither because he had no faith and was an immoral man who married Canaanite women [Clip 4]. He was not cheated or rooked because the sovereign plan of God had already determined that the older would serve the younger [Clip 3].