Once upon a time, in a land far away, twin brothers were born.

They could not have been more different: The firstborn, Esau, was red and hairy; Jacob, the younger of the twins, was pale and smooth.

Oh, these twins were a big deal: Their birth had been prophesied to their mother, Rebekah:

Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels; And the one people shall be stronger than the other people; And the elder shall serve the younger…

As they grew, their differences became even more apparent. Esau was a rough-and-rowdy, rugged man’s man: he loved to hunt and roam and live fearlessly, reveling in unrestrained freedom and wild adventures. Bent on self-indulgence, he wanted nothing more than to do exactly as he pleased.

And it was no secret that he was his father’s favorite.

Jacob, on the other hand, was quieter, gentler, and liked to stick close to home, tending to the flocks and the soil, helping out in the kitchen, and probably helping out with the decorating and the embroidery too. Naturally, his mama liked him the best, as mamas of mama’s boys tend to like their boys a little bit soft …

…and I’m guessing his daddy probably frowned a little at how sissified his boy was.

Well, back in these days, the eldest son was entitled to special privileges. A birthright. An inheritance. The privilege of being the family patriarch.

And this birthright was a big deal.

So naturally, Esau being the oldest, he lucked into the rights and privileges that went along with it.

Or, rather, was given this blessing by God. Luck had nothing to do with it.

The birthright: It was Esau’s. Naturally. And yet… Jacob wanted it.

And Jacob’s mama thought her baby boy should have it, what with Esau being so… rough around the edges and all. So the two of them connived a wicked scheme to obtain the birthright for Jacob.

~~~~~
Esau had spent his day as he usually did: roaming in the wilderness, scratching, grunting, spearing animals, and just reveling in his manhood.

Which makes a boy hungry.

He finally came wandering home, famished, spent, and was greeted by the delicious aroma of …. something cooking.

Jacob was cooking some soup. And IT. SMELLED. DIVINE.

Esau, starving, wanted that soup more than life itself.  Or… at least more than his birthright.

And Jacob saw his opportunity to prey upon Esau’s moment of weakness: I’ll trade you some soup for the birthright, he said, coyly…

Well HECK YES! agreed Esau, ANYTHING to fill his belly with that delicious soup… for he… was… HUNGRY.