And the LORD told her, 'The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.'
Rebekah, Isaac's wife, was experiencing a difficult pregnancy, and she inquired of the LORD. God revealed to her that she was carrying twins who would become two nations, and that the older would serve the younger.
complete
Fulfilled inGenesis 27:29, 2 Samuel 8:14
This prophecy is fulfilled in the lives of Esau and Jacob. Jacob, the younger, receives the blessing intended for Esau, the older, and becomes the father of the Israelites. The Edomites, descendants of Esau, later serve the Israelites, fulfilling the prophecy.
This prophecy underscores God's sovereign choice and the theme of the reversal of human expectations, where God often chooses the unlikely candidate to fulfill His purposes.