A25 Other Descendants Of Abraham Poem by Simple Simon

A25 Other Descendants Of Abraham

Rating: 5.0


When Sarah, his first wife, had died,
Another lady, Abraham married.
Keturah was her name.
And many sons, she bore for him.

All the assets of his own,
He left to Isaac, his son.
But gave presents to those sons,
Who were thro' other wife, born.

He sent those sons Far East,
Away from Isaac's sight,
And saw, everyone thrive,
When he was still alive.

The Death and Burial
of Abraham

One hundred years and
Seventy-five had passed.
His life at a ripe old age:
It ended at that stage.

In the cave, he was buried
With his first wife, side by side.
Isaac and Ishmael, both his sons,
Performed for him last rites.

Ishmael had twelve sons,
Who, in turn, had many sons.
As twelve tribes they grouped
Far and wide, they had spread.

When at the age of one hundred
And thirty-seven, he died.
His many descendants lived;
East of Egypt, they stayed.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

When Isaac was forty years old,
And Rebecca he had married,
For years, she had no children;
So, she prayed to God for one.

God blessed her with twins
Who gave her severe pains,
Right from the time,
They were in womb!

She queried, 'Why this pain
I should suffer in vain? '
God said, 'They are rivals
And will form two nations.'

'One will remain stronger,
And other one weaker.
But in turn, the older
Will serve the one, younger.'

She gave birth to the twins.
They turned out to be sons.
And reddish was first son,
With hairy robe-like skin.

Esau was the first son
And Jacob, the next one.
When the two were born,
Isaac was sixty then.

Esau Sells His Rights
As the First-Born Son

The two boys grew up well.
Esau soon showed his skill,
As hunter and trained well,
Animals many, he did kill.

Isaac just loved to eat,
What Esau brought as meat;
More he liked the first son;
His selfishness was the reason.

Jacob was calm at home,
Not going out to roam,
Rebecca preferred him.
More love, she showed him.

One day, while Jacob was cooking,
(Some soup of beans, he was making)
Esau returned from his hunting,
And told Jacob, 'I am starving! '

Jacob asked, 'What do you want?
I'll give you soup: you meet my want.
Your birth-rights you forfeit to me
As you were first born before me.

In hunger Esau then asked,
'When I’m dying for some food,
My rights will do me what kind of good? '
For his vow, Jacob still insisted.

So Esau made his vow,
'I give my rights all now,
If you want, you take them;
But give me food wholesome.'

Jacob gave him bread,
With also soup as food,
Which Esau ate and left,
Not minding lost birth-right!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Sandra Fowler 31 August 2006

Excellent work, Simon. I appreciate the simple beauty of these verses..These great Bible stories are so clear and readable that even a child could understand them, This can only be a good thing. Kindest regards, Sandra

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Poetry Hound 31 August 2006

I don't get it, 'Simon.' It looks like you're just reciting Bible stories. Is there some original twist to this? Regards.

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