Answer: Esau was born first and thereby became legal heir to the family birthright which included, among other things, being heir to the Covenant between God and Abraham. In contrast with Esau who was a skillful hunter and his fathers favorite, Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents (Genesis 25:27), and his mother's favorite.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bible tells us that they struggled together in Rebekahs womb, a foreshadowing of their troubled relationship. Esau was born first and thereby became legal heir to the family birthright which included, among other things, being heir to the Covenant between God and Abraham. This birthright was a link in the line of descent through which the Promised Messiah was to come (Numbers 24:17-19).