Genesis 4:20

4:20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first ¹  of those who live in tents and keep ²  livestock.

Genesis 25:27

25:27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled ³  hunter, a man of the open fields, but Jacob was an even-tempered man, living in tents. ⁴ 

Jeremiah 49:29

49:29 Their tents and their flocks will be taken away.

Their tent curtains, equipment, and camels will be carried off.

People will shout ⁵  to them,

‘Terror is all around you!’” ⁶ 

[4:20]  ¹ tn Heb “father.” In this passage the word “father” means “founder,” referring to the first to establish such lifestyles and occupations.

[4:20]  ² tn The word “keep” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation. Other words that might be supplied instead are “tend,” “raise” (NIV), or “have” (NRSV).

[25:27]  ³ tn Heb “knowing.”

[25:27]  ⁴ tn The disjunctive clause juxtaposes Jacob with Esau and draws attention to the striking contrasts. In contrast to Esau, a man of the field, Jacob was civilized, as the phrase “living in tents” signifies. Whereas Esau was a skillful hunter, Jacob was calm and even-tempered (תָּם, tam), which normally has the idea of “blameless.”

[49:29]  ⁵ tn Or “Let their tents…be taken….Let their tent…be carried…. Let people shout….”

[49:29]  ⁶ sn This expression is a favorite theme in the book of Jeremiah. It describes the terrors of war awaiting the people of Judah and Jerusalem (6:25), the Egyptians at Carchemish (46:5), and here the Kedarites.