Interesting Facts

• Esau was born red all over and hairy, leading to the name Esau, meaning “completed from the womb”.
• Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob, while Abraham and Rebekah favored Jacob.
• Esau despised his birthright, exchanging it with Jacob for red pottage, which led to his other name, Edom.
• Esau was a skilled hunter and a valiant man.
• Esau killed Nimrod.

Genealogy

• Esau was the son of Isaac and Rebekah.
• He was the elder twin brother of Jacob.
• Esau married multiple wives: Judith and Bashemath, daughters of Hittites; Adah (formerly Bosmath), daughter of Elon the Hittite; Mahalath (also called Machlath), daughter of Ishmael; and Aholibamah, daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite.
• Esau had several sons with his wives: Reuel with Bashemath; and Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah with Aholibamah. Eliphaz was the firstborn son of Esau.
• Esau’s grandchildren included Timnah, Alvah, and Jetheth (sons of Jeush); Alah, Phinor, and Kenaz (sons of Jaalam); and Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Eram (sons of Korah). Amalek was born to Eliphaz and his concubine Timna.
• Esau gave his daughters in marriage to the sons of Seir the Horite, including Marzith to Anah and Puith to Azar.
• Esau’s descendants are referred to as the Edomites.

Historical Context

During Esau’s lifetime, significant events shaped the world around him. The narratives place his life after Abraham and concurrent with his brother Jacob. The rise and fall of Nimrod’s kingdom was a notable event, with Esau himself playing a role in Nimrod’s demise. There was a clear distinction drawn between the lineage of Abraham and the surrounding Canaanite and other nations, with emphasis on not intermarrying or adopting their customs. The land of Canaan was designated as the inheritance of Abraham’s seed through Isaac and Jacob. Esau’s choice to marry outside this lineage and his general unrighteousness are contrasted with Jacob’s obedience and perceived favor with God. The conflict over the inheritance and birthright created tension between Esau and Jacob, which extended to their descendants. The Horites inhabited the land of Seir, with whom Esau and his descendants interacted and eventually displaced.

Narrative

Esau’s story is marked by key decisions that define his character. His willingness to trade his birthright for immediate gratification reveals a lack of foresight and spiritual inclination. Despite Isaac’s initial favoritism, Esau’s actions, such as his marriages to Canaanite women, caused grief to his parents and demonstrated a disregard for their beliefs. The conflict with Jacob over Isaac’s blessing and the inheritance became a central theme, leading to Esau’s hatred and desire for revenge. However, Jacob’s eventual show of wealth upon returning from Laban, coupled with divine intervention through angels, initially deterred Esau from violence. Later, after Isaac’s death, the tension resurfaced, with Esau’s sons seeking to avenge their father’s perceived loss of the elder’s portion. This ultimately led to conflict, culminating in Esau’s death at the hands of Jacob or his lineage during Jacob’s burial. Even in death, Esau attempted to claim the burial cave for himself, highlighting his persistent contention with Jacob’s family. Following Esau’s death, his descendants, the Edomites, continued to have conflicts with Jacob’s descendants, engaging in battles and seeking to assert their dominance, including conflicts with the Horites in Seir, whom they eventually displaced. The narrative portrays Esau and his lineage as distinct from and often in opposition to Jacob and his descendants, particularly concerning the promised inheritance of the land of Canaan. Even alliances formed by Esau’s descendants, such as with Zepho against Egypt and the children of Jacob, indicate a continued animosity.