Esau

By Mary Jane Chaignot

Categories: Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, Men in the Old Testament

Rebekah is barren until Isaac prays for her.
She becomes pregnant with twins and the two babies “struggle together” in her womb.
In her despair, she “inquires of the Lord.”
The Lord tells her that “two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.”
Esau is born first, the elder.
He is “red, all over like a hairy garment.” • His name might mean “hairy” or “red.” “Hairy” is a play on the word Seir. “Red” means Edom. Esau becomes the ancestor of Edom in Seir.
Jacob is his twin.
Esau is described as “a cunning hunter, a man of the field.”
One day he returns from the field and is starving.
He sees that Jacob has made a pot of red lentil soup and asks for some.
Jacob says first he must sell him his birthright.
A birthright recognizes the firstborn and gives him authority over the family.
As firstborn, Esau is the real heir and Isaac’s successor. Readers already know that Jacob will be given that privilege.
Esau says his birthright is of no use to him if he dies of hunger.
Jacob makes him take an oath; he does.
Esau despises his birthright.
When Esau is forty, he marries two Hittite women, Judith and Basemath.
This greatly displeases his parents.
One day Isaac calls Esau to him and says, “Bring me venison and prepare for me savory food, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
Rebekah overhears Isaac and, while Esau is out hunting, orchestrates an elaborate ruse so Jacob is able to steal Esau’s blessing.
Right after Isaac blesses Jacob, Esau returns from the field.
Isaac tells him he has already blessed Jacob.
Esau cries out with a bitter cry and asks for another blessing.
Isaac blesses Esau: “Your abode shall enjoy the fat of the earth and the dew of heaven above. Yet by your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restive, you shall break his yoke from your neck.”
Esau hates Jacob and vows to kill him as soon as Isaac is gone.
In order to save her sons, Rebekah convinces Jacob to leave to go to her brother’s house in Haran.
Esau marries Ishmael’s daughter, Mahalath, hoping to please his parents.
Shortly thereafter, with his three wives, all his children, and his belongings, Esau goes to Seir.
Eventually Esau has five sons.
Little is known about his life there, until Jacob and his entourage are on their way back to the Promised Land.
Jacob worries about meeting Esau.
He sends messengers to Esau.
The messengers return to Jacob and tell him that Esau is coming with 400 men.
Jacob assumes the worst, so he sends waves of gifts to Esau.
He hopes to curry favor with Esau so that he will be forgiven.
The next day they meet.
Esau gives him a big embrace and falls on his neck and weeps.
Initially, Esau refuses Jacob’s gifts, saying he is very wealthy and that he has all he needs.
Jacob keeps insisting and eventually Esau relents.
The brothers reconcile, but Jacob never actually apologizes for his actions.
Jacob does, however, bow down to Esau.
Esau forgives Jacob.
He wants to escort Jacob back to Seir where he lives.
Jacob agrees and persuades Esau to go on ahead because he can travel much faster.
Esau leaves, but Jacob and his entourage go in the opposite direction.
Esau and Jacob meet again when they come together to bury their father, Isaac.
Esau is the progenitor of Edom, an avowed enemy of Israel.
According to the prophet, Obadiah, the Edomites participate in the destruction of the first Temple in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, possibly by encouraging the Babylonians.
Over time, the Edomites are awarded full responsibility for its destruction.
In Malachi 1:2-3, God states, “Jacob, I loved but Esau I hated.” In this case, God is referring to the nations, not the sons themselves.
In the New Testament, Esau is disparaged for thoughtlessly throwing away his birthright.
Hebrews 12 states that Esau is immoral and unreligious.
According to legends found in the Babylonian Talmud, Esau dies at the hand of Jacob’s sons.
Apparently, he does not want Jacob buried at the cave of Machpelah.
Jacob’s sons believe Esau sold his right to burial in the cave when he gave his birthright to Jacob.
In order to resolve the dispute, Naphtali goes to get documents that recorded their agreement.
While things are still pending, Dan takes a club and kills Esau.
Jewish tradition always portrays Esau in a negative light.

Bible Characters