but Esau I have hated
This phrase reflects the divine choice and rejection seen in the narrative of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. In Genesis 25:23, God foretells that "the older will serve the younger," indicating His sovereign election. The term "hated" here is understood in the context of preference and covenantal love, as seen in Romans 9:13, where Paul discusses God's sovereign choice. This does not imply personal animosity but rather a rejection of Esau's line in favor of Jacob's, through whom the covenant promises would continue.

and I have made his mountains a wasteland
The mountains refer to the region of Edom, Esau's descendants' territory, located southeast of Israel. Historically, Edom was a mountainous region, and its desolation is a fulfillment of prophetic judgment. Obadiah 1:8-10 and Jeremiah 49:17-18 prophesy Edom's downfall due to its pride and hostility towards Israel. Archaeological evidence shows that Edom was indeed devastated and never regained its former power, aligning with the biblical narrative of divine judgment.

and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
The inheritance of Esau, or Edom, being left to "desert jackals" symbolizes complete desolation and abandonment. Jackals are often associated with desolate places in Scripture, as seen in Isaiah 34:13 and Jeremiah 9:11. This imagery underscores the totality of Edom's destruction and serves as a warning of the consequences of opposing God's chosen people. The desolation of Edom is a testament to God's faithfulness in executing judgment and fulfilling His word, as seen throughout the prophetic literature.

1. Esau
The elder twin brother of Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau is often associated with the nation of Edom, which descended from him. In this verse, Esau represents those who are outside of God's covenant blessings.

2. Jacob
The younger twin brother of Esau, chosen by God to carry on the Abrahamic covenant. Jacob's descendants became the nation of Israel.

3. Edom
The nation descended from Esau, often in conflict with Israel. Edom's desolation is a symbol of God's judgment.

4. Mountains and Wasteland
Symbolic of Edom's desolation and God's judgment against them. The mountains represent strength and stability, which are turned into wasteland as a sign of divine retribution.

5. Jackals of the Desert
Creatures that inhabit desolate places, symbolizing the complete desolation and abandonment of Edom's inheritance.God's Sovereignty in Election
God's choice of Jacob over Esau demonstrates His sovereign will and purpose. Believers are reminded that God's plans are beyond human understanding and are rooted in His divine wisdom.

Judgment and Justice
The desolation of Edom serves as a reminder of God's justice. It is a call for believers to live righteously and align themselves with God's will to avoid judgment.

Covenant Faithfulness
God's love for Jacob and His covenant with Israel highlight the importance of faithfulness to God's promises. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's faithfulness and remain steadfast in their faith.

The Consequences of Rejection
Esau's rejection and the resulting desolation of Edom illustrate the consequences of turning away from God. This serves as a warning to prioritize spiritual inheritance over worldly desires.Verse 3. - And I hated Esau. St. Paul quotes these words (Romans 9:13) in order to illustrate his position, "that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth." Even before his birth Jacob was the chosen one, and Esau, the elder, was to serve the younger. This mystery of Divine election has seemed to some to be stated so harshly that they have thought that the words of the text need to be softened, or to be modified by their explanation. Thus they give the glosses, "I have preferred Jacob to Esau;" "I have loved Esau less than Jacob;" or they have limited the terms "love" end "hatred" to the bestowing or withholding of temporal blessings; or they have affirmed that Esau was hated because God foresaw his unworthiness, and Jacob was beloved owing to his foreseen piety and faithfulness. The whole question is discussed by Augustine, 'De Div. Quint. ad Simplic.,' 1:18 (11:433). He ends by saying, "Deus odit impietatem: in aliis etiam punit per damnationem, in aliis adimit per justificationem." But Malachi is not speaking of the predestination of the one brother and the reprobation of the other; he is contrasting the histories of the two peoples represented by them; as Jerome puts it, "In Jacob vos dilexi, in Esau Idumaeos odio habui." Both nations sinned; both are punished; but Israel by God's free mercy was forgiven and restored, while Edom was left in the misery which it had brought upon itself by its own iniquity. Thus is proved God's love for the Israelites (Knabenbauer). That it is of the two nations that the prophet speaks, rather than of the two brothers, is seen by what follows. Laid his mountains... waste. While the Israelites were repeopling and cultivating their land, and their cities were rising from their ruins, and the temple and the capital were rebuilt, Edom, which had suffered at the hand of the same enemies, had never recovered from the blow, and still lay a scene of desolation and ruin. It seems that Nebuchadnezzar attacked and conquered Edom some few years after he had taken Jerusalem. This event happened during one of his expeditions against Egypt, one of which took place in the thirty-seventh year of his reign, as we learn from a record lately deciphered (see 'Transact. of Soc. of Bibl. Archaeology,' 7:210, etc.). (For Edom and its history, see the Introduction to Obadiah.) Dragons; rather, jackals (Micah 1:8); Septuagint, εἰς δώματα ἐρήμου, "for habitations of the desert;" Vulgate, dracones deserti, whence the Authorized Version.

Parallel Commentaries ...


but
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

Esau
עֵשָׂ֖ו (‘ê·śāw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac

I have hated,
שָׂנֵ֑אתִי (śā·nê·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8130: To hate

and I have made
וָאָשִׂ֤ים (wā·’ā·śîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

his mountains
הָרָיו֙ (hā·rāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

a wasteland
שְׁמָמָ֔ה (šə·mā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8077: Devastation, astonishment

and left his inheritance
נַחֲלָת֖וֹ (na·ḥă·lā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion

to the desert
מִדְבָּֽר׃ (miḏ·bār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

jackals.”
לְתַנּ֥וֹת (lə·ṯan·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural
Strong's 8568: A female jackal


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OT Prophets: Malachi 1:3 But Esau I hated and made his (Malachi Mal Ml)