Esau, the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah, is a significant figure in the biblical narrative, particularly in the Book of Genesis. He is the twin brother of Jacob, and his life and actions have profound implications for the history of Israel and the unfolding of God's covenantal promises.

Birth and Early Life

Esau's birth is recorded in Genesis 25:24-26. Rebekah, after a period of barrenness, conceives twins. Esau is born first, described as red and hairy, which leads to his name, meaning "hairy" or "rough." His brother Jacob follows, grasping Esau's heel, foreshadowing the future struggles between the two.

Character and Lifestyle

Esau is depicted as a skillful hunter and a man of the field, contrasting with Jacob, who is described as a quiet man dwelling in tents (Genesis 25:27). Esau's impulsive nature is highlighted in the account of him selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Famished from the field, Esau exclaims, "Look, I am about to die... What good is the birthright to me?" (Genesis 25:32). This transaction reveals Esau's disregard for the spiritual and familial significance of his birthright.

Marriage and Descendants

Esau's choice of wives further illustrates his divergence from the covenantal path. He marries two Hittite women, Judith and Basemath, which brings grief to Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:34-35). Later, in an attempt to please his parents, Esau marries Mahalath, a daughter of Ishmael, but this act does not align with the covenantal lineage (Genesis 28:8-9).

Esau becomes the father of the Edomites, a nation often in conflict with Israel. His descendants are listed in Genesis 36, establishing him as the progenitor of a significant people group in the biblical narrative.

Conflict with Jacob

The tension between Esau and Jacob reaches a climax when Jacob, with Rebekah's help, deceives Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau. This blessing, intended for the firstborn, includes promises of prosperity and dominion (Genesis 27:28-29). Esau's reaction is one of deep anguish and a desire for revenge, leading him to plan to kill Jacob after Isaac's death (Genesis 27:41).

Reconciliation

Despite the initial animosity, Esau and Jacob eventually reconcile. In Genesis 33, after years of separation, Jacob approaches Esau with gifts and humility. Esau, demonstrating a change of heart, embraces Jacob, and they weep together (Genesis 33:4). This moment of reconciliation is significant, showing Esau's capacity for forgiveness and the restoration of familial bonds.

Legacy

Esau's legacy is complex. While he is often viewed negatively for his impulsiveness and disregard for spiritual matters, his account also includes moments of grace and reconciliation. The New Testament references Esau as a warning against godlessness and bitterness (Hebrews 12:16-17), emphasizing the importance of valuing spiritual inheritance.

Esau's life serves as a reminder of the consequences of choices and the enduring impact of familial relationships in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.3067. Yehudith -- Esau's wife
... 3066, 3067. Yehudith. 3068 . Esau's wife. Transliteration: Yehudith Phonetic
Spelling: (yeh-ho-deeth') Short Definition: 1365. Word ...
/hebrew/3067.htm - 6k

6215. Esav -- oldest son of Isaac
... 6214, 6215. Esav. 6216 . oldest son of Isaac. Transliteration: Esav Phonetic
Spelling: (ay-sawv') Short Definition: Esau. Word ... 13). Esau. ...
/hebrew/6215.htm - 6k

Chapter xxxiii
... 9. Reconcilation with Esau; Settlement in Canaan (33:1-20) ... But he himself went on
ahead of them, and bowed low seven times until he had come close to Esau. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiii.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... CHAPTER XXXVI. 9. The History of Esau (Chapter 36) ... In Genesis 27:39,40 a blessing
had been pronounced upon Esau, a blessing which was not meaningless. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

A Bad Bargain
... GENESIS A BAD BARGAIN. 'And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man
of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a bad bargain.htm

Pottage Versus Birthright
... GENESIS POTTAGE VERSUS BIRTHRIGHT. 'Esau despised his birthright'"Genesis
25:34. Broad lessons unmistakable, but points strange ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/pottage versus birthright.htm

The Story of Jacob
... The older was named Esau and the younger Jacob. Esau was a man of the woods and
very fond of hunting; and he was rough and covered with hair. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jacob.htm

Jacob-Wrestling
... But every step that Jacob took brought him nearer to the land of Edom also:
where Esau dwelt with all his armed men about him. And ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/iv jacob-wrestling.htm

Chapter xxviii
... We cannot help but feel that, had Rebekah told Isaac of Esau's murderous plans,
Isaac would, or at least could, have taken a hand in restraining Esau. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxviii.htm

Chapter xxxii
... CHAPTER XXXII. (8) Preparations for Meeting Esau (31:55-32:32) This caption
may at first glance seem somewhat inapt for the chapter ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxii.htm

The Life of Mr. Andrew Duncan.
... Pity yourselves for the Lord's sake; lose not your own dear souls, I beseech you
for Esau's pottage: Remember Balaam, who was cast away by the deceit of the ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr andrew 2.htm

Conflict.
... God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many
be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xiv conflict.htm

Esau's (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Esau's (13 Occurrences). Genesis 25:26 After that, his
brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau's heel. He was named Jacob. ...
/e/esau's.htm - 10k

Bashemath (6 Occurrences)
... Sweet-smelling. (1.) The daughter of Ishmael, the last of Esau's three wives (Genesis
36:3, 4, 13), from whose son Reuel four tribes of the Edomites sprung. ...
/b/bashemath.htm - 10k

Oholibamah (7 Occurrences)
... o-hol-i-ba'-ma, o-hol-i-ba'-ma ('oholibhamah, "tent of the high place"): (1) One
of Esau's wives, and a daughter of Anah the Hivite (Genesis 36:2, 5). It is ...
/o/oholibamah.htm - 9k

Grandsons (9 Occurrences)
... Grandsons (9 Occurrences). Genesis 36:12 Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's
son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife. ...
/g/grandsons.htm - 8k

Adah (8 Occurrences)
... (2.) The first of Esau's three wives, the daughter of Elon the Hittite (Genesis
36:2, 4), called also Bashemath (26:34). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ADAH. ...
/a/adah.htm - 10k

Jeush (9 Occurrences)
... Assembler. (1.) The oldest of Esau's three sons by Aholibamah (Genesis 36:5, 14,
18). ... These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan. ...
/j/jeush.htm - 11k

Jaalam (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Concealer, the second of Esau's three sons by Aholibamah
(Genesis 36:5, 14). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JAALAM. ...
/j/jaalam.htm - 7k

Reuel (14 Occurrences)
... Friend of God. (1.) A son of Esau and Bashemath (Genesis 36:4, 10; 1 Chronicles
1:35). ... Reuel (14 Occurrences). Genesis 36:4 Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. ...
/r/reuel.htm - 12k

Reu'el (10 Occurrences)
... Reuel, Reu'el. Reumah . Multi-Version Concordance Reu'el (10 Occurrences).
Genesis 36:4 And Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz; and Basemath bore Reuel; (See RSV). ...
/r/reu'el.htm - 8k

Duke (14 Occurrences)
... two exceptions the term is applied in English Versions of the Bible only to the
chiefs of Edom has led to the impression that in the family of Esau the chiefs ...
/d/duke.htm - 13k

Who was Esau in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Adah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Jacob in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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