Topical Bible: Esau: Called Edom

◄ Esau: Called Edom ►

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Introduction:
Esau, also known as Edom, is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in the Book of Genesis. He is the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah and the twin brother of Jacob. Esau's life and legacy are pivotal in understanding the ancestral lineage of the Israelites and the Edomites.

Birth and Early Life:
Esau's birth is recorded in Genesis 25:24-26. Rebekah, after a difficult pregnancy, gives birth to twins. Esau is born first, described as red and hairy, which leads to his name, meaning "hairy" in Hebrew. His brother Jacob follows, grasping Esau's heel, foreshadowing their future struggles.

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 Genesis 25:29-34, where he sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, demonstrating a lack of foresight and appreciation for his inheritance.

Marriage and Descendants:
Esau's marriages to Canaanite women, Judith and Basemath, are noted in Genesis 26:34-35, causing grief to Isaac and Rebekah. Later, Esau marries Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, in an attempt to please his parents (Genesis 28:8-9). Esau's descendants become the Edomites, a nation often in conflict with Israel.

Blessing and Conflict with Jacob:
The pivotal moment in Esau's life occurs in Genesis 27, where Jacob, with Rebekah's help, deceives Isaac and receives the blessing intended for Esau. This act of deception leads to a deep-seated enmity between the brothers. Esau's reaction is one of anger and a desire for revenge, prompting Jacob to flee to Haran.

Reconciliation with Jacob:
Despite their earlier conflict, Esau and Jacob eventually reconcile. In Genesis 33, Esau meets Jacob with a large entourage, but instead of hostility, he embraces his brother. This act of forgiveness and reconciliation is a significant moment in their relationship.

Legacy and Significance:
Esau's legacy is intertwined with the nation of Edom, which becomes a significant entity in biblical history. The Edomites, descendants of Esau, are frequently mentioned in the prophetic books as adversaries of Israel. The name "Edom," meaning "red," is linked to Esau's appearance at birth and the red stew for which he sold his birthright.

Biblical References:
· Birth and Early Life: Genesis 25:24-26
· Birthright Sale: Genesis 25:29-34
· Marriages: Genesis 26:34-35; 28:8-9
· Blessing and Conflict: Genesis 27
· Reconciliation: Genesis 33

Esau's account is a complex narrative of familial relationships, personal choices, and divine providence, offering insights into the broader themes of inheritance, identity, and reconciliation within the biblical text.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 36:1,8
Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Jacob and Esau
... from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee,
with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon vi jacob and esau.htm

The Power of Ambition.
... faint. (Therefore his name was called Edom, Red.) But Jacob said, Sell
me first of all your birthright. And Esau replied, Alas! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study vi the power of.htm

The Story of Jacob
... The people who came from Esau lived in a land called Edom, on the south
of the land of Israel, where Jacob's descendants lived. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jacob.htm

A Bad Bargain
... from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee,
with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a bad bargain.htm

Psalm CXXXVII.
... Edom" (ver.7). Edom is the same who is also called Esau: for ye heard just now the
words of the Apostle read, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." [5697 ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxxvii.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... In v.9 we have an instance where the name of an individual doubtless is used as
a tribal name, for Esau is called 'abi Edom, "the father of Edom," in the sense ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

Chapter xxv
... with hunger, and Esau said to Jacob: Let me swallow, please, some of that red stuff
there, for I am faint with hunger. (That is why he is called Edom"Red). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxv.htm

Jacob, a Prince of God.
... brother Esau, and now he must travel through Edom, Esau's country, on ... [Illustration:
Meeting of Jacob and Esau]. ... spoke to Jacob at Beth-el, and called him Israel ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter v jacob a prince.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... Esau, the brother of Jacob, had already gathered around him a body of ... planted themselves
securely in the country which was henceforth to be called Edom. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Patriarchs.
... Esau went away to Mount Seir, to the south of the Promised Land, and his descendants
were called the Edomites ... took the name of the Sea of Edom, or the Red ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ii the patriarchs.htm