Esau: The Father of Edomites

Esau was the older twin born to Isaac and Rebecca. Abraham was the grandfather of Esau. Rebecca had a complicated pregnancy as the babies in her womb were struggling, she asked God “What is happening?”. God answered her by saying that 

“Two nations are in your womb, one will be stronger than the other and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)

The meaning of Esau’s name illustrates him at birth, which means “Hairy”. Esau’s twin was born grasping his heel was named Jacob which means “Supplanter”. The tale of twin birth is  substituted as a prophecy regarding their future. Esau by profession became a skillful hunter who was favored by his father, Isaac as he loved to hunt while Rebecca favored Jacob who was pleased to stay at home.

Esau considered his hunting seriously, one day came back from hunting and was very hungry and thought that he would die without food. Jacob who had stayed in the tents, was cooking red lentil stew and offered his brother to eat if he had to give up his birthright and blessings. Consequently, Esau’s craving for red stew, which he described as “Edome” means “Red”. The son having the birthright have to acquire the double portion of the family inheritance. Due to satiety, Esau disdained his birthrights.

Esau’s successors were called “Edomites” while Jacob’s descendants were called “Israelites” who frequently confronted and combated against each other. There was a problem that Edomites were atheists and the Israelites obeyed God. The prophets Jeremiah and Obadiah stated in the Bible that God would bring catastrophe on Esau (Jeremiah 49:8) and the Edomites would be ultimately ruined. (Obadiah 1:18)

The author of Hebrew refers to Esau as an unpleasant instance of impiety:

“See that no one is godless like Esau, who for a sole meal dish dispose of his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was refused. Even though he pursued the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done” (Hebrews 12:16–17)

Esau in the Holy Bible

Esau was a proficient hunter and favorite of his father due to his proficiency in the field while Jacob was Rebecca’s favorite and was a homebody living in tents. One of the renowned tales of Esau was that he sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for the sake of a single meal and red lentil stew. The blessings of his father Isaac for the firstborn were stolen by Jacob as a deception.

When Esau came to know that Jacob had received his blessings, he became furious and decided to kill Jacob. Rebecca listened to all that and said to Jacob to run away to save himself towards his Uncle Laban. After a long time, Jacob came back to Canaan congregated in Esau and lived peacefully. Esau is among the ancestors of Edomites and is also recognized as Edom which means red associated with the dealing of his birthrights for a red lentil stew. The successors of Esau or Edomites are consequently mentioned in the Holy Bible contrasting to the successors of Jacob known as the Israelites.

Esau’s Early Life

Esau was a skillful hunter, a son of the desert. He frequently, came back from hunting, desired food-hungry man. Jacob was a shelter man who stayed at home and cooked the red lentil stew. Esau asked for red lentil stew as he was very hungry but Jacob told him to sell his birthright as an older and firstborn son. For satiety, Esau sold his birthright to his brother. Subsequently, Esau strived to achieve what he had negligently lost but was not successful in his efforts due to his brother’s stealth.

Esau’s Marriage

After the death of his parents, Esau at the age of 40 years, got married to maiden of Canaanitish named Judith, daughter of Beeri and the daughter of Elon, named Bashemath. After the exile of Jacob, Esau attempts to stisfy his parents through marrying his cousin Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael. This directed him to form his acreage with the Ishmaelites tribes, displacing the Horites of Mount Seir, Esau inhabited in that area.

The successors of Esau, known as the nation of Edomite lived in the region of Mount Seir as their homeland. Israelites coming from Egypet, wished to travel across Mt. Seir while enrouting to their promised land. However, Edomites steadfastly denied it, constraining the Jews to adopt a circuitous route.

Esau’s Burial

Esau and Jacob’s fortunes consolidated at demise. Jacob died in Egypt and his corpse was taken by his sons for burial in the cave of Machpelah in the state of Canaan. However, there was Esau for their amazement, claiming falsely to the last leftover intrigue in the Cave. While Hushim acknowledged that he had to deal with his uncle Easu, he negotiated him influentially down accomplished his death. Esau’s head emerged into the cave of Machpelah till it arrived the bust of his father Isaac and was buried at that place.

Esau According to the New Testament

In the New Testament, by belief, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau regarding objectives to attain. When Rebecca was conceived, God said to her that the older would serve the younger.

“Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (Romans 9:6-13 NKJV)

Lord has been seen holiness in seeking peace, without it someone will not accomplish God’s blessings and any hatred root causes difficulties and degradation.

Hebrew prohibited being like Esau stated:

“Esau, who for one fraction of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he attempted to inherit the blessing, he was refused, for he attains no place for regret, though he sought it vigorously with tears”. (Hebrews 12:15-17 NKJV)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Esau was firstborn twin of Isaac. He was a skillful hunter due to this he was blessed by Isaac as he loved hunting. Esau as their elder son has birthright which were sold by him to his brother Jacob to satisfy his hunger. Esau was a dignified man whose blessings were also stolen by his deceitful brother. Esau is the father of the nation of Edomite residing on the Mount Seir.