ESAU
“downy”.
Son of Isaac and Rebekah, twin of Jacob. Esau had been the first to be born. He is described as having “red hair and hair like a coat” (Gen. 25:25, rev. 77), hence his name.
The first thing we read about him is the sale of his birthright to his cunning brother Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew. Because of this he is described in the NT as profane, because he did not give value to what was a gift from God.
Afterwards he eagerly sought the blessing, but there was no longer an opportunity for repentance (Gen. 25: 29-34; Heb. 12: 16,17).
Jacob, due to lack of faith in God, obtained the blessing through a trick, deceitfully extracting it from his father (who, against God’s choice, wanted to give it to Esau).
In this blessing, Isaac made Jacob the lord of his brothers. The blessing to Esau was the fatness of the earth, and the dew of heaven; he would live by the sword, and serve his brother, though he would break the yoke from his neck (Gen. 27:37-40).
Esau hated his brother, and stated his intention to kill Jacob when the days of mourning for his father arrived.
Esau had three wives (see BASEMAT) and numerous descendants, who became a powerful tribe. When he went to meet Jacob, he was accompanied by 400 men. God may have warned Esau, as he did Laban, not to harm Jacob.
It is also possible that his anger had been appeased; for when they approached one another, “Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they cried.” Thus they were happily reconciled, and upon Isaac’s death his two sons buried him (Gen. 33:4; 35:29).
The story led to the fulfillment of the prophecy. (See EDOMITES.).
Regarding the “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” passage, see ELECTION.