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ESAU

(Heb. ʿēśāw)

The oldest son of Isaac and Rebekah and twin brother of Jacob (Gen. 25:24-25; 1 Chr. 1:34). The etymology of Esau’s name is unclear. His description as reddish in appearance (Heb. ʾaḏmônî, Gen. 25:25; cf. hāʾāḏōm, v. 30) is etymologically related not to the name Esau but to Edom (ʾĕḏôm; 36:1, 8, 19, 43), Esau’s eponymous descendants (vv. 9, 43). So too, Esau’s hairiness (śēʿār, Gen. 25:25) is related to Seir (śēʿîr; 36:8; Deut. 2:4-5; Josh. 24:4), the land where he finally settles.

As the eldest son Esau was entitled to the birthright and blessing of the firstborn. He sold the former to Jacob for food (Gen. 25:29-34; cf. Heb. 12:16) and lost the latter through Rebekah and Jacob’s trickery (Gen. 27:1-38). Thus, Isaac could only give Esau a secondary and subordinate blessing (Gen. 27:39-40; but cf. Heb. 11:20). Such reversals where the younger brother is favored over the older are common in the Bible, and this particular instance was foretold (Gen. 25:23). Nevertheless, these reversals often come at some price — in this case Esau hates Jacob and plans to kill him (Gen. 27:41-45). The two brothers are then estranged until their reunion many years later (chs. 32–33). While this meeting caused Jacob much anxiety (note esp. Gen. 32:22-32), Esau is presented as a gracious and forgiving brother (33:4-9; cf. Rebekah’s words in 27:44-45). Reconciled, Esau and Jacob then part ways, dwelling in different areas (Gen. 35:16, 21; cf. 36:6-8) but uniting again when Isaac dies (35:29).

Esau is described as a hunter and a man of the field (Gen. 25:27). He married two Hittite wives (compare Gen. 26:34 with 36:2-3; 36:10-12, 14), who made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah (26:35; 27:46), and he also married a daughter of Ishmael (compare 28:6-9 with 36:2-3, 13), apparently to please his parents. The names of his wives are confused from one text to another, but it is clear that five sons came from these marriages: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. A lengthy genealogy of Esau’s descendants is given in Gen. 36 (cf. 1 Chr. 1:35-54).

The rest of the biblical material is somewhat ambivalent about Esau. His sibling relationship to Jacob, the ancestor of Israel, is remembered and respected at points (e.g., Deut. 2:4-5, 8, 29). Indeed, God gave Seir to Esau (Deut. 2:5, 12, 22; Josh. 24:4), not unlike the giving of Canaan to Jacob. Elsewhere, however, Esau/Edom is a rival to Israel and is judged by God (cf. Jer. 49:7-22; Obadiah). Mal. 1:2-3 states that God loved Jacob but hated Esau, a theme picked up by Paul (Rom. 9:13).

Bibliography. M. Dijkstra, “Esau,” DDD, 306.

Brent A. Strawn

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ESAU

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)