Handbook:Esau

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Esau

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Article Sources:	ISBE (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah. He had a twin brother, Jacob, who was God's chosen man to inherit the blessing of his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac (Romans 9:13).

Esau was hairy and red (Genesis 25:25), a man who loved the outdoors and hunting (Genesis 25:27). But he was also foolish. The critical event in his life happened on a day when he returned from the hunt very hungry. His brother Jacob was cooking lentil stew, and Esau wanted some of it. Jacob insisted that Esau sell him his birthright for a portion of the stew, and Esau did it (Genesis 25:29-34). Later, when their father Isaac was soon to die, Jacob deceived Isaac into giving him the family blessing, so Esau lost both the birthright and the blessing (Genesis 27).

Esau had a large family and many descendants. They are called the people of Edom, which was one of Esau's nicknames (Genesis 25:30), or the Edomites (Genesis 36).