son of Isaac and Rebekah, born A. M. 2168, B. C. 1836. When the
time of Rebekah’s delivery came, she had twins, Gen. xxv, 24–26: the
first-born was hairy, therefore called Esau; that is, a man full grown
or of perfect age; but some derive Esau from the Arabic _gescha_ or
_gencheva_, which signifies a hair cloth. Esau delighted in hunting, and
his father Isaac had a particular affection for him. On one occasion,
Esau, returning from the fields greatly fatigued, desired Jacob to give
him some red pottage, which he was then preparing. Jacob consented,
provided Esau would sell him his birthright. Esau complied, and by oath
resigned it to him, Gen. xxv, 29–34. Esau, when aged forty, married two
Canaanitish women, Judith, daughter of Beeri, the Hittite; and
Bashemath, daughter of Elon, Gen. xxvi, 34. These marriages were very
displeasing to Isaac and Rebekah, because they intermingled the blood of
Abraham with that of Canaanite aliens. Isaac being old, and his sight
decayed, directed Esau to procure him delicate venison by hunting, that
he might give him his chief blessing, Gen. xxvii. The artifice of his
mother, however, counteracted his purpose; and she contrived to impose
upon Isaac, and to obtain the father’s principal blessing for her son
Jacob. Esau was indignant on account of this treachery and determined to
kill Jacob as soon as their father should die. Rebekah again interposed,
and sent Jacob away to her brother Laban, with whom he might be secure.
During the period of separation, which lasted several years, Esau
married a wife of the family of Ishmael; and, removing to Mount Seir,
acquired great power and wealth. When Jacob returned, after long
absence, to his father’s country, with a numerous family, and large
flocks and herds, he dreaded his brother’s displeasure; but they had an
amicable and affectionate interview. After their father’s death, they
lived in peace and amity; but, as their possessions enlarged, and there
was not sufficient room for them in the land in which they were
strangers, Esau returned to Mount Seir, where his posterity multiplied
under the denomination of Edomites. (See EDOM.) The time of his death is
not mentioned; but Bishop Cumberland thinks it probable that he died
about the same time with his brother Jacob, at the age of about one
hundred and forty-seven years, Gen. xxv-xxxvi.
2. On the most important part of this history, the selling of the
birthright, we may observe, (1.) That although it was always the design
of God that the blessing connected with primogeniture in the family of
Abraham should be enjoyed by Jacob, and to exercise his sovereignty in
changing the succession in which the promises of the Abrahamic covenant
might descend; yet the conduct of Rebekah and Jacob was reprehensible in
endeavouring to bring about the divine design by the unworthy means of
contrivance and deceit; and they were punished for their presumption by
their sufferings. (2.) That the conduct of Esau in selling his
birthright was both wanton and profane. It was wanton, because he,
though faint, could be in no danger of not obtaining a supply of food in
his father’s house; and was therefore wholly influenced by his appetite,
excited by the delicacy of Jacob’s pottage. It was profane, because the
blessings of the birthright were spiritual as well as civil. The church
of God was to be established in the line of the first-born; and in that
line the Messiah was to appear. These high privileges were despised by
Esau, who is therefore made by St. Paul a type of all apostates from
Christ, who, like him, profanely despise their birthright as the sons of
God. See BIRTHRIGHT.
time of Rebekah’s delivery came, she had twins, Gen. xxv, 24–26: the
first-born was hairy, therefore called Esau; that is, a man full grown
or of perfect age; but some derive Esau from the Arabic _gescha_ or
_gencheva_, which signifies a hair cloth. Esau delighted in hunting, and
his father Isaac had a particular affection for him. On one occasion,
Esau, returning from the fields greatly fatigued, desired Jacob to give
him some red pottage, which he was then preparing. Jacob consented,
provided Esau would sell him his birthright. Esau complied, and by oath
resigned it to him, Gen. xxv, 29–34. Esau, when aged forty, married two
Canaanitish women, Judith, daughter of Beeri, the Hittite; and
Bashemath, daughter of Elon, Gen. xxvi, 34. These marriages were very
displeasing to Isaac and Rebekah, because they intermingled the blood of
Abraham with that of Canaanite aliens. Isaac being old, and his sight
decayed, directed Esau to procure him delicate venison by hunting, that
he might give him his chief blessing, Gen. xxvii. The artifice of his
mother, however, counteracted his purpose; and she contrived to impose
upon Isaac, and to obtain the father’s principal blessing for her son
Jacob. Esau was indignant on account of this treachery and determined to
kill Jacob as soon as their father should die. Rebekah again interposed,
and sent Jacob away to her brother Laban, with whom he might be secure.
During the period of separation, which lasted several years, Esau
married a wife of the family of Ishmael; and, removing to Mount Seir,
acquired great power and wealth. When Jacob returned, after long
absence, to his father’s country, with a numerous family, and large
flocks and herds, he dreaded his brother’s displeasure; but they had an
amicable and affectionate interview. After their father’s death, they
lived in peace and amity; but, as their possessions enlarged, and there
was not sufficient room for them in the land in which they were
strangers, Esau returned to Mount Seir, where his posterity multiplied
under the denomination of Edomites. (See EDOM.) The time of his death is
not mentioned; but Bishop Cumberland thinks it probable that he died
about the same time with his brother Jacob, at the age of about one
hundred and forty-seven years, Gen. xxv-xxxvi.
2. On the most important part of this history, the selling of the
birthright, we may observe, (1.) That although it was always the design
of God that the blessing connected with primogeniture in the family of
Abraham should be enjoyed by Jacob, and to exercise his sovereignty in
changing the succession in which the promises of the Abrahamic covenant
might descend; yet the conduct of Rebekah and Jacob was reprehensible in
endeavouring to bring about the divine design by the unworthy means of
contrivance and deceit; and they were punished for their presumption by
their sufferings. (2.) That the conduct of Esau in selling his
birthright was both wanton and profane. It was wanton, because he,
though faint, could be in no danger of not obtaining a supply of food in
his father’s house; and was therefore wholly influenced by his appetite,
excited by the delicacy of Jacob’s pottage. It was profane, because the
blessings of the birthright were spiritual as well as civil. The church
of God was to be established in the line of the first-born; and in that
line the Messiah was to appear. These high privileges were despised by
Esau, who is therefore made by St. Paul a type of all apostates from
Christ, who, like him, profanely despise their birthright as the sons of
God. See BIRTHRIGHT.