Esau was the grandson of Abraham and the son of Isaac. His brother was the fraternal twin Jacob. As the elder of the twins born to Isaac's wife Rebekah, his nickname was Edom. From a young age, he loved hunting and had an active personality. He always pleased his father Isaac with the meat he hunted. One day, however, he returned hungry after a failed hunt and, neglecting his birthright, sold it to his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of red lentil stew.
Genesis 25:24The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau.Genesis 25:25After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.Genesis 25:26The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.Genesis 25:27Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob.Genesis 25:28Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.Genesis 25:29Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.Genesis 25:30Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.”Genesis 25:31Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”Genesis 25:32Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob.Genesis 25:33Jacob gave Esau)) bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.Genesis 25:34Jacob gave Esau)) bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
이후, 나이가 많아 눈이 어두워진 이삭이 아들을 축복하려 할 때에, 야곱이 아버지를 속이고 축복을 가로채자, 분노하여 야곱을 죽이려 하였다.
Genesis 27:41The words of Esau), her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.Genesis 27:42Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran.Genesis 27:43Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away—Genesis 27:44until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?”
이후, 야곱이 돌아올 때에 만나자, 야곱과 화해하고 이후 세일 산에 거주하였다. 에서의 자손들을 에돔 족속이라 불리우며, 세일산은 이후 에돔의 대표명사가 되었다. 성경에는 세일산 족속, 세일 사람, 에돔의 산과 같은 표현이 나오는데 모두 이 에돔 족속을 의미한다.
또한, 에서는 자신에게 주어진 장자의 특권에 대해 가볍게 여겼다. 히브리서에서는 이를 망령된 자라고 까지 표현하였다.
Hebrews 12:16For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.
Genesis 26:34They grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits.Genesis 26:35They grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits.
Genesis 27:46Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?”
Genesis 28:8Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.Genesis 28:9Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.