Esau’s descendants and the rulers of Edom – the genealogy of the Edomites (Genesis 36:1 – 36:43)
When Esau and his brother Jacob found scarce opportunities in their region, Esau took everything he acquired in Canaan and moved to Seir. These are the tribal chiefs among Esau’s descendants (along with relevant notes from other references in the Bible). Esau and Adah (daughter of Elon the Hittite) Eliphaz…
Jacob reunites with Esau (Genesis 33:1 – 33:20)
After sending gifts ahead to Esau (and a sleepless night wrestling with God), Jacob awoke to see Esau approaching with 400 men. Jacob divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and two female servants. He placed the female servants and their children in front followed by Leah and her children. Rachel…
Jacob wrestles with God – and earns a new name (Genesis 32:22 – 32:32)
During the night, Jacob took his two wives, two female servants, and eleven sons to cross a ford on the Jabbok River. After sending his family across the river, followed by all his possessions, Jacob was left alone. During the night, a “man” wrestled with Jacob. When the man saw…
Jacob prepares to meet his estranged brother, Esau (Genesis 32:1 – 32:21)
As Jacob prepared to return to the Promised Land, he was met by angels in a place he named Mahanaim (meaning “two camps”). He recognized that God was with him. Jacob sent two messengers ahead of the caravan to meet his estranged brother, Esau, who lived in Seir, in the region…
Isaac blesses Jacob (again) with instructions on who to marry (Genesis 27:46 – 28:9)
Rebekah told Isaac, “I’m disgusted with these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a Hittite wife, my life will not be worth living.” In response to her complaint, Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and commanded, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan-Aram (where Rebekah’s father, Bethuel…
Jacob tricks Isaac and cheats Esau out of his blessing (Genesis 26:34 – 27:45)
When Esau was 40 years old, against his parents’ wishes, he married two Hittite wives – Judith and Basemath. Marrying outside the extended clan greatly bothered his parents, Isaac and Rebekah. Isaac was old and his eyes were weak. He called for his Esau and told him, “I am now…
Esau gives up his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:27 – 25:34)
Jacob and Esau have become grown men. Esau is a very good hunter, a wild sort of man, who loves the outdoors. Jacob on the other hand, is more civilized and mature, preferring to stay within the home. Their father, Isaac, loved the taste of wild game and as a…
The Birth of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:19 – 25:26)
After a quick peek at Ishmael’s genealogical record, the Bible now turns back to the family line of Abraham and Isaac. We are reminded that Abraham was the father of Isaac who, at 40 years of age, married Rebekah. After 20 years of marriage, Isaac prayed for a child and…
