Esau and Jacob

Esau and Jacob were the grandsons of Abraham and the sons of Isaac. Esau became the ancestor of the Edomites, and Jacob had twelve sons who became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel.

When Isaac was forty years old, Abraham sent his servant back to his hometown to find a wife for Isaac: Rebekah (the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor, daughter of Bethuel, and sister of Laban). “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant” (Genesis 25:21). Under God’s promise, Rebekah finally became pregnant after twenty years of marriage and was carrying twins. The two babies struggled within her, and in her distress, Rebekah went to inquire of the Lord. She received a mysterious explanation: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23).

When Isaac was sixty years old, Rebekah gave birth to the twin brothers Esau and Jacob (Jacob would become the ancestor of the Israelites). At their birth, their struggle did not cease. Esau was born first, but Jacob was born right after, grasping Esau’s heel. Esau was ruddy and covered with hair, and he became the ancestor of the Edomites, with Edom meaning “red.” Likewise, Jacob’s name was also given based on his actions at birth. The name “Jacob” is associated with the word for “heel” and means “he grasps the heel.”

Although Esau and Jacob were twins, they had very different personalities. Jacob was a quiet man who was calculating and preferred to stay at home. Esau was a rough and active hunter. One day, Jacob took advantage of Esau’s hunger and traded a bowl of lentil stew for his birthright, gaining the rights that belonged to the firstborn son of the family. This showed the fulfillment of the prophecy that the older would serve the younger.

Later, Jacob disguised himself as Esau and deceived his elderly, half-blind father, Isaac, to receive the firstborn’s blessing. When Esau discovered what had happened, he vowed revenge. Jacob’s life was threatened, so he fled from home to live with his uncle, Laban. Laban, like Jacob, was a deceitful man and tricked Jacob in his marriage arrangements. Laban also changed Jacob’s wages ten times. Jacob suffered greatly under his uncle. With God’s care, protection, and guidance, Jacob eventually returned to Canaan with his family and possessions and was reconciled with his brother Esau. When Isaac died, they both buried their father in the family tomb in the Cave of Machpelah.

Later, Esau “took his wives, his sons and daughters, and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock, all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob. Their possessions had become too great for them to live together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock. So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is also known as Edom). Esau was the ancestor of the Edomites who lived in the hill country of Seir” (Genesis 36:6-9a).

On his way back to Canaan, after wrestling with God and prevailing, Jacob’s name was changed to “Israel” by God (Genesis 32:23-30). As the ancestor of the Israelites, his descendants were called “Israelites.” Jacob had twelve sons, and their descendants became the twelve tribes of Israel.

(Compiled and edited based on the Chinese Union Version and a comprehensive biblical interpretation.)