- Past, Present and Future

Esau – Past, Present and Future



Esau – Past, Present and FutureEsau – Past, Present and Future

Purpose of this study To examine the character of Esau individually

and nationally. Extract the exhortation for believers in every

generation from his example. Visit the Judgement Seat in advance. Follow the bitter struggle between the

descendents of Jacob and Esau. Confirm who Esau represents nationally

today in relation to fulfilling prophecy. See what part Esau plays in the future.


Esau, Edom and IdumeaEsau, Edom and Idumea The name Esau occurs 100 times in Scripture

(O.T. & N.T.) Edom, Edomite and Edomites occur 107 times

in only the O.T. Idumea (same as Edom) occurs 5 times in

Scripture – once in N.T. Dumah (Isa. 21:11Isa. 21:11) is an anagram for Edom. Seir occurs 39 times (O.T.) Total of 252 occurrences Jacob occurs 377 and Israel 2575 times in

Scripture Abram/Abraham occurs 311 times


The Birth of Esau - The Birth of Esau - Gen. 25Gen. 25 V.20V.20 – “the Syrian” – In Hebrew, Syria

and Edom have similar consonants – confused by translators 2 Sam. 8:12-132 Sam. 8:12-13.

V.25V.25 – “red” – admoniy – reddish “hairy” – sa’ar – hair (dishevelled) “Esau” – hairy, rough. Akin to asah – to

do or make in the sense of handling; hence rough (sensibly felt). The idea is that Esau was “fully made” from birth. He never changed from what he was at birth.

אד םEdom

אר םSyria


Two manner of peopleTwo manner of people Esau Jacob

"red all over" "Fully made" from the

womb Cunning hunter Man of the field Isaac loved Esau Despised his natural

birthright Called Edom (akin to

Adam) for his profanity Hated by God – Mal.1:3Mal.1:3

Normal at birth Hand on Esau's heel at

birth A shepherd A plain man Rebekah loved Jacob Sought the birthright for

spiritual reasons Finally became Israel

and prevailed with God Loved by God – Mal.1:2Mal.1:2


Esau in ManhoodEsau in Manhood Fornicator – a notorious womaniser. A polygamist by choice (after the

example of Lamech). Noted for ‘double standards’ (duplicitous). Totally lacking in spiritual perception

(marriage to Ishmael’s daughter illustrates – Gen. 28:6-9Gen. 28:6-9).

Small-minded and egotistical (illustrated by Gen. 32:6Gen. 32:6).

Hated his brother Jacob – the first Anti-Semite – Gen. 27:41Gen. 27:41.


Character of Esau and JacobCharacter of Esau and Jacob“The free, easy, frank good-nature of the profane Esau, is ruined and rendered useless by fickleness, unsteadiness, weakness, want of faith and principle. The craft, duplicity, timidity of the religious Jacob is turned to lasting good by steadfast purpose, resolute sacrifice of present benefits for future ones, and a fixed principle which ultimately purified and elevated even the baser qualities of his character.”

A non-Christadelphian commentator


Esau – Man of the fieldEsau – Man of the field

“Now therefore take, I pray thee,

thy weapons, thy quiver and thy

bow, and go out to the field, and

take me some venison”

Gen. 27:3Gen. 27:3


The Stolen Blessing – The Stolen Blessing – Gen.27:27-29Gen.27:27-29 INHERITANCE "The dew of heaven" "The fatness of the earth" "Plenty of corn & wine"AUTHORITY "Let people serve thee" "Nations bow down to thee" "Be Lord over thy brethren"PRIESTHOOD "Let thy mother's sons bow down to thee" "Blessed be he that blesseth thee"

Relates to the rights of the firstborn in the present.


Away from the Away from the fatness of the fatness of the

earth!earth!

“Behold, away from the fatness of

the earth shall your dwelling

be…” – Isaac’s words to Esau in

Gen. 27:39Gen. 27:39 (R.S.V.)


Edom – Dry and barren landEdom – Dry and barren land

The soils of Edom matched the redness of Esau’s hair


Separation of Two FamiliesSeparation of Two FamiliesSPIRITSPIRIT

Gen. 28:1-5Gen. 28:1-5 - Blessing of faith – building of the divine family (v.1v.1).

Wife from Abrahamic family (v.2v.2).

El Shaddai – strength of the nourishers (v.3v.3).

Ecclesia (qahal) formed – “a multitude” (v.3v.3).

Abrahamic promise extended (v.4v.4).

FLESHFLESH Gen. 28:6-9Gen. 28:6-9 - Esau

takes wives to build the family of flesh.

Motivated by feelings of jealousy towards Jacob (v.6-7v.6-7).

Realises wrong choice of wives (v.8v.8).

Ignorantly seeks a wife with family link (v.9v.9).


Esau’s Way or the Birthright?Esau’s Way or the Birthright?Hebrews 12Hebrews 12

Theme - "children" and chastening v.5-11v.5-11

V.8V.8 - "bastards" - nothos - spurious or illegitimate son - Esau is the example selectedEsau is the example selected.

EsauEsau - no chastening - fornicator and "profane" - Gr. bebelos - permitted to be trodden, accessible (a threshold); unhallowed, profane - despised his birthright - the failed firstborn - v.16-17v.16-17.

V.23V.23 - The general assembly and ecclesia of the firstborns (plural) - equates with "chastening" and "the spirits of just men made perfect".


A fearful looking for judgementA fearful looking for judgementHebrews 10:25-29Hebrews 10:25-29

Not forsaking the assembling together

Exhorting as day approaches

No mercy for willful sinners

Fearful expectation of judgement

Trodden under foot Christ’s sacrifice

Counted covenant profane (common)

Hebrews 12:14-17Hebrews 12:14-17 Follow peace and

holiness Looking diligently lest

others defiled Fail of the grace of

God Esau found no place

of repentance Cross the threshold -

spiritual fornication Sold his birthright as

a common thing


The Esau Class at the Judgement SeatThe Esau Class at the Judgement SeatLuke 13:27-30Luke 13:27-30

V.27 V.27 - “workers of iniquity” - cp. Esau's profanity and immorality - Heb.12:16Heb.12:16.

V.28V.28 - “weeping and gnashing of teeth” - cp. Esau - Gen.27:34,38; Heb.12:17Gen.27:34,38; Heb.12:17.“Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob” – The promise to Jacob - Gen.28:13Gen.28:13.“thrust out” - cp. Esau - Gen.27:39Gen.27:39 (RSV); Heb.12:15Heb.12:15.

V.29V.29 - “the east....the west...the north...the south” - cp. Abrahamic promise - Gen.28:14Gen.28:14.

V.30V.30 - “there are last which shall be first” - the “elder shall serve the younger” - Gen.25:23Gen.25:23.


Esau is Edom Esau is Edom Stated 5 times in Gen.36Gen.36. The name Edom occurs 11 times in Gen.36Gen.36. There are 11 dukes in the final list -

Gen.36:40-43Gen.36:40-43.

(Eleven is the number of incompleteness and failure - see Ex.20:3-17Ex.20:3-17; Acts 1:26Acts 1:26)

Edom - "red" is from adom - rosy. The root word is adam - to show blood in the face; flush.

Hence, Esau is Edom (Adam) = Failure, incompleteness


Esau and the Nations Esau and the Nations Esau produced many ‘dukes’ - Gen.36:40-43Gen.36:40-43. Edom became the name by which God

denominated all anti-Semitic nations - see Obadiah 15 & 16Obadiah 15 & 16.

The “all nations” who oppose Christ at Armageddon and beyond are called “Edom” - Isa.34:1-6Isa.34:1-6.

70 - number of the nations - Gen.10; Deut.32:8Gen.10; Deut.32:8. The “generations of Esau” listed in Gen.36Gen.36 lists

70 different names of the off-spring of Esau (exclude the names of cities, nations and women, and count male off-spring only once).


Esau represents the nationsEsau represents the nationsIn this way, Babylon and the Goat-nations are “made to drink of the wine of the wrath of the Deity, prepared without mixture in the cup of his indignation.” Esau will have had the dominion over Jacob long enough; and the time will now have arrived to prove to mankind “that there is a God that judgeth in the earth”. Esau has lived by his sword, but not righteously. He crucified the king of Israel, persecuted and killed his brethren, corrupted the faith, trod under foot the Holy City forty and two months, and poured out the blood of Jacob like water upon the ground. But they who war against Zion and her sons “shall be as nothing, as a thing of nought”.

Bro. Thomas – Eureka Vol. 5 pg. 50



xx

Documents

- Past, Present and Future