Esau

Family: Isaac's family · Role: grandson of Abraham · First appears: The Covenant Of The Pieces

Before Abraham died, God revealed that Esau would not begin his impious way of life until then. While Rebekah was pregnant with the twins, Esau and Jacob quarreled in the womb; Esau was born first. When he grew up, he refused Isaac’s wish that he be circumcised. By their thirteenth year, he had abandoned his studies for idolatry and an immoral life, though his conduct led Isaac to believe he was pious. After Abraham’s death, Esau killed Nimrod and two companions while hunting, then sold his birthright to Jacob for lentils, payment, and the sword Isaac had given Jacob.

Esau married Judith, a daughter of Heth, and later married Basemath and Mahalath. After Isaac summoned him to receive a blessing, Esau wept when Isaac blessed him. He went to Seir, then returned to Canaan with his wives. When Jacob came back to their parents, Esau sought to kill him; he later ordered his son Eliphaz to pursue and kill Jacob, and was angry when Eliphaz spared him. Esau also assembled an army to battle Jacob, but after they met he accepted Jacob’s gifts.

In time, Esau acknowledged that he had sold his birthright and that it belonged to Jacob. He chose the money and other possessions for his inheritance, leaving Jacob the Cave of Machpelah and the title to the Holy Land, then departed for Mount Seir with his family. At Adora, Jacob mortally wounded Esau, who died there; Jacob’s sons buried him out of respect for their father.