He sends rain on the just and unjust

 The Family of Esau

Esau’s choice to marry Canaanite women, specifically, women from the local, idolatrous populations, was a source of deep grief for his parents, Isaac and Rebekah [Genesis 26:34-35]. This grief was not limited to cultural preference, it reflected spiritual concern. God had chosen Abraham’s descendants to be set apart as a covenant people, and intermarriage with those outside God’s covenant often led to spiritual compromise, conflict, and distance from God’s promises. Esau’s marriages signaled a rejection of the covenant values that his parents cherished, highlighting his focus on immediate desires over spiritual destiny.

Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom (Genesis 36:1).

The subsequent mention of Esau’s genealogy and his identification as Edom emphasizes that he became the father of a nation outside the covenant, one defined more by political and territorial identity than by spiritual calling. This contrast between Jacob and Esau illustrates a biblical principle, spiritual alignment with God’s will often matters more than social or familial expectations, and choices in relationships can have lasting consequences on one’s legacy and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

 

The separation of Jacob and Esau

Esau and Jacob’s flocks, herds, and possessions had grown so large that the land could not sustain them both, leading to a necessary division. Jacob remained in Canaan, while Esau moved to Mount Seir, becoming the father of the Edomites. While Jacob sought God’s promises and covenant blessings, Esau valued material wealth and immediate comfort. Yet, because he was a descendant of Abraham, God still blessed him, not necessarily for spiritual alignment, but out of His covenant faithfulness.

For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom (Genesis 36:7-8).

God’s grace and blessings can extend even to those who pursue life differently from His intended purpose. Prioritizing material wealth over spiritual inheritance may lead to temporal success, but it carries the risk of losing covenantal intimacy and long-term spiritual legacy. In essence, Esau’s story reminds us that God’s blessings are not always contingent on spiritual priorities, but choosing the path of faith ensures alignment with His eternal promises.

 

Initially, the Edomites refused the Israelites passage through their territory during the Exodus [Numbers 20:21], reflecting tension and perhaps lingering resentment from the ancestral separation of Esau (Edom) and Jacob (Israel). Despite this, God commanded the Israelites to show special regard for the Edomites, reminding them that Edomites were their brothers [Deuteronomy 23:7]. This demonstrates that kinship and divine mandate can coexist with human conflict, and God values respect and justice even toward those who oppose us.

 

Historically, the relationship shifted over time. Under Saul and David, Israel gained dominance over Edom, Saul brought Edom under Israelite control [1 Samuel 14:47], and David reinforced this through garrisons, consolidating Israelite authority [2 Samuel 8:14]. Yet, later during Joram’s reign, Edom regained independence [2 Kings 8:16-22], showing that political and military circumstances change, even within families and covenant communities. This history teaches that, family ties and divine commands call for respect, even amidst conflict, blessings and dominion are temporal, subject to obedience, leadership, and God’s providence, and human relationships, whether brotherly or national, can be complex, but God’s overarching plan often transcends immediate disputes.

 

Some commentators use Edom metaphorically to discuss opposition to God’s people. But these are spiritual or symbolic connections, not historical or political causes of today’s Middle East conflicts. Modern conflicts arise from geopolitics, national identity, and land disputes, not from the Edomites themselves. Today, the Edomites as a distinct ethnic group no longer exist.

They were gradually absorbed into other populations over the centuries, , especially after invasions and exile. By the Roman period, Edomite identity largely disappeared, and some became associated with the Idumeans, who were eventually integrated into Jewish and regional populations.

George G. Ruheni, PhD.