ESAU or EDOM — COMPLETE BIBLICAL & HISTORICAL PROFILE

Esau is one of the most important ancestral figures in the Old Testament. He is the firstborn son of Isaac, twin brother of Jacob, and father of the Edomites.

WHO ESAU WAS

Birth and Family

• Father: Isaac
• Mother: Rebekah
• Twin Brother: Jacob
• Birth: Genesis 25:24–26

Esau was born first, red and hairy, and was named Esau; he was also called Edom (“red”) after selling his birthright for red stew (Genesis 25:30).

Character and Life Events

• A skilled hunter and outdoorsman (Genesis 25:27).
• Sold his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:29–34).
• Lost the blessing through Jacob’s deception (Genesis 27).
• Married Canaanite and Ishmaelite women (Genesis 26:34; 28:9).
• Reconciled with Jacob later in life (Genesis 33).
• Settled in the region of Seir, becoming the father of the Edomites (Genesis 36:8–9).

THE SONS OF ESAU (GENESIS 36)

Esau had five sons from three wives.

A. Sons by Adah (a Hittite woman)

1. Eliphaz
   • Became the father of several chiefs.
   • His son Teman became a major Edomite clan.
   • Another son, Amalek, became ancestor of the Amalekites (Genesis 36:12).

B. Sons by Basemath (Ishmael’s daughter)

2. Reuel
   • Father of four chiefs: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

C. Sons by Oholibamah (a Hivite woman)

3. Jeush
4. Jalam
5. Korah

These three became chiefs in the land of Edom.

GRANDCHILDREN OF ESAU (GENESIS 36)

Through Eliphaz

• Teman
• Omar
• Zepho
• Gatam
• Kenaz
• Amalek (through Timna, concubine)

Through Reuel

• Nahath
• Zerah
• Shammah
• Mizzah

ESAU’S DESCENDANTS AS EDOMITE CLANS

Genesis 36 lists Edomite chiefs descended from Esau. These include:

• Chief Teman
• Chief Omar
• Chief Zepho
• Chief Kenaz
• Chief Korah
• Chief Gatam
• Chief Amalek
• Chief Jeush
• Chief Jalam
• Chief Reuel
• Chief Nahath
• Chief Zerah
• Chief Shammah
• Chief Mizzah

These names became tribal and regional designations in Edom.

WHERE ESAU’S DESCENDANTS LIVED

Esau settled in Mount Seir, south of the Dead Sea. This region became known as Edom.

Key passages:

• Genesis 36:8 — “Esau settled in the hill country of Seir.”
• Deuteronomy 2 — Israel is forbidden to take Edomite land.
• Obadiah — Prophecy against Edom.

HISTORICAL NOTES ON ESAU’S PEOPLE (EDOMITES)

• The Edomites were a powerful kingdom south of Judah.
• They controlled major trade routes (King’s Highway).
• They often conflicted with Israel (Numbers 20; 1 Samuel 14; 2 Kings 8).
• Later absorbed into Judea and became known as Idumeans.
• Herod the Great was an Idumean, making him a distant descendant of Esau.

SUMMARY TABLE — ESAU’S FAMILY