Esau

Esau (Hebrew עֵשָׂו, also called Edom ) is an Old Testament figure of the Bible and is considered the father of the Edomites and the Amalekites.

Esau was born as the first son of his parents, Isaac and Rebekah, his twin brother Jacob comes shortly after he was born.

When they are grown, brings him his brother, in exchange for a mess of pottage to the birthright (Gen. 25 EU). To a serious conflict arises between the two brothers but only when Jacob the Elder, encouraged and actively supported by his mother Rebekah, also for the blessing of the Father brings. Convinced of deception from the fact that the eldest son kneels in front of him, saith the old blind father of Jacob from his solemn blessing. For later Esau just a saying is left with the words: Behold, thou shalt live fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven from above. And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother. But it will happen that you once his yoke from off thy neck will tear.

A reconciliation scene between Jacob and Esau in later years is the 1st book of Genesis Chap. 33 described. According to the genealogical table in chap. 36 Esau takes three local women who moves into mount Seir, and is father of the Edomites. After 1 Moses 26, 34 Esau took at the age of forty years, Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, for women. Later he still Mahalat as a woman which will Nebajoth sister, the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son. ( Genesis 28: 8-10)

The story of Esau as a theme in art

In art, the blessing from Isaac to Jacob is presented. We see an elderly man lying in bed, which blesses his son, behind the mother can be seen.

A pen and ink drawing by 1648-50 by Rembrandt van Rijn shows Esau, who exchanged a mess of pottage against his birthright to Jacob.