“And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.”
In this verse, we find a significant event concerning Esau, the older twin brother of Jacob. To better understand the context, let’s briefly review the background leading up to this point.
Esau and Jacob were the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was the firstborn and the rightful heir to the family’s blessings and inheritance. However, we see from previous events that Esau despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew (Genesis 25:29-34).
Later, when their father Isaac was nearing death and wanted to bless Esau, Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceived Isaac and received the blessing meant for Esau (Genesis 27:1-40). Consequently, Esau was deeply grieved and harbored resentment toward Jacob, even plotting to kill him (Genesis 27:41).
Now, coming to Genesis 36:6, it describes how Esau, due to the strained relationship with his brother Jacob, made a decision to leave the land of Canaan and move to another country. The verse mentions that Esau took his wives, sons, daughters, servants, livestock, and all his possessions with him.
This particular verse reveals a significant turning point in the lives of Esau and Jacob. Esau’s departure from Canaan implies a separation between the brothers, physically and geographically. It is a consequence of the broken relationship resulting from the deception and the loss of the blessings.
The relocation of Esau highlights the fulfillment of God’s word given to Rebekah during her pregnancy, when the Lord said that two nations were in her womb, and the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). Esau’s departure from Canaan marks the beginning of the fulfillment of that prophecy, as he establishes his own nation apart from Jacob’s descendants.
As we continue reading the subsequent verses in Genesis 36, we discover the genealogy and descendants of Esau, who became known as the Edomites. The chapter details the chiefs and kings who descended from Esau and provides historical context for the relationship between the Edomites and the nation of Israel throughout the biblical narrative.
Genesis 36:6, therefore, serves as a crucial moment in the narrative, signaling the separation between Esau and Jacob, leading to the fulfillment of God’s promise regarding their respective destinies.
It is worth noting that the Bible presents the stories of individuals and nations to communicate broader themes and messages. In this case, the narrative surrounding Esau and Jacob highlights God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and the consequences of choices made by individuals and their descendants.
