What was Predicted Concerning Edom?
Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob and Esau. The firstborn was Esau BUT Jacob bought the firstborn right from Esau. In addition, Jacob later tricked their father Isaac into giving him the final deathbed Blessing instead of to Esau as he had intended.
Jacob was actually within his rights to act as he did as we have explained in other articles.
See:
Divine Trickery. Was Jacob Justified in His Actions Concerning Esau?
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/esau2/esautricked.html
Rebecca the mother of Esau and Jacob. She had been told in prophecy that Jacob was the one Chosen by the Almighty. Jacob was the one who was the most suitable. Jacob had bought the Birthright from Esau and for some reason Isaac had apparently not been made aware of that.
Blessings to Jacob. Jacob become Israel and begat the 12 Tribes of Israel
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/blessings/jacobbless.html
From Jacob emerged the Jews and the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. Certain peoples of Western Europe include among them descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes. The English-speaking peoples are descended from several of these tribes but those of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) predominate.
Esau was also known as Edom. Esau gave rise to different groups who settled among numerous other peoples. Nations among whom we find descendants of Esau, albeit as minority elements who were significant, include the Ancient Romans, peoples of Sparta, Thrace, Macedonia, Japan, China, Russia, and also among Israelite nations. Edomites also settled in relatively large numbers among Germanic Peoples and his descendants are also to be found among the aristocracy of all Europe. As we said, Edomites are also present within the Israelite Nations of the West.
Esau also received a blessing. After returning from the hunt and learning that Jacob had supplanted him by deceiving their father, Isaac, Esau cried with a loud cry. He pleaded with Isaac to give him a blessing as well.
Genesis (KJ2000) 27:
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also had made savory food, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that your soul may bless me.
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who are you? And he said, I am your son, your firstborn Esau.
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceedingly bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
35 And he said, your brother came with subtlety, and has taken away your blessing.
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he has taken away my blessing. And he said, Have you not reserved a blessing for me?
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with grain and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto you, my son?
38 And Esau said unto his father, Have you but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, your dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
40 And by your sword shall you live, and shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass when you shall have the dominion, that you shall break his yoke from off your neck.
41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, your brother Esau, concerning you, does comfort himself, purposing to kill you.
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee to Laban my brother to Haran;
What exactly was said to Esau?
Jacob shall be blessed (Genesis 33:33): "and he shall be blessed."
Jacob was to be lord over Esau and all their other kin (Genesis 33:37): "I have made him your lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants."
Jacob was promised agricultural bounty and richness (Genesis 33:37): "and with grain and wine have I sustained him."
Esau was to a receive A FERTILE LAND or at the least a location bequeathing wealth (Genesis 33:37): "your dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above." This is an important point. Numerous Christian Translations render the verse in Genesis 33:37
"shall be the fatness of the earth" as "AWAY from the fatness of the earth." This is mistaken. It is NOT according to the Hebrew text. See our article on this subject,
"A Fertile Land. Was Edom Blessed with having Fatness of the Land or cursed by being AWAY from it? " articles/bible/esau/blessing2.html
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/esau/blessing2.html
Esau was to be a warrior nation (Genesis 33:40): "And by your sword shall you live."
Despite being a fighting people Esau would be subservient to Jacob (Genesis 33:40): "and shall serve your brother."
There would be times however when Israel (i.e. Jacob) seriously transgressed that Esau would rule over him.
The had been prophesied to Rebecca before the twins were born:
[Genesis 25:23] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HER, TWO NATIONS ARE IN THY WOMB, AND TWO MANNER OF PEOPLE SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THY BOWELS; AND THE ONE PEOPLE SHALL BE STRONGER THAN THE OTHER PEOPLE; AND THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER.
# THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER #: In Hebrew "Rav [the elder] ya-avod [shall serve] Tsair [the younger]" BUT (as pointed out by several Commentators quoted by Yehudah Kiel) it could ALSO be understood to say "Rav [the elder] ya-avod [shall be served by] Tsair [the younger]". Both translations are correct and both were pertinent!
The Commentators say that both interpretations are correct and refer to different periods and varying situations. If Israel merits and fulfills its destined tasks Israel will rule over others. If Israel does not do as it should it is liable to be ruled over by Esau or his agents.
Genesis 27:
40 And by your sword shall you live, and shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass when you shall have the dominion, that you shall break his yoke from off your neck.
The above translation is correct in so far as it is the most probable intended meaning and one possible meaning of an otherwise ambiguous expression.
Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg (1785-1865) author of "Haketav VehaKabbalah" ("The Script and the Tradition"), 1839, on
Genesis 27: 40 And by your sword shall you live.
In the First and Second Temple times Esau was usually subject to Israel and/or Judah and fought on their behalf against the enemy.
# Genesis 27: 40 And by your sword shall you live, and shall serve your brother. This means that you [i.e. Esau] shall not serve your brother through a demeaning servitude. You shall rather fight [for him] in his wars and be a leading element in his forces. So too, in truth we find that the Edomites were in bondage to most of the Kings of Israel in First and second Temple times. #
Genesis 27: 40....and it shall come to pass when you shall have the dominion, that you shall break his yoke from off your neck.
The Hebrew word "red" translated as "when you shall have the dominion" may also imply "separate from" or "separate and distance oneself from." Esau uis being told that if he separates himself from Jacob and goes away from him he will be independent from him. We also find that Esau himself took his entourage and separated himself from Jacob, Genesis 36:6 Now Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters and all the people of his household, as well as his livestock, all his cattle, and all his possessions that he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their possessions were too numerous for them to dwell together, and the land where they were residing was unable to support them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau lived in Mount Seir (Esau is Edom).
Other commentaries explain the passage to mean that when Jacob sins Esau shall be free of him, or when Esau repents he will be freed from Jacob.
Genesis 27:22
... Esau said in his heart... then will I slay my brother Jacob.
Esau denied the heritage of his father. Esau has an inbuilt instinctive hatred of Jacob and wants to kill him.
See Also:
Geneaology of the Blessings
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/genb.html
Blessings to Jacob
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/blessings/jacobbless.html
Esau Comes of Age. The Blessings Given to Edom
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/esau/youngesau.html