Esau

Esau is the eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah in the Book of Genesis. Jacob is his twin brother. (Chapter 25). He is a 'cunning hunter, a man of the field' (25:27) Esau gives his birthright as eldest to Jacob for a meal of lentil stew. He is then tricked out of his father's blessing by Rebekah and Jacob, with Jacob instead receiving the blessing.

He has several wives, Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath daughter of Elon. He later marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, his cousin, to please his parents.

Esau Media

• Esau and Jacob Presented to Isaac.jpg

  Esau and Jacob Presented to Isaac (painting circa 1779–1801 by Benjamin West)

• Francesco Hayez 061.jpg

  Francesco Hayez: Esau and Jacob reconcile (1844)

• Facial Chronicle - b.01, p.243 - Jacob kills Esau.jpg

  See filename

• Holman esau going for venison.jpg

  Esau Going for Venison (illustration from the 1890 Holman Bible)

• Giotto di Bondone 080.jpg

  Isaac upon Esau's Return (fresco circa 1292–1294 by Giotto di Bondone)

• Maitre Birth of Esau and Jacob (detail).jpg

  Birth of Esau and Jacob (illumination circa 1475–1480 by François Maitre from Augustine's La Cité de Dieu, at the Museum Meermanno-Westreenianum)

• Master of Jean de Mandeville The Birth of Esau and Jacob.jpg

  The Birth of Esau and Jacob (illumination by Master of Jean de Mandeville, Paris, from a Bible Historiale c. 1360–1370)

Other websites

• Entry for Jacob and Esau at Chabad Archived 2014-03-03 at the Wayback Machine