Day 19: Esau's History

When Ishmael was born to Abraham, there was uncertainty as to whether God's promise would follow him and his descendants, but instead it went to Isaac, and the story of Ishmael was dealt with fairly briefly (if poignantly). There's been a similar split, and we wonder whether Esau will inherit the promise to be a great nation, or his machinating brother, who has done everything in his power to supplant Esau. I'm also curious to see whether God's mercy will be extended to Esau as it was to Ishmael. It seems there's an important point here about God's choice: what does it mean for you if you are not chosen? Has God rejected you, or does he still care?

Esau marries Mahalath
Genesis 28:6-9
Esau's marriages and descendants
Genesis 36:1-30, 1 Chronicles 1:35-42
Kings of Edom: Bela, first king
Genesis 36:34-39, 1 Chronicles 1:43-44
Other kings
Genesis 36:34-39, 1 Chronicles 1:45-50
Chiefs of Edom
Genesis 36:40-43, 1 Chronicles 1:51-54
Jacob's departure from Laban
Genesis 31:17-32

We start the story with Esau with a moment of repentance. He realises that his Canaanite wives
have upset his parents, so to make it all better he marries someone else! No sign that he really appreciates the point, which presumably is that God asked them to keep themselves apart from local nations, to be a dynasty on their own. Esau does indeed form a dynasty of his own, and Genesis proceeds to list it without comment. Then they're listed again, this time called chiefs. Clearly Abraham's descendants are either made of honourable stuff, or they've made themselves wealthy enough to be honoured among their community. They are the ruling class. However, there is no emotion in these lists, no sign of special attachment, so it seems clear that the promise really has passed to Jacob.
We return to his story, as he finally takes his leave of Laban. There's always an undercurrent of fear when one of the patriarchs comes under the protection of another influential man. So now, Jacob departs in secret, without saying goodbye, and Laban comes after him, all sweet words, but actually upset because his household gods have been stolen. Seems that Rachel has learned some tricks too. We'll see how this story finishes tomorrow.