A hunter's life is of necessity one of uncertainty as well as hardship ; days pass in which the greatest vigilance and the most strenuous exer tions may fail even to find, much less capture, game. Esau had on one occasion experienced such a disappointment, and, wearied with his un productive efforts, exhausted for want of suste nance, and despairing of capturing any prey, he was fain to turn his steps to his father's house for succour in his extremity. On reaching home be found his brother enjoying a carefully prepared dish of pottage : attracted by the odour of which he besought Jacob to allow him to share in the meal. His brother saw the exigency in which Esau was, and determined not to let it pass unimproved. Accordingly, he puts a price on the required food. Esau was the elder, and had in consequence im munities and privileges which were of high value. The surrender of these to himself Jacob makes the condition of his complying with Esau's petition. Urged by the cravings of hunger, alarmed even by the fear of instant death, Esau sold his birth right to his younger brother, confirming the con tract by the sanction of an oath. Jacob having thus got his price, supplied the famishing Esau with needful refreshments.
Arrived now at years of maturity, Esau, when 40 years of age, married two wives, Judith and Bashemath, both of whom were Canaanites, and, on account of their origin, were unacceptable to Isaac and Rebekah, especially the latter (Gen. xxvii. 46). Esau thus became alienated from the parental home, and the way was in some measure smoothed for the transference of the coveted birth right to the younger son.
The time for the fulfilment of the compact be tween the brothers at length arrived. Isaac is sick unto death.' His appetite, as well as his strength, having failed, is only to be gratified by provocatives. He desires some savoury veni son, and gives the requisite instructions to Esau, who accordingly proceeds in quest of it. On this Rebekah begins to feel that the critical time has come. If the hated Hittites arc not to enter with her less favoured son into possession of the family property, the sale of the birthright (the original idea of which she may have suggested to the plain man,' her son Jacob) must now in some way be confirmed and consummated. One essential particular remained—the father's blessing. If this should be given to Esau, all hope was gone ; for this, like our modern wills, would hand the inheritance and the accompanying headship of the tribe to Esau and his wives. Isaac, however, had lost his sight—indeed all his senses were dull and feeble. It was therefore not very difficult to pass off Jacob upon him as Esau. Rebekah takes her measures, and, notwithstanding Jacob's fears, succeeds. Isaac, indeed, is not without suspicion, but a falsehood comes to aid Jacob in his otherwise discreditable personation of Esau. The blessing is pronounced, and thus the coveted property and ascendency are secured. The affectionate endear ments which pass between the deceiver and the abused old blind father, stand in painful contrast with the base trickery by which mother and son had accomplished their end.
Esau, returning from the field, found that he had been deprived for ever of his birthright, in virtue of the irrevocable blessing, and but too naturally conceived and entertained a hatred of Jacob, and even formed a resolution to seize the opportunity for slaying him, which the days of mourning consequent on the approaching decease of their father would be likely to afford. Words
to this effect, which Esau let drop, were repeated to his mother, who thereupon prevailed on her younger son to flee to his uncle Laban, who lived in Haran, there to remain till time, with its usual effect, might have mitigated Esau's wrath. Meanwhile Esau had grown powerful in Idumma, and when, after many years, Jacob intended to return within the borders of the Jordan, he feared lest his elder brother might intercept him on his way, to take revenge for former injuries. He accordingly sent messengers to Esau, in order, if possible, to disarm his wrath. Esau appears to have announced in reply, that he would proceed to meet his returning brother. When, therefore, Jacob was informed that Esau was on his way for this purpose with a band of four hundred men, he was greatly distressed, in fear of that hostility which his conscience told him he had done something to deserve. What then must have been his surprise, when he saw Esau running with extended arms to greet and embrace him ? and Esau fell on his neck, and kissed him, and they wept.' Jacob had prepared a present for Esau, hoping thus to con ciliate his favour ; but, with the generous ardour which characterises, and somewhat of the disinter estedness which adorns, natures like his, Esau at first courteously refused the gift—' I have enough, my brother, keep that thou hast unto thyself' (Gen. xxxiii.) The whole of this rencontre serves to shew, that if Jacob had acquired riches, Esau had gained power and influence as well as property ; and the homage which is paid to him indirectly, and by implication, on the part of Jacob, and directly, and in the most marked and respectful manner by the females and children of Jacob's family, leads to the supposition that he had made himself supreme in the surrounding country of Idumma.
Esau from this time appears but very little in the sacred narrative. He was ready to accompany Jacob, or to send with him an escort, probably for protection, but Jacob's fears and suspicions in duced him to decline these friendly offers ; and they separated on the same day that they met, after an interview in which Jacob's bearing is rather that of an inferior to his lord than that of a brother, and Esau's has all the generousness which a high nature feels in forgiving an injury, and aiming to do good to the injurer. The latter, we are merely told, returned on his way to Seir' (Gen. xxxiii. 16).
Jacob and Esau appear together again at the funeral rites which were paid to their deceased father ; but the book of Genesis furnishes no par ticulars of what took place.
Esau is once more presented to us (Gen. xxxvi.) in a genealogical table, in which a long line of illustrious descendants is referred to Esau, the father of the Edomites' (Gen. xxxvi. 43). [Ipu MEA. Respecting Esau's wives, see BASHEMATH.] J. R. B.