Genesis 28:6 - Meaning and Application

This passage about Esau appears in the middle of Jacob’s story for one of two reasons. It may show the power of a good example. Esau, though the older and stronger brother, now seems to think Jacob the better man, and he does not refuse to follow his lead in this matter of marrying within Abraham’s family.

Or it may show the foolishness of learning too late. Esau finally did what was right, but he did it after the time for it had passed. He saw that his father was displeased with the daughters of Canaan, but he could have known that much earlier if he had cared more about his father’s judgment than about his own appetite. Yet his attempt to fix things only made matters worse.

He married a daughter of Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, that is, the servant woman who had been sent away. Ishmael had been cast out and was not meant to share the inheritance with Isaac and his children. So Esau joined himself to a family that God had set aside, and he tried to strengthen his own claim by attaching himself to another claimant. He also took a third wife, while, so far as we know, his other two wives were still living and had not been divorced. And he did this only to please his father, not to honor God.

Now that Jacob had been sent far away, Esau seems ready to take first place at home. He likely hoped to win his father over and make him change his mind, so the blessing and promise would be placed on him instead of Jacob. In this way, he was wise too late, like Israel when they tried to go forward after God had already said no (Numbers 14:40), or like the foolish virgins who came after the door was shut (Matthew 25:11).

He also settled for a partial reform. He thought that pleasing his parents in one matter could make up for all his other sins. The text does not say that he repented of his hateful plan against Jacob. Later events show that he kept that malice. People with worldly hearts often think they are good enough because, in one area, they are not as bad as before. So Micah kept his idols, yet still thought himself fortunate to have a Levite, a priestly man from the tribe set apart for religious service, as his priest (Judges 17:13).