In this episode we continue studying the Book of Genesis. In this episode we read the long list of names, reported to be Esau's descendants.

We also note that Esau and Jacob tried to live near each other, similar to the way Abraham and Lot lived near each but they had to separate because the land wasn't big enough to support the cattle of both brothers.

Even though the brothers had reconciled, somehow Esau's descendants were less than kind Jacob's descendants/ Israel, when they needed to pass through their land. And because of this they were perpetual enemies: Here's the text:

Numbers 20:14  And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

Numbers 20:15  How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:

Numbers 20:16  And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

Numbers 20:17  Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

Numbers 20:18  And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

Numbers 20:19  And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else,
go through on my feet.

Numbers 20:20  And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

Numbers 20:21  Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

Not only did they refuse to let them pass through their land on this occasion. They also watched when foreigners entered into Israels'city gates and did nothing.

For this God became angry and declared what they let happen to Israel would happen to them. Here's the text:

Obadiah 1:10  For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

Obadiah1:11  In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.

Obadiah 1:12  But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.

Obadiah 1:13  Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;

Obadiah 1:14  Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.

Obadiah 1:15  For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

In the Old Testament and in the New Testament Esau also known as Edom and his descendants don't have a good reputation. They are seen as prideful, brutish and profane and we are warned not to be like them.

Hebrews 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Hebrews 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Hebrews 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Hebrews 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.