Did Esau Despise His Birthright or The Birthright?
Did Esau Despise His Birthright or The Birthright?
Genesis 25:34
While reading the negotiations between Esau and Jacob for the birthright, I observed a small difference from the way the Hebrew Bible and the English translation depicts the birthright in question.
On the one hand, English versions have:
So, Esau despised HIS birthright. Gen 25:34
On the other hand, the Hebrew Bible has:
Thus, Esau despised THE birthright (אֶת־הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ ; Gen 25:34)
Which Birthright?
So, which birthright did Esau despise? HIS birthright or THE birthright? And, does it really matter? The Genesis writer clearly includes “The” to the birthright, but records nothing about “HIS” birthright. How are we to understand this transaction?
Two Families
The Old Testament traces the lineage of two families: the family belonging to the seed of the serpent and the family belonging to the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15). It’s a unifying theme of the Bible. The family of the seed of the serpent will act like the serpent: they refuse to trust and obey the voice of the Lord and will be hostile (“enmity”) to members of the family belonging to the seed of the woman. The two families are at odds with each other throughout history.
So, how do we know what family people belong to? In a word, evidence. The evidence that a man or woman belongs to either family is demonstrated by their words and actions. Observe Cain’s actions: “Cain burned greatly with anger towards his brother” and killed him (Genesis 4:5-8). Abel represents the seed of the woman. Cain’s murderous actions against his own brother Abel demonstrates evidence about which family he truly belongs to, the seed of the serpent, despite being born to the same biological father and mother as his brother. The two brothers in actuality represent two families.
Observe King Saul’s actions. Though Saul was a genuine Israelite, of the tribe of Benjamin, he demonstrates evidence by his persecution of David that he also is a member of the family of the seed of the serpent. He might be an Israelite by blood, but, in reality, he is morally related to the seed of the serpent. The way we treat people is evidence of our true birthright, our true family. Saul is a member of the seed of the serpent.[1]
Two Families in the New Testament
This theme of the two seeds and two families is picked up by the apostle John. Some of the religious leadership of Jesus’ day believed him (John 8:31). Yet, their belief in him was not a saving faith. Though they claimed to be Abraham’s seed, Jesus set the record straight and correctly identified the family they truly belonged to:
You {the exact same group that believed in him} belong to your father,
the devil (the serpent), and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a
murderer from the beginning…When he lies, he speaks his native language
for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
Jesus identifies the evidence that they really belong to the seed of the serpent. Despite believing in him, they lie and want to kill Jesus. The evidence of lying and murder show that they are not of the seed of Abraham, but the seed of the serpent. Evidence in words and actions identify what family you really belong to.
THE Birthright
Let’s return to Esau and the birthright. Remember, it is words and actions that demonstrate our true birthright. By selling THE birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, Esau spurned, he despised THE birthright. In God’s redemptive program, there is only one true birthright that really matters, one family that is restored to God’s presence on Eden Mountain. That true birthright is to be part of the family of the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).
So, what birthright did Esau despise? Esau despised THE birthright, the only one that really matters in human history. So, yes, the question does really matter. Esau’s actions are linked to the larger story of God’s redemptive program in Genesis. Esau may have started out well, but at the end of the day, the slow leak in his life—devaluing God’s promises—took over and controlled his decisions. There are no blowouts in life, only slow leaks.
Saul also started out well, but as time progressed, his true birthright became clear by the evidence, the actions and words of his life. By their fruits—not their profession—you shall know them.
Fresh Starts
But there can be fresh starts. Another Saul, born from the tribe of Benjamin, who also persecuted God’s people, changed families. Due to the merciful intervention of Jesus Christ into his life (Acts 9,22,26), Saul of Tarsus was brought into the family of the seed of the woman (1 Timothy 1:12-17). The proof of that radical turnaround is demonstrated by the visible evidence of his life. And it is no coincidence that part of his conversion experience involved the loosening of scales from his eyes (Acts 9:18). No longer was he part of the seed of the serpent.
Thank you for reading.
[1] Saul and Esau are connected together intentionally, though they lived centuries apart. The conclusion of Esau’s meal and Saul’s meal are identical. The staccato verbs that conclude Esau’s meal (Genesis 25:34) are the verbs that conclude’ Saul’s meal. “he and his servants ate and rose and he went” (1 Samuel 28:25).