Okay, so I saw a question the other day that said (something like): "Why did Esau despise his birthright?" Now, admittedly I did not read the story, but I was told by someone who studied the bible for years, that Esau did not despise his birthright. His twin brother Jacob tricked thier blind father into giving Jacob the birthright that should have gone to Esau. Can someone clear this up for me, or tell me where to find the story so I can read it myself?
Thank you!
2006-08-06 13:48:56 · 25 answers · asked by ♥Mira♥ 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esau
That's the easiest explanation to understand. Better than trying to decipher the bible version.
2006-08-06 13:51:54 · answer #1 · answered by Left the building 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recall a story from Catholic school of a blind man. He had two sons. One had a harry arm and the other a smooth arm. The one with the harry arm was to get the birthright which was some kind of blessing. I think it was something that couldn't be taken back once it was given. But the smooth armed son stole the birthright by covering his arm with an animal's hide making his arm feel harry. The blind man felt his arm and believed him to be the other son. Esau and Jacob could well be the name of these two sons.
Apparently, the older one did sell the birthright for stew, but still tried to claim it when the time came. So I guess both statements are right, Esau despised his birthright, (at least at that hungry moment,) AND the father was tricked.
2006-08-06 20:59:47 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Bodhisattva 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read Genesis 25 28-34
Despise is a strong word and I don't think Esau hated the fact that he was the first born because he was aware that the greatest blessing would go to the firstborn. Usually a lot is lost during the translation. What Esua did was give up his birthright, he traded it for a bowl of stew. He was so famished that he did not think rationally so I guess "despise" would mean that he didn't take it serious enough it wasn't important to him at the moment so he hated it. He just did'nt care.
2006-08-06 21:05:04 · answer #3 · answered by joeysgirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That person was obviously Muslim since they are the ones who think Esau was in the right. Esau gave up (pushed aside) his birthright for a bowl of stew. How much can you possibly adore your birthright if you will give it away for a bowl of stew? Esau wanted instant gratification (selfishness) over life-long blessing. Jacob asked Esau for his birthright, when Esau gave it up for a bowl of stew, Jacob did trick his father into giving it over. Jacob did something wrong too, but not as bad as Esau.It is obvious that Jacob wanted to be blessed more than Esau did.
2006-08-06 20:58:04 · answer #4 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is true, Jacob tricked his father w/the help of his mother. Look in Genesis 25:24-34 Perhaps Esau despised his birthright because he had given it up so quickly.
2006-08-06 20:56:25 · answer #5 · answered by poet_by_nature 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He despised his birthright when he sold it to Jacob for a bowl of stew.
Gen.25:29-34
Genesis 25:29-34 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom. [a] )
31 Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."
32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?"
33 But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.
2006-08-06 20:52:02 · answer #6 · answered by mom1025 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is more to it than just what is on the surface. Esau took his birthright for granted. He did not feel that he was responsible for being a good leader or caring for his people. He felt that he should get his inheritance simply because of the fact that he was his fathers 1st son. Jacob did not deceive Esau, he deceived their father Isaac.
One of the amazing things about the bible that is often overlooked is how stories are interwoven. Although Jacob later became Israel. Esau is symbolic in that the Jews of Jesus time assumed they would receive their inheritance simply by being Jewish. See Genesis about the 25th chapter.
2006-08-06 21:06:17 · answer #7 · answered by unicorn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
heres what happened: esau had the birthright as the oldest son. one day after working in the field he was tired and hungry. He was so hungry he sold his birthright to jacob for a mess of pottage(or a bowl of porridge). now it could be assumed that esau did not like his birthright considering the price he sold it for but i do not believe it says that he despised his birthright. the story of jacob and esau is in Genesis 25, beginning at verse 23.
2006-08-06 20:56:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's found in Genesis 27 where Jacob stole Esau's birthright.
2006-08-06 20:56:25 · answer #9 · answered by mx3baby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. I think the story is in Genesis, but Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for some food because Esau was hungry. So, it was legally Jacob's, but yes, Jacob (and his mother) tricked his father on his death bed for the blessing which should have been Esau's.
2006-08-06 20:53:45 · answer #10 · answered by * tj * 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for food. This means Esau did not treasure his birth right which is very significant in God's eyes.
2006-08-06 21:16:21 · answer #11 · answered by The Redeemed 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋