The New Student's Reference Work/Esau

E'sau, also called Edom, the eldest son of Isaac and twin brother of Jacob, was the ancestor of the Edomites, an ancient people inhabiting Mt. Seir. He was a wild hunter, rash, passionate and generous, and no match for his crafty brother Jacob. When hungry from a long hunt, he sold Jacob his birthright as the elder son for a mess of pottage; but his anger, when he realized what he had done, was so great that Jacob fled into Mesopotamia. Esau met his brother, however, on his return from his long exile, and was reconciled to him.