10 against thy brother Jacob. Bible commentators have often written about Jacob and Esau as though Esau were the innocent victim of Jacob’s cupidity. However, a careful reading of the record will indicate that Esau and father Isaac were at fault in attempting to deprive Jacob of his God-ordained leadership of the chosen nation of Israel (see notes on Genesis 25–27). Esau’s resultant determination to slay Jacob, plus the influence of his pagan wives (Genesis 26:34-35; 27:41,46; 28:6-9), carried over into the attitude of all his descendants toward the children of Israel (note Ezekiel 35, especially verse 5). Finally, because of Edom’s continual harassment of Israel, God judged them with a decree of national extinction.