What happened between the descendants of Esau and Jacob in the Old Testament?
The descendants of Esau, particularly the Amalekites through Eliphaz and Timnah, became arch enemies of Jacob’s descendants. When Israel came out of Egypt under Moses and headed to Sinai, their first war was against the Amalekites. These close relatives turned into longtime enemies throughout Old Testament history.
Les explains that Timnah was a concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek. He notes that the Amalekites originated from one of Esau’s offspring. When Israel came out of Egypt under Moses and headed down to Sinai, the first war they had to fight was with the Amalekites. Les points out that these were relatives, and all these relatives became arch enemies as Old Testament history unfolded. He illustrates that murders often happen within families because affiliations are closest and feelings are generated quickest, so passions and emotions get the best of us. Thus Esau’s line and Jacob’s line, though related, became bitter enemies.