Both Ishmael and Esau are identified by Les Feldick as ancestors of Arab peoples, and both are outside the covenant line through Isaac and Jacob.
Les Feldick teaches that Ishmael, Abraham's son through Hagar, and Esau, Isaac's son and Jacob's brother, are both founders of Arab peoples. He stresses that while they are genetically children of Abraham, they are outside the covenant line of Isaac and Jacob (Clips 4, 7). Scripture records the birth of Esau and Jacob but does not itself use the term 'Arab' in the passages cited.
Genesis 25:23 — This verse shows that Rebekah's twins became two nations, with the elder (Esau) serving the younger (Jacob).
Genesis 25:24-26 — This passage records the birth of Esau and Jacob, the two sons of Isaac and Rebekah whose descendants are discussed.
Scripture records that before Rebekah gave birth to Jacob and Esau, the Lord told her: "Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). When she delivered, "the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them" (Genesis 25:24-26). The Bible text quoted in the evidence presents Esau as the elder twin of Jacob, both sons of Isaac and Rebekah, and it does not itself name their later descendants as Arabs.
Les Feldick teaches that all Middle Eastern families come from Abraham except the original Egyptians. He points to Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar the Egyptian, and to Esau, Isaac's son and Jacob's brother, as founders of Arab peoples. He explains that Ishmael and Esau were relatives, but they were outside the direct covenant line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and therefore became enemies of God's covenant people. Les also notes that the Arab world claims to be the true children of Abraham, because the Koran places the covenant promises with Ishmael rather than Isaac (Clip 4).
Les identifies Ishmael as Abraham's son through Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian slave. He says this came from Abraham's and Sarah's impatience and a fleshly idea, and that from Ishmael comes the Arab world. Les notes that the Arab world claims to be the true children of Abraham and the rightful owners of the Holy Land, because the Koran places the covenant promises with Ishmael (Clip 4). According to Les, although Ishmael was a child of Abraham, he was outside the covenant line, so his descendants are not heirs of the promises made to Isaac and Jacob (Clips 3, 7).
Les shows that Esau was Isaac's son and Jacob's twin brother. He notes that Esau married Canaanite/Hittite women and also daughters of Ishmael, which tied the families together (Clips 2, 3). Les groups Esau with Ishmael as relatives outside the direct line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and therefore outside the covenant promises. He says Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing Isaac gave Jacob (Clip 1).
Les explains that all Middle Eastern nations come out of Terah and Abraham and his two brothers. He mentions Lot, who had Moab and Ammonites, and Ishmael and Esau on the other side, all relatives but outside the direct covenant line (Clip 1). He also says the Egyptians were not originally Arabs but began to intertwine with these tribes through intermarriage (Clips 3, 5).
God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15
them a knowledge of Himself. Now, Abraham had no full view of the cross as we know it. We've picked that up from our New Testament. But granted, the Old Testament is full of prophetic utterances that Christ would die. The psalm says He would be buried, He'd be resurrected from the dead, He would ascend to the Father's right hand.
Esau and Ishmael Outside the Covenant Line
Les teaches that all Middle Eastern nations are relatives through Abraham, and that Ishmael and Esau, though relatives, are outside the covenant promises and enemies of God's covenant people.
Esau Marries Canaanites
Les notes Esau married Canaanite women, grieving Isaac and Rebekah, while Jacob married Leah and Rachel and became the father of the twelve tribes.
Esau Marries Into Ishmael's Family
Les shows that Esau married Hittite women and daughters of Ishmael, so the Middle Eastern families all come from Abraham except the original Egyptians.
Arab Claim to Abraham Through Ishmael
Les explains that Ishmael was born from Abraham and Sarah's fleshly idea using Hagar, and that the Arab world says they are the true children of Abraham because the Koran places the covenant with Ishmael.
All Middle Eastern People Interrelated
Les says that all Middle Eastern peoples are interrelated, with Ishmael's mother being Egyptian and Esau appearing later, so even Egyptians intertwined with these tribes.
Birth of Esau and Jacob
Les reads Genesis 25, explaining that God told Rebekah two nations were in her womb and that Esau would serve Jacob.
Ishmael and Esau Outside the Seed of Promise
Les says Romans 9 shows that not all of Abraham's genetic offspring are the seed of promise; Ishmael and Esau each had offspring, yet spiritually they are outside the covenant promises.
Genesis 25:23: And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
This prophecy given to Rebekah establishes the division between Esau and Jacob, whose descendants become separate peoples.
Genesis 25:24-26: And when her days to be fulfilled were, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
This is the actual birth record of Esau and Jacob, the two sons of Isaac and Rebekah whose descendants are discussed.
Les Feldick teaches that Ishmael, Abraham's son through Hagar the Egyptian, is the father of the Arab people. He notes that the Arab world claims to be the true children of Abraham, but Les places Ishmael's descendants outside the covenant line (Clips 4, 5).
Les Feldick teaches that Esau, Isaac's son and Jacob's brother, also represents Arab peoples. He points out that Esau married into Ishmael's family and groups him with Ishmael as relatives outside the covenant line (Clips 1, 3).
The Bible does not use the term 'Arab' in the passages quoted in the evidence. Les Feldick makes that identification through his teaching on the Middle Eastern family lines that descend from Abraham (Clips 1, 3, 5).
Watch the Teaching: God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15