In the Bible, Esau is known as the eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah and the twin brother of Jacob. He is also known as Edom, which means “red,” as he was born with red hair. Esau’s story is a fascinating one, full of twists and turns, and it is intriguing to consider how many children he had.
According to the book of Genesis in the Bible, Esau had five children. His firstborn was a son named Eliphaz, who was born to his wife Adah. Eliphaz went on to have several sons of his own, including Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.
Esau’s second wife was named Basemath, and she gave birth to a son named Reuel. Reuel also had children of his own, including Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
Esau’s third wife was Oholibamah, daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite. Oholibamah gave birth to three sons: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah (Genesis 36:2-5).
While Esau’s story is often overshadowed by that of his younger brother Jacob, his descendants played a significant role in the history of the Israelites. The Edomites, who were the descendants of Esau, were a fierce and proud people who often clashed with the Israelites. In fact, the Bible tells us that the two nations were often at war with each other.
The Bible records specific clashes between the two peoples. King David conquered Edom, placed garrisons there, and made the Edomites subject to him (2 Samuel 8:13-14). The prophet Obadiah pronounced judgment on Edom, declaring that “no survivor will remain from the house of Esau,” while promising deliverance for the house of Jacob (Obadiah 1:17-18).
In conclusion, Esau, the eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah, had five children according to the Bible. His descendants, the Edomites, played a significant role in the history of the Israelites and were often at odds with them. Despite this conflict, David subdued Edom (2 Samuel 8:13-14), and the prophet Obadiah pronounced Edom’s downfall while Israel’s house of Jacob was promised deliverance (Obadiah 1:17-18).