Scripture Post #1,561: *FATHER'S APPROVAL*

 

Genesis 28:9:

"Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife."

Context:

Gen. 28:6: "When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;"

V. 7 "And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;"

V. 8 "And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;"

V. 9 "Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife."

Esau saw the blessing on the life of his younger brother and how pleased his father, Isaac, was with him. So Esau aimed to please his father by marrying within the family, as Jacob, his younger brother had done. (Inbreeding was common and honorable in those days.)

Originally Published: Wed. 12 • 21 • 16