The antonyms “love” and “hate” in biblical covenant contexts and ancient Near East political texts refer respectively to keeping and not keeping covenant or treaty commitments. This same general sense is found in the marital covenant framework. One case involves Leah being described as “hated” and Rachel as “loved.” As Jacob’s first wife, Leah had covenantal matriarchal rights, which were disregarded in deference to her younger sister, Rachel, Jacob’s second wife. Against this background, the proposal made here is that the diametrically opposite divine disposition regarding Jacob and Esau in Malachi 1:2–3 has to do with covenant succession— God’s disregard for the right of primogeniture of Esau, said to be “hated,” in deference to his younger twin, Jacob, said to be “loved.”
HOW DID GOD HATE ESAU (MALACHI 1:2–3)?
by RON BERGEY in Vol. 7 No. 2 / Oct 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35285/ucc7.2.2021.art2
Keywords
Malachi 1:2–3, Romans 9:13, Genesis 29:30–33, Deuteronomy 21:15–17, Love, Hate, Jacob, Esau, Rachel, Leah, Covenant, Marriage, Primogeniture
Malachi 1:2–3, Romans 9:13, Genesis 29:30–33, Deuteronomy 21:15–17, Love, Hate, Jacob, Esau, Rachel, Leah, Covenant, Marriage, Primogeniture
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