"Jacob I loved, but Esau I have hated."
Many people have come to this conclusion based on , but Paul is quoting from Malachi and it will only make sense when reading the passage in Malachi.
“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’” Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”
It is quite common in the Bible for the Lord to speak of nations using the nation’s ancestor in singular form. For example, in . Moab was the son of Lot; he had died long ago.
This is even more clear by using the name of the ancestor and then the name of the nation, as in .
Esau in the Bible
Esau's life isn't chronicled in detail in the Bible, so most people understandably don't know much about his life. However, the Bible is clear that despite the disregard Esau had for being Isaac's firstborn, he was blessed by Isaac.
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.
Esau's blessing is not obvious, but it is in the first half of the words of Isaac, recorded in .
It's then explained in more detail in .
Esau was given the land of Mount Seir by God, and the Israelites were told to not contend with Esau's descendants because of this. In contrast to this blessing that is recorded, there's no mention of God taking action against Esau. After being reconciled with Jacob, both brothers bury their father together ().
Edom in the Bible
His descendants are a different story, however. During the time of the Exodus, God told the Israelites not to despise the Edomites because they are their brothers ().
However, hundreds of years later, during the reign of Saul, Edom is mentioned again () as adversaries to Israel. Then, in the reign of David, Edom is subjected to Israel (), fulfilling and .
Later on, Edom revolts and breaks off from being ruled by Israel, in the reign of Jehoram (), fulfilling .
Then, when Jerusalem falls against Babylon and the Edomites take this as an opportunity to attack Israel in their trouble, that is when God's wrath rises against them.
The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives.
Thus, God opposed Edom for what they chose to do; and as 2 Chronicles shows, what they continuously chose to do.
(Other verses that record God's wrath at Edom: , , , , ).