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NASB | Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he envisioned in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa, which he saw [in a divine revelation] concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. [Zech 14:5] |
Bible Question: Can someone please explain why in Malachi 1: v1-3, why did God hate Esau? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Esau! I think that part of the problem in understanding Scripture is due in part to the language... surely both Esau and Jacob are the twin sons of God's servant Isaac, why would a loving Father hate the offspring of his faithful servant? When we read Scripture it is necessary to read a well-rounded portion! In Genesis 25:24-34 we find that Yahweh had chosen Jacob, the younger twin, over Esau, the first born, we also discover that while Isaac had a preference for Esau, Rebecca had a preference for Jacob, and that Esau sold his first-born rights to Jacob in exchange for a meal! From the final verse on this passage, it could well be argued that God hated Esau because he traded his first-born rights for a simple meal! But in reality, Jacob had been chosen by Yahweh to receive Isaac's blessings as Jacob would later become God's friend and the name sake of God's people, Israel! Another argument could be presented as to Esau's choice in wives: When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah. (Genesis 26:34-35) Isaac rejected Esau's chosen wives because they were Hittite (pagan worship offends Yahweh)... later on we find that Jacob married onto his own lineage (servants of Yahweh)! Another root cause could be found on 27:30-41 where we find Esau's declaration of death against Jacob, as he blamed him for losing the first-born blessing. It is clear from the Old Testament that an enemy of Yahweh's people was an enemy of Yahweh! So it could be concluded that when Esau declared war (death) on Jacob, likewise, Yahweh became his enemy! We cannot know with exactness what truly transpired... we know that Esau promised death on to Jacob, we know that Jacob fled, served Laban in exchange for his wives and material possessions, that on his return Esau met him but did not kill him and that the two brothers lived in a separate region of the same country... What we do know for certain is that each step was contingent to God's Plan (Genesis 25:21-23; 28:10-15; 31:13; 35:1-13). I think that it is not so important to know every single meaning or root word (from a linguistic/theological view point) in Scripture, as it is to know God's Will: Yahweh chose Jacob over Esau because He deemed it so! He determines the course of His Plan not humanity! This same approach is found in God's choice between the sons of Joseph, choosing Ephraim, the younger, over Manasseh, the first born--not in vain is it said that only God's Will prevails: Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21) God Bless! Angel |