Genesis 28:6-9·~1 min
Esau Marries Mahalath
Esau sees that Isaac has blessed Jacob, sent him to find a wife elsewhere, and disapproved of Canaanite women. Seeing this, he marries Mahalath from Ishmael’s family in addition to his existing wives.
N6ow Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to take a wife there, commanding him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,” 7and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and gone to Paddan-aram. 8And seeing that his father Isaac disapproved of the Canaanite women, 9Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael, in addition to the wives he already had.
Section summaryEsau notices that Isaac has blessed Jacob, sent him away for a wife, and shown his dislike of the Canaanite women. In response, Esau takes Mahalath from Ishmael’s line in addition to the wives he already has.
Role in the chapterThis brief section sets Esau beside Jacob and shows his late attempt to answer his father’s disapproval. It sharpens the contrast between Jacob’s sent obedience and Esau’s reactive adjustment.