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The Edomite Enigma: Esau, His Children, and Romans 9:10-13
When we read Paul’s words in Romans 9:13, that God loved Jacob and hated Esau, what are we to make of it? While no one would question that God loved Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, did God hate Esau who was also a son of Isaac and Abraham’s grandson? If he did, why? But let’s back up a couple of verses. There’s more intrigue. When we read in 9:11 that God chose Jacob and not Esau, that his choice was not based on Jacob’s or Esau’s behavior (good or bad), and that the choice was made before either was born, what are we to make of that?
In The Edomite Enigma, Jonathan Williams provides a fresh approach by exploring the historical background of Paul's words. He believes a proper interpretation of Romans 9:10-13 comes by examining the history of Jacob and Esau, the history of Israel and Edom, the prophetic and extra-canonical statements about Edom, and the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. An examination of this history puts the interpreter in the correct frame of mind to approach the verses with the background that informed Paul rather than a centuries-later debates from various systematic theologies.
In The Edomite Enigma, Jonathan Williams provides a fresh approach by exploring the historical background of Paul's words. He believes a proper interpretation of Romans 9:10-13 comes by examining the history of Jacob and Esau, the history of Israel and Edom, the prophetic and extra-canonical statements about Edom, and the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. An examination of this history puts the interpreter in the correct frame of mind to approach the verses with the background that informed Paul rather than a centuries-later debates from various systematic theologies.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 13, 2025
If you follow my reviews you know I'm not exactly a Calvinist. Arguably Calvinism never would have arisen if not for Romans 9. Ironically, it's impossible to properly understand Romans 9 without understanding Paul's citations, and this has been a weak point in reformed exegesis. The problems Paul raises do not concern medieval Catholicism. Paul would have been puzzled by modern day debates over predestination. No, Paul is dealing with issues crucial to Judaism in the wake of Jesus's inaugurated kingdom. Has God failed the people of Abraham in inviting Gentiles into His plan?
This is where The Edomite Enigma is helpful. Williams points out to the irony of equating Esau with reprobation given God's promises - made even to the the Edomites - in the Old Testament. This is in keeping with my discoveries as I became better acquainted with the Old Testament for myself. Take Cain for example. He was the rejected son, but his condemnation was not inevitable. God took the initiative - not to cut off the way of salvation, but to illuminate the path to restoration. I recall my perplexity when Jacob was reconciled with Esau, and that God had blessed Esau in his own right. True, not as a covenant bearer, but in many of the ways the covenant was always meant to bless the nations. Same with Hagar and Ishmael. God hardly deals with them as vessels of destruction. Instead they receive a promise of their own.
Ultimately Romans 9 was never about limiting God's salvation but opening it up. Opening it the way He always intended, through a chosen remnant through whom God would bless all those who believe.
This is where The Edomite Enigma is helpful. Williams points out to the irony of equating Esau with reprobation given God's promises - made even to the the Edomites - in the Old Testament. This is in keeping with my discoveries as I became better acquainted with the Old Testament for myself. Take Cain for example. He was the rejected son, but his condemnation was not inevitable. God took the initiative - not to cut off the way of salvation, but to illuminate the path to restoration. I recall my perplexity when Jacob was reconciled with Esau, and that God had blessed Esau in his own right. True, not as a covenant bearer, but in many of the ways the covenant was always meant to bless the nations. Same with Hagar and Ishmael. God hardly deals with them as vessels of destruction. Instead they receive a promise of their own.
Ultimately Romans 9 was never about limiting God's salvation but opening it up. Opening it the way He always intended, through a chosen remnant through whom God would bless all those who believe.
January 16, 2025
The Edomite Enigma is one of the most stellar books that I have read expounding on difficult to understand biblical history. Dr Williams does an amazing job exegeting Romans 9 by looking at the passage with the understanding that the Jews at that time would have had. If you want to know more about the rich history of Jacob and Esau and of Israel and Edom without having to thumb through a difficult to understand dissertation, this is the perfect book for you.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews