Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels…
Genesis 31:17 (NIV)Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household…
Genesis 36:6 (NIV)
I’m so enthralled by the Jewish studies and interpretations of the Torah.
Look closely at Genesis 31:17 and Genesis 36:6. The rabbis note that Jacob’s priorities were his children, and then his wives, whereas Esau’s priorities were his wives, and then his children. This was written this way intentionally, to teach us something.
What do you suppose it means?
Now, I am a little influenced by some of the Jewish writings on this, so my answer isn’t entirely my own, but I do have my own spin on it.
I think that the Children of Israel are a picture of a promise, and this promise is about the future. They are the hope. The wives, on the other hand, are a symbol of *right now.*
Jacob is thinking on the promise; Esau is thinking on his current and ever-present appetite. Food, sex, and violence.