מלאכי, פרק א׳, פסוק ג׳

The historical and spiritual bond between God and the Israelites is powerfully reinforced by contrasting their destiny with the fate of Esau. The choice of Jacob and the rejection of Esau serve as absolute proof of God's eternal love for His people. If God’s love were based solely on the merit of their shared ancestors, He would have loved Esau equally. Instead, His love for the Israelites stems from their own actions and inner essence. In Esau's case, his wicked deeds erased the merit of his forefathers, transforming the divine relationship into one of hostility [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

This rejection was a direct result of the evil actions committed by Esau and his descendants, particularly the malicious joy they displayed during the destruction and exile of the Israelites [רד״ק]. A practical expression of this hostility occurred when God pushed Esau out of the land of Canaan and relocated him to Mount Seir. This reversed the natural order of the world, where the firstborn typically receives the finest and most choice portion [רש״י].

The ultimate proof of this dynamic lies in the physical ruin of Edom. Esau's inheritance, the territory of Mount Seir [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ], features mountains that are naturally inferior to the mountains of Israel [רש״י]. The primary approach among commentators is that the profound difference between the two nations became truly visible in the aftermath of their respective exiles. Although both nations were exiled and their lands destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the Israelites returned to their inheritance and are destined to be fully rebuilt in the Messianic era. Esau’s land, however, will remain desolate forever, never to be properly resettled by humanity.

Instead of supporting human civilization, the ruined land of Edom is doomed to become a permanent habitat for desert creatures. While some commentators explain that these ruins will be overrun by wild animals such as ostriches and jackals [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אבן עזרא], others suggest the desolate environment will become a breeding ground for desert snakes [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם].