Joshua 24:4

4 I gave to Yitzchak Ya`akov and Esav: and I gave to Esav Mount Se`ir, to possess it: and Ya`akov and his children went down into Mitzrayim.

Joshua 24:4 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 24:4

And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau
When Rebekah was barren, so that the children appeared the more to be the gift of God; though Esau perhaps is mentioned, for the sake of what follows:

and I gave unto Esau Mount Seir to possess it;
that Jacob and his posterity alone might inherit Canaan, and Esau and his seed make no pretension to it:

but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt;
where they continued many years, and great part of the time in bondage and misery, which is here taken no notice of; and this was in order to their being brought into the land of Canaan, and that the power and goodness of God might be the more conspicuous in it.

Joshua 24:4 In-Context

2 Yehoshua said to all the people, Thus says the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, Your fathers lived of old time beyond the River, even Terach, the father of Avraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

3 I took your father Avraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Kana`an, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Yitzchak.

4 I gave to Yitzchak Ya`akov and Esav: and I gave to Esav Mount Se`ir, to possess it: and Ya`akov and his children went down into Mitzrayim.

5 I sent Moshe and Aharon, and I plagued Mitzrayim, according to that which I did in the midst of it: and afterward I brought you out.

6 I brought your fathers out of Mitzrayim: and you came to the sea; and the Mitzrim pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Sea of Suf.