Profeterna
The Lord's Love for Jacob and Hatred for Esau
The Lord assures Israel of His love by reminding them that He loved Jacob but hated Esau. When the people ask how He has loved them, the Lord points to Edom's desolation: its mountains are laid waste and its heritage has become a dwelling place for jackals. Even if Edom tries to rebuild, the Lord will tear it down, and Israel will see the Lord's greatness beyond their own borders.
Malaki 1,2-5
2I have loved you, says the LORD. But you ask, "How have you loved us?" Was not Esau Jacob's brother? declares the LORD. Yet I loved Jacob,
אָהַ֤בְתִּי אֶתְכֶם֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם בַּמָּ֣ה אֲהַבְתָּ֑נוּ הֲלוֹא־אָ֨ח עֵשָׂ֤ו לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וָאֹהַ֖ב אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹֽב׃
3but Esau I hated. I turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the jackals of the desert.[^1]
[^1]: "Loved" and "hated" here are covenant terms of choosing and rejecting, not expressions of emotional hostility.
וְאֶת־עֵשָׂ֖ו שָׂנֵ֑אתִי וָאָשִׂ֤ים אֶת־הָרָיו֙ שְׁמָמָ֔ה וְאֶת־נַחֲלָת֖וֹ לְתַנּ֥וֹת מִדְבָּֽר׃
4Edom may say, "We have been shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins." This is what the LORD of hosts says: They may build, but I will tear down. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.
כִּֽי־תֹאמַ֨ר אֱד֜וֹם רֻשַּׁ֗שְׁנוּ וְנָשׁוּב֙ וְנִבְנֶ֣ה חֳרָב֔וֹת כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הֵ֥מָּה יִבְנ֖וּ וַאֲנִ֣י אֶהֱר֑וֹס וְקָרְא֤וּ לָהֶם֙ גְּב֣וּל רִשְׁעָ֔ה וְהָעָ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־זָעַ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
5Your own eyes will see it, and you will say, "Great is the LORD, even beyond the borders of Israel!"
וְעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם תִּרְאֶ֑ינָה וְאַתֶּ֤ם תֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ יִגְדַּ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל לִגְב֥וּל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃