Romans 9:12

The oracle quoted is taken from Genesis 25:23. The question whether it refers to the two brothers personally, or to the two peoples who shall spring from them, is settled by the words preceding: “Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall issue from thee.” Hence it follows that the oracle speaks neither of the two peoples separately from their fathers, nor of the two fathers separately from their descendants. Possibly Genesis gives greater weight to the idea of the two peoples, whereas Paul (Romans 9:11) thinks chiefly of the two fathers. It matters little; for a profound solidarity, at once physical and moral, connects the character of the race with that of the father.

The theocratic inferiority of Esau resulted historically from his profane spirit, which showed itself in the sale of his birthright; it was sealed by the blessing of Jacob. As to the people who sprang from Esau, this same inferiority appeared, first, in the fact that their dwelling-place was assigned outside the promised land properly so called, then in their submission to Israel under David, and finally, after several alternations of subjection and independence, in their final incorporation with the Jewish state under John Hyrcanus, and their obliteration from the number of the nations.

The translation of the words μείζων and ἐλάσσων by elder and younger, is rejected by Meyer as opposed to the natural meaning of the two terms. But it is quite impossible to give a different meaning than elder to the word μείζων in the passage Genesis 29:16, where it is contrasted with the term ἡ νεωτέρα, the younger. Even in Hebrew the meaning of the narrative is not certainly that Leah was physically greater than her younger sister. And in our passage how can Meyer hold that the term greater signifies that Esau was the stronger of the twins in their mother's womb!