12:17 you know that afterward. The readers will remember the second stage of Esau’s loss, when his brother Jacob took his place as their father Isaac gave the solemn blessing (Gen. 27). This blessing included the substance of the promise made to Abraham (Gen. 12:2, 3; 27:29).

no chance to repent. Though Esau mourned his loss with tears (Gen. 27:38; cf. 2 Cor. 7:10), he did not actually repent of the sin of despising God’s promises. Another view is that the repentance he sought was a change in his father’s mind.