Malachi 1:3

Hated Esau. From the context it seems that Edom, the nation of Esau’s descendants, is primarily referred to here rather than the man Esau himself. The use of the word “hate” is a typical Oriental hyperbole (see Gen. 29:33; Deut. 21:15; see on Ps. 119:136), and should not be taken in its strongest sense. The Lord here makes plain His preference for Jacob and his descendants over Esau and his descendants. This preference arose, of course, out of the relationship of the two brothers to God. Because Jacob was spiritually-minded and had soul-saving faith, loving the things of God, his sins were forgiven and he enjoyed God’s favor and fellowship. Esau, on the other hand, was a worldly-minded, “profane person,” with no desire or love for divine things, and so he put himself outside the divine favor (Heb. 12:16, 17).

Waste. Whereas after their return from captivity the Israelites again took possession of and cultivated their land, restoring Jerusalem and its Temple, the Edomites do not seem to have made a similar recovery from the desolation and destruction brought upon them by the Babylonians.

Dragons. Rather, “jackals” (see on Ps. 44:19). The country of Edom was left to the prowling of these wild beasts.