Romans 9:12

“It was said unto her, etc..] To Rebecca, (<012523>Genesis 25:23), the elder shall serve the younger, or “the greater shall serve the lesser”, an Hebrew way of speaking; so Japheth is called lwdgh, “the great”, or, as we render it, “the elder”, (<011021>Genesis 10:21); and the evil imagination is said f177 to be lwdg, “greater”, that is, elder than the good, thirteen years; (see Gill on “<422226>Luke 22:26”); The sense is, Esau shall be a servant to Jacob; which is to be understood, not of temporal servitude; for in this sense he never was a servant to him; so far from it, that as soon as Jacob had got the birthright and blessing, he was obliged to flee from the face and fury of Esau; and…”

“It was said unto her - By Yahweh; see Genesis 25:23. The elder - The oldest son, which was Esau. By the law of primogeniture among the Hebrews, he would have been entitled to special honors and privileges. But it was said that in his case this custom should be reversed, and that he should take the rank of the younger. Should serve - Shall be subject to; shall not have the authority and priority, but should be inferior to. The passage in Genesis Genesis 25:23 shows that this had reference particularly to the posterity of Esau, and not to him as an individual. The sense is, that the descendants of Esau, who were Edomites, should be inferior to, and subject to the descendants of Jacob. Jacob…”

“The elder - Esau. Shall serve the younger - Not in person, for he never did; but in his posterity. Accordingly the Edomites were often brought into subjection by the Israelites. Gen 25:23. Romans 9:13”

“9:12 “Your older son will serve your younger son”: God spoke these words to Rebekah before the twins were born (Gen 25:23). As the older of the twins, Esau was Isaac’s natural heir. But Esau sold his birthright to Jacob and ceded his position to his brother in fulfillment of God’s promise.”

“The elder: or, The greater, Gen 25:22, Gen 25:23; Sa2 8:14; Kg1 22:47 younger: or, lesser Romans 9:13”