Commentators like Calvin and Henry see Esau's actions as a picture of flawed repentance. He observed his parents' displeasure with his Canaanite wives and tried to fix it by marrying an Ishmaelite. However, he didn't divorce his other wives or truly change his heart. This serves as a warning against trying to 'atone' for our sins with a single good deed rather than seeking a thorough, root-level change of heart and life.