A Portrait of Esav/2

A Portrait of Esav

Exegetical Approaches

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Wicked

Esav is a wicked and deceitful character who rejects Hashem.

Sources: Jubilees25:2-326:21-2335:10-4237:1-1538:1-15About Jubilees, PhiloQuestions and Answers on Genesis, IV:160-161Questions and Answers on Genesis, IV:165Questions and Answers on Genesis, IV:171-174Questions and Answers on Genesis, IV:198On the Birth of Abel and the Sacrifices 2 (4-6)About Philo, TargumimTargum Neofiti Bereshit 25:34Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Bereshit 25:27-34Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Bereshit 26:34-35Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Bereshit 27:31Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Bereshit 32:7Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Bereshit 33:1-4Targum Yerushalmi Bereshit 25:34Targum Yerushalmi Bereshit 32:7Targum Yerushalmi Bereshit 33:4About Targum NeofitiAbout Targum Pseudo-JonathanAbout Targum Yerushalmi, Bavli Bava Batra16bAbout the Bavli, Bereshit Rabbah63:6-14About Bereshit Rabbah, Pesikta DeRav Kahana3:1 ("Zakhor")About Pesikta DeRav Kahana, TanchumaToledot 8Vayishlach 4Toledot 2Toledot 3About the Tanchuma, R. Saadia GaonCommentary Bereshit 25About R. Saadia Gaon, RashiBereshit 25:22Bereshit 25:27-28Bereshit 25:29Bereshit 25:32-34Bereshit 26:34-35Bereshit 27:5Bereshit 32:7Bereshit 32:12Bereshit 33:4About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, Minchat YehudaBereshit 25:27About R. Yehuda b. Elazar, RanDerashot HaRan 2About R. Nissim Gerondi, AbarbanelBereshit 25 QuestionsBereshit 25:19Bereshit 25:24, 29About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, SefornoBereshit 25:27-34Bereshit 26:35Bereshit 27:1Bereshit 32:7About R. Ovadyah Seforno, R. S"R HirschBereshit 25:27About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch, MalbimBereshit 27:1Bereshit 27:5About R. Meir Leibush Weiser

In utero – According to Bereshit Rabbah and Rashi, Esav displayed his wicked tendencies already in utero.  Whenever Rivka passed a house of idolatry, he would push in the womb,¹ drawn to worship there.  R. Yochanan and Resh Lakish further suggest that the fetal movements ("וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ") were attempts to kill or overpower one another, and that even Esav's animosity towards Yaakov began before they were born.²

"אַדְמוֹנִי כֻּלּוֹ כְּאַדֶּרֶת שֵׂעָר"

"אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד אִישׁ שָׂדֶה" – Many of these sources understand this phrase as describing Esav's character rather than his profession:³ 

• Trickster – Bereshit Rabbah, Tanchuma, Rashi, Abarbanel⁴ and R. Hirsch⁵ assert that the words "אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד" refer to one who is deceitful and traps (צד) people⁶ with his words.⁷
• Murderer – Targum Pseudo-Jonathan makes Esav even more wicked, suggesting that the phrase teaches that Esav killed people as well as animals.⁸ Jubilees similarly suggests that he learned the art of war.
• Asocial – Abarbanel asserts that the term "אִישׁ שָׂדֶה" refers to one who distances himself from society.⁹

Contrast between the brothers

• Many of these sources portray the twins as total opposites, making Esav the wicked counterpart of the righteous Yaakov. Abarbanel goes as far as to suggest that all the negative traits inherited from Rivka's deceitful ancestors went to Esav, while all the positive traits from Avraham's side went to Yaakov.
• R. Hirsch asserts that the fact that the two brothers had such different natures in and of itself did not mean that one was to follow a path or righteousness while the other turned away from such a path. Esav's traits of energetic strength and courage, and even his cunning could all have been harnessed for the good, had his parents recognized these and taught him according to his nature.  The fact that they did not is what led to his downfall.

"וַיָּבֹא עֵשָׂו מִן הַשָּׂדֶה וְהוּא עָיֵף" – Most of the midrashic sources¹⁰ and Targum Pseudo-Jonathan find hints in this clause to two great sins of Esav, both murder and illicit relations.¹¹

"הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ לָמוּת" – Most of these sources¹² read into these words a denial of the principle of resurrection of the dead or the world to come.

Scorning the birthright – According to Rashi and Seforno, the birthright merited one to act as priest in serving Hashem.  Thus in rejecting it, Esav was in effect scorning Hashem.¹³ R. Hirsch points out that this was Esav's general tendency, to always give up the spiritual for material gain.

Esav's marriage – Jubilees, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Rashi and R. Hirsch assert that Esav married idolaters, and this is why they were a source of distress to his parents.  Jubilees adds that they were full of fornication and debauchery, without any righteousness.

Yaakov and Esav's reunion – According to most of these sources, Esav went to greet Yaakov with an army of 400 men, intent to battle his brother.¹⁴ Many of the midrashic sources and Targumim further suggest that Esav's kiss upon greeting Yaakov was not sincere, but rather an attempt to bite his brother.  Jubilees does not depict the reunion, but instead has Esav's clan convince him to fight his brother after their parent's death.¹⁵

Yitzchak's preference for Esav

• Unaware of wickedness – According to many of these sources, Yitzchak was unaware of Esav's true nature either because Esav tricked him into believing he was righteous,¹⁶ or because he had a natural love for his eldest son and was convinced of his bravery and strength by his tales of hunting.¹⁷ R. Hirsch adds that often people are attracted to their opposites, so Esav's active nature appealed to him, and he did not see beyond to the negatives that lay underneath.
• No preference for Esav – According to Seforno the verse is not saying that Yitzchak preferred Esav, but that he loved him also¹⁸ (in contrast to Rivka who loved only Yaakov).¹⁹ 
• Split the blessing – Malbim  suggests that Yitzchak was aware of his son's ways²⁰ and had never intended to give him the blessing of Avraham, but only a material blessing. He thought that both his children would be partners.  Yaakov would devote his life to service of Hashem, while Esav would provide for all his physical needs.

Esav's descendants – Esav's descendants, Amalek and Seir=Edom, have come to represent the arch-enemy of Israel throughout the ages. In midrashic literature, Edom is associated with Rome, the contemporary enemy, and it is likely that this association in large part motivates the harsh reading of Esav.

Negative

Esav is an unworthy character with several faults, but not wicked and immersed in heinous crimes.²¹

Sources: Ibn EzraBereshit 25:27Bereshit 25:32-34Bereshit 27:40About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RadakBereshit 25:22-23Bereshit 25:27-28Bereshit 25:29, 31-34Bereshit 26:34-35Bereshit 27:4-5Bereshit 32:7About R. David Kimchi, R. Avraham b. HaRambamBereshit 25:23Bereshit 25:27-29Bereshit 25:31, 34Bereshit 26:34Bereshit 32:7About R. Avraham Maimonides, RambanBereshit 25:22-23,28Bereshit 25:34Bereshit 28:25Bereshit 32:8About R. Moshe Nachmanides, RalbagBeiur Divrei HaParashah Bereshit 25:23-34Bereshit 25:19-34 Toelet 4Bereshit 27:1-28:9 Toelet 2Bereshit 27:1-28:9 Toelet 8About R. Levi b. Gershon

In utero – These commentators do not read into the fetal movement any significance regarding the character of Esav, but Radak, R. Avraham b. HaRambam and Ramban do suggest that it foreshadowed the rivalry and hatred between the brothers and their future nations.

"אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד אִישׁ שָׂדֶה" – Most of these sources suggest that this description sheds negative light on Esav's character:

• Deceitful – Ibn Ezra and Ralbag see in Esav's chosen profession a sign of his devious nature, since the way of a hunter is to catch his prey by traps and cunning.
• Power-hungry – R. Avraham b. HaRambam compares this phrase to the similar one by Nimrod, "הוּא הָיָה גִבֹּר צַיִד", and asserts that it connotes one who chases power and wealth.²²
• Physical – Radak more simply asserts that Esav chose a worldly path rather than a spiritual one marked by wisdom.

Scorning the birthright – These commentators split in their evaluation of Esav's actions during the sale:

• Neutral –  Ibn Ezra does not fault Esav for scorning the birthright, claiming that Esav thought it likely that he would die before his father and that the birthright was not worth much in any case, as Yitzchak was poor.²³  His willingness to sell it, thus, was understandable.²⁴
• Negative –  Ramban asserts that Esav's action betrayed his need for immediate gratification, saying that he acted as a fool who thinks only of the moment and not the future.  Radak similarly points to his gluttony, while R. Avraham faults his disregard for the spiritual.

Esav's marriage – Radak and R. Avraham suggest that in marrying at forty Esav was attempting to emulate his father.  Nonetheless, all these sources fault him for not consulting with his parents or realizing on his own that the marriage was problematic.²⁵ Ramban points out that even when Esav corrects his mistake by marrying into Yishmael's family, he does so only halfheartedly, for he neither divorces his first wife nor goes to his mother's family to find a new wife.

Yaakov and Esav's reunion – These sources assume that Esav went to greet Yaakov with evil intent, but that he was appeased by the gifts and Yaakov's show of subservience.  Radak goes further to say that he forgave Yaakov and was filled with feelings of mercy towards him.²⁶

Yitzchak's preference for Esav

• No preference – Radak suggests that in reality Yitzchak loved Yaakov more than Esav; the verse is simply saying that the only reason he liked Esav was due to the food he brought him.  He chose to bless him, similarly, not because he was deserving and  beloved, but precisely because he was not and thus needed the blessing more than Yaakov.²⁷
• Unaware of true nature - Ralbag asserts that Yitzchak was not aware of Esav's faults since Esav would deceive him.  When he discovered that Yaakov was more worthy, he switched his allegiance.²⁸
• First born and food supplier - Ibn Ezra and Ramban assert that Yitzchak's preference related to the fact that he brought him delicacies, as the simple reading of the verse suggests.  Ramban further asserts that Yitzchak meant to give Esav the blessing of Avraham since he was the first born. As Ramban does not posit that Esav had any grievous faults, first born status was enough to merit the blessing.²⁹

Esav's descendants

Neutral

Sources: JosephusAntiquities 1:18:1Antiquities 1:18:4-8Antiquities 1:20:1Antiquities 2:1:1About Josephus, RashbamBereshit 25:22,27-28Bereshit 25:31-34Bereshit 32:7-8Bereshit 32:21-29About R. Shemuel b. Meir, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorBereshit 25:29-30Bereshit 25:34Bereshit 27:45Bereshit 32:7-8About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, ShadalBereshit 25:31Bereshit 32:7About R. S.D. Luzzatto

In utero – These sources understand the twin's pushing to be the regular fetal movement of babies,³⁰ exacerbated due to the fact that there were two.  They do not suggest that it revealed anything about the character of the boys, though it was symbolic of the future hatred between the two nations. 

"אַדְמוֹנִי כֻּלּוֹ כְּאַדֶּרֶת שֵׂעָר" – According to these sources, this is just an external description of Esav which had no bearing on his inner qualities. Jospehus, interestingly, makes no mention of Esav's redness, perhaps due to the negative connotations often associated with it in antiquity.³¹

"אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד אִישׁ שָׂדֶה" – Most of these sources do not read into these terms a description of Esav's character, apparently understanding them to be simply a statement of his occupation. Shadal, though, suggests that "אִישׁ שָׂדֶה" refers to a hard man of the wilderness and that this chosen occupation, involving snares and the like, stood in contrast to the innocence of Yaakov. Shadal admits, though, that Yaakov, too, at times made use of trickery and does not seem to judge Esav harshly for this aspect of his being.

Contrast between the brothers – Josephus omits the contrast entirely, perhaps to ensure that one not not make a negative conclusion based on the foil.  ³²

Scorning the birthright
– Most of these sources³³ do not find Esav's scorning of the birthright problematic, and view it neither as a foolhardy dismissal of a lofty status, nor as a rejection of Hashem:

• Life over money – R. Yosef Bekhor Shor assumes that Esav was literally on the verge of death when he sold his birthright for the lentils and thus does not fault him for his actions, pointing out that Esav rightfully recognized that all the money in the world is not worth one's life.
• Logical deal – Rashbam and Shadal also assume that Esav's actions were understandable, believing as he did that he might very well die before his father due to the dangers involved in hunting.³⁴  Shadal even points out that Esav independently kept his side of the deal, moving to Seir and leaving Canaan to be inherited by his brother.

Esav's marriage

Yaakov and Esav's reunion

Yitzchak's preference for Esav

Esav's descendants

¹ This is the midrashic understanding of the phrase, "וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ הַבָּנִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ".

² It should be noted, though, that according to these sages the attempts are two-sided.  Both brothers try to kill or overpower the other, and so the statement is not meant to vilify Esav as much as to portray the eternal battle between the siblings.

³ On a textual level, the fact that Yaakov is described by two terms, one of which describes his nature ("אִישׁ תָּם") and one which supplies his profession ("יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים"), might have led commentators to suggest that the parallel two terms by Esav must also speak of both his character and his profession.

⁴ It is unclear from Abarbanel if he thinks the words are a metaphor or if he assumes that Esav chose the hunting profession since it was suited to his deceitful nature.

⁵ undefined

⁶ R. Hirsch does not read the phrase in this manner but rather suggests that suggests that Esav's very essence was that of a hunter who stalks his prey, insidious and full of cunning.

⁷ Tanchuma describes how he would trick his father into believing that he was God-fearing by asking questions even about the minutiae of legal practice, such as the laws of tithing salt.

⁸ R. Abba b. Kahana in Bereshit Rabbah and Rashi maintain that even the term "אַדְמוֹנִי" refers to this murderous trait and denotes one who spills blood. Abarbanel and explains similarly, and further suggests that hairiness, too, is associated with a nature of cruelty and anger.   Malbim, instead associates redness with cruelty and the hairiness with an intellectual and moral deficit.

⁹ R. Hiyya in Bereshit Rabbah instead suggests that Esav "הפקיר עצמו כשדה". See Rashi who explains similarly, describing Esav as a loafer.

¹⁰ Rashi follows partially in their interpretation, mentioning murder but not rape.

¹¹ As evidence, they point to Devarim 22:25 where the laws of raping an engaged woman speak of it occurring "בשדה" and to Yirmeyahu 4:31 which mentions being "עיף" in connection to killing.

¹² See Bavli Bava Batra, the various Targumim, Bereshit Rabbah, R.Saadia Gaon and Malbim.

¹³ R. Saadia does not explain exactly what the birthright constituted be he also views the sale as evidence of Esav's misplaced priorities: "בא לגנות את עשו שמכר במחיר נמוך כזה את המעלה הרמה". Bavli Bava Batra and Targum Pseudo-Jonathan similarly view the rejection  as a sin, but do not elaborate.

¹⁴ Abarbanel presents Yaakov's messengers as assuming that Esav's entourage was a show of respect to his brother, but Yaakov himself understanding it to be a gathering for war.  It is unclear from Abarbanel who was correct and what Esav's intentions actually were.

¹⁵ This is presumably related to Esav's thoughts in the Biblical text that when the mourning of his father passed he would avenge Yaakov.  According to Jubilees the attack ends with Esav dying at Yaakov's hands and a sweeping victory to Yaakov who then puts his brother's men into servitude.

¹⁶ See Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Tanchuma, Rashi and R. Hirsch who explain that "כִּי צַיִד בְּפִיו" refers to tricking Yitzchak with his words.  Bereshit Rabbah seems to suggest, instead, that through feeding Yitzchak, he gained his favor.

¹⁷ This is how Abarbanel explains the term "כִּי צַיִד בְּפִיו"; Esav's mouth was filled with stories of his hunting.  Malbim and R. Hirsch raise this possibility as well.

¹⁸ See Radak below who explains similarly.

¹⁹ He does agree, though, that he did not appreciate the full level of Esav's wickedness and that he even contributed to it by not rebuking him.

²⁰ He suggests that it was Esav's marriage which allowed him to see that his son was unworthy.

²¹ The sources below range in their evaluation, with Ibn Ezra and Ramban viewing Esav as only mildly negative and Radak and Ralbag much more so.

²² Nimrod is the first person described to rule over a vast kingdom, so R. Avraham understands his description as a "גִבֹּר צַיִד" to be related to this role as ruler.

²³ See Ramban's many arguments against this supposition.

²⁴ Ralbag explains similarly but nonetheless thinks that Esav was wrong not to value it.

²⁵ In contrast to the above approach, though, none of these exegetes say that the wives were idolaters.

²⁶ In his very next comment, though, he brings the midrash which discusses the masoretic dots above the word "וַיִּשָּׁקֵהוּ" and mentions both understandings of the phenomenon, that it either emphasizes Esav's sincerity or his lack thereof.  Radak does not choose between the two options, though his earlier comment would work better with the first explanation.

²⁷ According to Radak, the blessing given was not the legacy of Avraham, which would automatically go to the deserving child, but a more material blessing.  Yitzchak assumed that bopth son were to blessed, Yaakov with the spiritual blessing of ברכת אברהם, and Esav with a physical one.  Cf. Malbim above who explains similarly and develops this idea.

²⁸ This is why he tells Yaakov to marry from within the family.

²⁹ He assumes that only Rivka had heard the prophecy that "the elder will serve the younger" and that she did not share it with her husband.

³⁰ Josephus only alludes to the struggle in the womb in his words, "her belly was greatly burdened", perhaps hesitant to speak openly about the struggle between Isarel and Eav=Rome.   L. Feldman, in Jospehus' Interpretation of the Bible (Los Angeles, 1999):314-324, points out that throughout his work, Josephus was faced with a great dilemma in deciding how to portray the character of Esav.  In his time Esav was already associated with Rime and Josephus could not anatgonize his Roman audience by denigrating him, yet the Biblical text obviously rejects him in favor of Yaakov.  Thus he walked a "tightrope", neither extolling one nor belittling the other. 
In reporting the prophecy received by Rivka one already sees this tension.  Josephus chooses to write that "the younger will excel the older" rather than "the older shall serve the younger" so as not to imply that Rome will inevitably be weaker than Judea.  In light of Rome'srecent victory, this would have sounded absurd to his readers.

³¹ See above that Josephus was wary of antagonizing his Roman audience by painting a negative portrait of Esav.  L. Feldman (see above note) points out that in Roman society red hair was a sign of servitude, with many slaves being depicted as red haired and being called Rufus (red).

³² Rashbam and R. Yosef Bekhor Shor's understanding of the verse to focus on the brothers' professions has a similar effect.

³³ Josephus does not include the episode at all.

³⁴ Rashbam points out further that Yaakov paid for the birthright not just with the stew but with actual money.  Thus Esav was not throwing away the birthright for nothing. Nonetheless, Rashbam does point out that afterwards Esav regretted his decision, proving that he did act somewhat impetuously.