A Portrait of Esav/2

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A Portrait of Esav

Exegetical Approaches

THIS TOPIC HAS NOT YET UNDERGONE EDITORIAL REVIEW

Evil

Esav is a wicked and deceitful character who rejects Hashem.

In utero – According to Bereshit Rabbah and Rashi, Esav portrayed 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 Reish Lakish further suggest that even Esav's animosity towards Yaakov began pre-birth, understanding the fetal "running around" as attempts to kill one another.2
"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, and Abarbanel assert that the words "אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד" refer to one who is deceitful4 and traps (צד) people with his words.5
  • Murderer – Targum Pseudo-Jonathan makes Esav even more wicked, suggesting that the phrase teaches that Esav killed people as well as animals.6
  • Asocial – Abarbanel asserts that the term "אִישׁ שָׂדֶה" refers to one who distances himself from society.7
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.
"וַיָּבֹא עֵשָׂו מִן הַשָּׂדֶה וְהוּא עָיֵף" – Most of the midrashic sources8 and Targum Pseudo-Jonathan find hints in this clause to two great sins of Esav, both murder and illicit relations.9
"הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ לָמוּת" – Bavli Bava Batra, the various Targumim, and Bereshit Rabbah read into these words a denial of the principle  of resurrection of the dead.
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.10
Esav's marriage – Targum Pseudo-Jonathan and Rashi assert that Esav married idolaters, and this is why they were a source of distress to his parents.
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.11 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.
Yitzchak's preference for Esav
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.  It is likely that this association, in part, motivates the harsh reading of Esav.

Mildly Negative

Neutral