even before they were born.

Jacob and Esau struggled in the womb.

They were destined, it seemed to be, eternal adversaries.

Not only were they different in character and appearance,

they also had different places in their parents' affections.

Listen to the verse, the boys grew up and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the

open country while Jacob was an ishtam, a quiet man staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste

for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebecca loved Jacob. We know why Rebecca loved Jacob. Before the twins were born,

the pains Rebecca felt were so great. Vatelich Lidrushed, Hashem. She went to inquire of the Lord,

and this is what she was told. Shnego imbevitnech. There are two nations in your womb.

Two peoples from within you will separate.

One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.

It seemed as if God was saying that the younger would prevail and carry forward the burden of

history. So it was the younger, Jacob, whom Rebecca loved. But why in that case did

Isaac love Esau? Didn't he know about Rebecca's oracle? Hadn't she told him about it? Besides,

didn't he know that Esau was wild and impetuous? Can we really take literally the proposition that Isaac loved

Esau Kitsaiyid Bufiv because he had a taste for wild game, as if his affection were determined

by his stomach by the fact that his elder son brought him food that he loved? Surely not,

when the very future of the covenant was at stake.

The classic answer, given by Rashi, listens closely to the literal text.

Esau says the Torah knew how to trap Kiyah Tzaiyid, Yodeat Said.

Isaac loved him because he Tzai'd bef, because there was entrapment in his mouth.

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