Why did Isaac love Esau? Even before they were born, Jacob and Esau struggled in the womb.

They were destined, it seems to be eternal adversaries. Not only were they different in character

and appearance, they also held different places in their parents' affections. The boys grew up and Esau became a skillful hunter,

a man of the open country. While Jacob was a quiet man staying among the tents, Isaac,

who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebecca loved Jacob. Well, we know why Rebecca

loved Jacob.

Before the twins were born, the pains Rebecca felt were so great that she went to inquire of the Lord.

And this is what she was told.

Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated.

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 she 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 because he had a taste for wild game, as if his affections

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

terror was Yudea Tzaied. He knew how to trap. And Isaac loved him, says Rashi, because

entrapment was in his mouth. He Tzaied Bafiv. Issao, says Rashi, trapped Isaac by his mouth. Here's Rashi's comment on the phrase,

knew how to trap. He knew how to trap and deceive his father with his mouth. He would

ask him, Father, how should one tithe salt and straw? Consequently, his father believed him to be strict in observing the commands.

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