Esau

• Esau (Hebrew עֵשָׂו, Standard Hebrew Esav, Tiberian Hebrew Ēśāw, from ‘sw, hairy) is the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the older twin brother of Jacob in the biblical Book of Genesis, who, in the Torah, was tricked by Jacob into giving up his birthright (leadership of Israel) for a "mess of pottage" (meal of lentils). (Genesis 25:29-34). From this, "Esau" in western religions has metaphorically stood for anyone who is tricked into a worthless bargain. Esau was considered to be a great hunter. The rivalry between the twins is archetypal of war between brothers.

The root of the name in Hebrew is derived from the word asuy denoting "completion", made and complete, since Esau was born hairy and very strong, being "completed" and not infantile. Esau has also been called Edom, which is also the name of the land where his descendants settled (Gen 36:16). The Book of Genesis connects this name with the red stew for which Esau exchanged his birthright (Genesis 25:27-34). Edom means 'red'.

• he saw

Symbolic struggle

The Biblical narrative describes Jacob and Esau in the womb of their mother Rebekah as being locked in constant struggle and combat. The narrative continues that she could not bear the pain of her pregnancy, yet is told by God that she will give birth to two nations who will always be locked in symbiotic combat each one trying to overpower the other. Later Jacob is described as a dweller of tents and Esau is a wild hunter.

The text (Genesis 25: vv 29-34) does not justify the allegation just made that Jacob tricked Esau into selling his birthright. What seems clear from the text is that Esau did not see his birthright as affecting anyone but himself while alive, hence his statement: "Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall the birthright do to me?" (verse 32) It is not at all clear that he was indeed about to die and the circumstances suggest anything but; the text says that he was faint, not that he was at the point of death. A traditional explanation is that his dramatic words were exaggeration. This is borne out by the fact that the text says (verse 34) that "Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink and rose up, and went his way." Not the action of a man who had actually been close to death minutes before. And trickery by Jacob? Certainly not. To trick is "to deceive, cheat, beguile." (Chambers 1998 edition)

Symbolism

Esau has been identified historically with the Romans, with the Christians (after Rome became Christian), and has been expanded to being identified with all non-Jews, whatever their religion. The Talmudic saying "It is well-known that Esau hates Jacob" (Hebrew: הלכה בידוע שעשיו שונא ליעקב) is often quoted, up to the present, by nationalist and isolationist Jewish groups asserting that Jew-hatred is an endemic and incureable phenomenon of all non-Jewish socieities, and that all efforts at reconciliation with non-Jews, achieving equality in a non-Jewish environment or assimilation are futile and doomed to failure.