Villains - Esau/'Eisav

(27) ויגדלו… ויהי עשו AND THEY GREW … AND ESAU WAS — So long as they were young they could not be distinguished by what they did and no one paid much attention to their characters, but when they reached the age of thirteen, one went his way to the houses of learning and the other went his way to the idolatrous temples (Genesis Rabbah 63:10).

(6)...The children struggled [va-yitrotzetzu] within her [Breishit 25:22] - R. Yokhanan and Reish Laqish [disagreed].

R. Yokhanan said: This one ran/ratz to kill that one, and that one ran to kill this one.

Reish Laqish said: This one set aside the commands of that one, and that one set aside the commands of this one.

R. Berachiah said in the name of R. Levi: So that it might not be said that, once he emerged from his mother's innards, he joined [in battle] with him, but rather while he was in his mother's innards, his fist was aimed against him. Hence the verse (Tehilim 58:4), "The wicked are estranged from the womb."

The children struggled within her - At the time when she stood near the synagogues and the study houses, Ya'aqov kicked to emerge. Hence the verse (Yirmiyahu 1:5): "Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you." And when she passed by the houses of idolatry, 'Eisav ran and kicked to emerge. Hence the verse: "The wicked are estranged from the womb."...

And were there synagogues and houses of study in those days? And there was no halachah save in the study of Shem and 'Ever, was there? But rather [this comes] to teach you that anyone who pays respects to the elderly, it is as if one paid respects to the Divine Presence.

...Sell me this day your birthright. [Breishit 25:31] They said that, when Ya'aqov and 'Eisav were in their mother's innards, Ya'aqov said to 'Eisav: My brother, there are two worlds before us, this world and the world to come. In this world there is eating and drinking, buying and selling, taking a wife and begetting sons and daughters. But in the world to come, there are none of these qualities. As you please, you take this world and I'll take the world to come. As it is said: "Sell me this day your birthright," like that very day when they were in their mother's belly. Immediately 'Eisav denied the revival of the dead, as it is said: "Here I am going to die!" At that very hour, 'Eisav took as his share this world, and Ya'aqov took as his share the world to come.

And when Ya'aqov came from the house of Lavan and 'Eisav saw his sons and daughters, slaves and maidservants, he said to him: Ya'aqov, my brother, this isn't how you spoke to me - that you would take the world to come and I would take this world. How did you get all this money that you rejoice with? 'Eisav turned it over in his mind - since the Holy One (blessed be He) had given [Ya'aqov] a reward from this world - that was not his portion - how much more would he not be rewarded in the world to come! Immediately, 'Eisav said: As you please, come and let's make a partnership. You take half of this world and half of the world to come, etc. Ya'aqov said to him: "My children are too tender" [Breishit 33:13] and they can't stand suffering, as it is said: "If they are driven hard for a single day..."

(41) יקרבו ימי אבל אבי The days of mourning for my father draw near — According tp its meaning — so that I may not cause grief to my father. There are Midrashic explanations of various kinds.

(41) And 'Eisav begrudged Ya'aqov about the blessing. Some expound for "about the blessing" - not about the blessing of Ya'aqov but rather about the blessing for 'Eisav that his father blessed him, "By your sword shall you live", and of that he was certain. And when it says "And 'Eisav begrudged Ya'aqov" he was relying upon "the blessing" that "By your sword shall you live, etc." "The days of mourning for my father draw near" and he will then not beget another son to avenge Ya'aqov my brother.