What is the significance of the fact that the Torah refers to Eisav as ?ha?Rishon??
Pesachm, 5a: For keeping the three ?Rishon? ? written in Emor, in connection with the Yom-Tov of Pesach and of Succos and taking the Lulav, 1 Yisrael merited the three ?Rishon? ? 1. ? the ultimate destruction of the seed of Amalek; 2. ? to build the Beis-Hamikdash, and 3. ? the name of Mashi?ach. 2
What did the fact that Esav was born ruddy signify?
Rashi: It was a sign that he would be a murderer. 1
Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim: It shows that his blood was not absorbed, so Yitzchak decided that it is dangerous to circumcise him. When it persisted for a year or two, Yitzchak decided to wait until he turned thirteen; but then Eisav did not consent. 2
Malbim: It hints to anger, envy and all bad Midos that come from the redness. And since he absorbed the filth, cloudiness, physicality and Dam Nidah, Ya?akov came out clear.
Gur Aryeh: His complexion was a reflection of his future character. Otherwise, why would the Torah record this?
Da?as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim: As hinted in Yechezkel 35:6 - "Dam Saneisa ve'Dam Yirdefecha".
Why did everybody call him 'Esav'?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: Everybody called him 'Eisav' because he was born with all his hair 1 fully grown 2 (including a beard and all his teeth teeth ? Targum Yonasan).
Seforno: Refer to 25:24:1:2.
Hadar Zekenim: The Gematriya of ?Eisav? is the same as ?Shalom?. If not for that, no-one would be able to stand against him.
Riva: Regarding Eisav the Torah writes "Vayikr?u Sh?mo Eisav" (plural) since everyone saw him ? as opposed to Ya?akov, where the Torah writes ?Vayikra Sh?mo Ya?akov?, because only women present at the time of birth saw him holding the ankle. 3
Oznayim la'Torah: Everyone called him 'Eisav', because, due to his abnormal appearance, he stood out and was the talk of the town, whereas Ya?akov, who was a normal looking baby, did not attract attention, and it was only his father who called him 'Ya?akov'.
Malbim: He was born, comlete with evil character-traits were already evident at birth ? so everyone called him ?Eisav?, since they all understand matters of physicality.
Malbim - hair is a sign of [an improper] excess of the brain, and improper intellect. He could not accept proper attitudes, Midos and true beliefs that depend on intellect, or act justly in matters that depend on the body.
Ha'amek Davar: Body hair is a sign of adulthood. He was already Asuy (finished). Oznayim la'Torah - they called him Eisav and not Edom - until he declared, " ... min ha'Adom ha'Adom ha'Zeh" (25:30), because, bearing in mind that his face too was covered with hair, his ruddiness was less prominent than his hairiness.
Why was Esav born hairy, while Yaakov was smooth?
Maharal (Ohr Chadash, p. 186): Of the two of them, Esav took any aspect that was negative and deficient, and so he emerged physically repulsive. Yaakov was left physically (and spiritually) clean. 1
Also refer to 25:26:1.1:2 and 27:11:151:3.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "It is an indication that he would be a murderer." What does this mean?
Maharal (Derech Chayim 5:9, p. 247): Esav was the diametric opposite of Yaakov, in that Esav was a murderer, while Yaakov did not even see Keri in his life. 1 Similarly, Chazal say, "Yaakov Avinu did not die" (Ta'anis 5b).
Maharal: (See Rashi to 49:3.) Seed is the root of life, and wasting it is akin to murder (Nidah 13a).
Rashi writes: "'Entirely like a cloak of hair' - He was full of hair, like a woolen cloak that is full of hair." What is Rashi adding?
Gur Aryeh: He was not like a cloak made of hair, which is smooth. Rather, he was entirely like a cloak of wool, which is full of (protruding) hair.
