Red Lentils

"And Esau came in from the field" (Genesis 25:29). Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Aybu, and Rabbi Pinchas in the name of Rabbi Levi, and the Rabbis in the name of Rabbi Simon: You find that Abraham lived one hundred and seventy-five years, and Isaac one hundred and eighty. But those five years that the Holy One, blessed be He, withheld from his life were because Esau committed two transgressions on that day, for Esau lay with a betrothed maiden, as it is said (Deuteronomy 22:27): "For he found her in the field." "And he was faint" (Genesis 25:29) - because he had killed a person, as you say (Jeremiah 4:31): "For my soul faints before the murderers." Rabbi said: He also stole, as you say (Obadiah 1:5): "If thieves came to you, if robbers by night." The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Thus I promised Abraham and said to him (Genesis 15:15): "And you shall come to your fathers in peace" - this is a good old age - yet he sees his grandson worshipping idols, uncovering nakedness, and shedding blood. Better that he should depart in peace. This is what is written (Psalms 63:4): "For your lovingkindness is better than life." (Genesis 25:30): "And Esau said: Let me gulp down some of that red, red stuff." Rabbi Ze'ira said: That wicked one opened his mouth like a camel. He said to him: I open my mouth and you keep loading it in and going on, like that which we learned: One does not stuff the camel nor force-feed it, but one may cram it (i.e., let it gulp). (Genesis 25:30): "of that red, red stuff" - Rabbi Yochanan and Resh Lakish. Rabbi Yochanan said: from it and from its source. Resh Lakish said: from it and from its like. He is red, and his dish is red, his land is red, his mighty men are red, his garments are red, the one who punishes him is red, in red garments. "He is red" (Genesis 25:25): "And the first came out ruddy." His dish is red: "Let me gulp down some of that red." His land is red (Genesis 32:4): "to the land of Seir, the field of Edom." His mighty men are red (Nahum 2:4): "The shield of his mighty men is made red," his garments are red, as it is said (Nahum 2:4): "the men of valor are clad in crimson." The one who punishes him is red (Song of Songs 5:10): "My beloved is white and ruddy." In red garments (Isaiah 63:2): "Why is your apparel red?"