“Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the members of his household, and his livestock, and all his animals, and all his possessions that he acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to a land, due to his brother Jacob” (Genesis 36:6). “Esau took his wives” – “the heart of the wise inclines to his right, and the heart of a fool inclines to his left” (Ecclesiastes 10:2). “The heart of the wise inclines to his right” – this is Jacob, as it is written: “Jacob arose and lifted his children” (Genesis 31:17), and then “his wives” (Genesis 31:17).
“The heart of a fool inclines to his left” – this is Esau, as it is stated: “Esau took his wives” and then “his sons.” “And went to a land, due to his brother Jacob” – Rabbi Eliezer said: Due to a promissory note – “That your descendants will be strangers” (Genesis 15:13).41Esau understood that the descendants of Abraham who would inherit the Land of Israel would first suffer great persecution. He did not want to suffer, and was willing to forego the opportunity to inherit the Land of Israel. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Due to the shame.42He was ashamed because he sold the birthright to Jacob.