The Five Sins Esau Committed the Day Abraham Died

"And Jacob cooked a stew" (Genesis 25:29). Esau said to him, "What is the nature of this dish?" He answered, "That old man has died." Esau said, "The measure of strict justice has touched that old man!" He said, "If so, there is no reward to be given and no resurrection of the dead." And the Holy Spirit says, "Weep not for the dead" (Jeremiah 22:10) — this is Abraham; "weep sore for him that goes away" (ibid.) — this is Esau, and so on. "And Jacob cooked a stew." It was taught: on that very day Abraham our father passed away, and Jacob our father prepared a dish of lentils to comfort Isaac his father. And why lentils in particular? Just as a lentil is round, so mourning comes round to everyone. Others say: just as a lentil has no mouth [no opening or crease], so a mourner has no mouth [is silenced by grief]. The difference between them is whether one may comfort with eggs. Rabbi Yohanan said: that wicked man committed five transgressions on that day. He violated a betrothed maiden, as it is written, "And Esau came in from the field," and it is written elsewhere, "for he found her in the field" (Deuteronomy 22:27). He committed murder, for it is written here, "and he was faint," and it is written elsewhere, "for my soul is faint before murderers." He denied the resurrection of the dead, as it is written, "Behold, I am going to die" (below, verse 32). He denied the Essential Root [of faith, God Himself], for it is written here, "Why then do I have a birthright?" and it is written elsewhere, "This is my God, and I will glorify Him." He despised the birthright, as it is written, "And Esau despised the birthright" (below, verse 34).