It turns out, even the clothes in the Torah have a tale to spin. to a fascinating Midrash about Esau's special garments, found in Bereshit Rabbah 65.

In Genesis 27:15, we read, “Rebecca took the fine garments of Esau, her elder son, that were with her in the house, and she dressed Jacob her younger son.” But these weren't just any clothes. Bereshit Rabbah tells us these "fine garments" – the haḥamudot garments – were actually coveted trophies.

According to the Midrash, Esau had coveted – sheḥamad – these garments from Nimrod himself! He then, shall we say, acquired them. As it says in Proverbs 12:12, "The wicked covets the prey of the evil." Talk about a statement piece!

These weren't just for show, though. The text specifies that these garments "were with her in the house" because Esau used them to attend to his father, Isaac. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel even chimes in with a personal anecdote. He says, "I attended my father all my days, and I did not attend him one one-hundredth of what Esau attended his father." He explains that while he'd wear casual clothes around his father, Esau would only wear royal garments, believing it was the only way to properly honor his father.

But here's where it gets even more interesting. If Esau had multiple wives, why were these prized possessions kept at his mother's house? The Midrash offers a compelling explanation: Esau didn't trust his wives! He knew their true nature and kept the garments safe with Rebecca.

Rabbi Abba bar Kahana illustrates this point with a story about some rowdy individuals in Kefar Ḥatya. These guys would party hard in the synagogue every Shabbat eve, and then toss the bones at the poor scribe. When one of them was on his deathbed and asked who should care for his son, he chose the scribe, even though he had many "friends." Why? Because he knew the scribe was the most trustworthy. Similarly, Esau, knowing his wives' tendencies, entrusted his precious garments to his mother.

So, what does this all mean? It’s a reminder that appearances can be deceiving. Esau may have presented himself as honorable through his clothing, but his actions and the company he kept revealed a different story. The Midrash invites us to look beyond the surface and consider the deeper motivations and character of individuals. Sometimes, the clothes truly do make the man… or unmake him.