It wasn't your typical baby shower, that’s for sure. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, but also… something else. Something a bit unsettling, perhaps?
The story, as told in Legends of the Jews, paints a vivid picture, far beyond the simple narrative we might remember. Rebekah's pregnancy itself was already extraordinary, but the births of her sons were nothing short of astonishing.
First came Esau. And let me tell you, he made quite an entrance. The legends say that he emerged from the womb carrying all the tumah, all the impurity. But that's not all. Imagine a baby born with a full head of hair, a beard already sprouting, and even... teeth? Both front and back teeth, no less! And the color! Blood-red, a foreshadowing, the legends hint, of his future, more violent nature.
Now, you might be thinking about brit milah, circumcision, that sacred covenant. Well, Isaac hesitated. The text explains that Isaac worried Esau's ruddy complexion pointed to poor circulation, and he delayed the ritual. He planned to wait until Esau turned thirteen, the same age Ishmael was when he entered the covenant. But when the time came, Esau stubbornly refused.
And then there was Jacob.
What a contrast! According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, Jacob was born "clean and sweet of body". The complete opposite of his brother in seemingly every way. In fact, Jacob was born already bearing the sign of the covenant on his body. That’s some serious spiritual pre-birth preparation, wouldn't you say? A rare and profound distinction.
But here’s a curious detail: Esau, too, bore a mark at birth. But it wasn’t a sign of holiness. It was an image of a serpent, nachash, the symbol, the legends explicitly state, "of all that is wicked and hated of God."
So, what are we to make of these contrasting births? These weren't just babies being born. These were destinies being revealed. These were the seeds of conflict and covenant, of blessing and struggle, all present from the very first breath. As we continue the story of Jacob and Esau, remember these dramatic entrances. They set the stage for everything that was to come.