The answer, according to Jewish legend, lies with Nimrod and some very special garments.
The stories tell us that Nimrod, a mighty hunter and king, possessed clothes imbued with an almost magical authority. These weren't just any garments. The Legends of the Jews tell us these clothes had an extraordinary effect. Animals, beasts, birds – they would all, of their own accord, bow down before whoever wore them. Imagine the power that conveyed! It wasn’t just about looking good; it was about commanding respect, inspiring awe, and wielding influence over all living things.
And who inherited this potent wardrobe? None other than Esau, the brother of Jacob. By slaying Nimrod, Esau gained not only victory but also the king's powerful attire. Talk about a dramatic wardrobe upgrade! Armed with these garments, Esau, like Nimrod before him, was able to exert dominion over both people and animals.
But the tale doesn't end there.
Picture this: Esau, fresh from his victory (and newly clad in magical garb!), hurries home, no doubt looking over his shoulder, fearing the wrath of Nimrod's followers. Exhausted, he arrives to find his brother, Jacob, in the midst of a very humble task.
According to the Legends of the Jews, Jacob was preparing a dish of lentils. Seems simple enough, right? But hold on, there's more to it than meets the eye. The text paints a picture of Jacob as a man of simplicity and modesty, despite being surrounded by servants. Even after a long day at the Bet ha-Midrash, the house of study, he would prepare his own meals rather than trouble others. This day was no different.
But why lentils? Well, Jacob wasn't just cooking up any old meal. He was making a mourner's meal for his father, Isaac, following the death of Abraham. The tradition of eating lentils in times of mourning goes way back. We find in Midrash Rabbah, that Adam and Eve ate lentils after Abel's murder, and the parents of Haran did the same when he perished in a fiery furnace. The round shape of the lentil, like a wheel, symbolizes the cyclical nature of death, sorrow, and mourning, constantly rolling from one person to another.
So, we have Esau, the powerful hunter draped in magical garments, and Jacob, the humble brother, stirring a pot of lentils, a symbol of grief and remembrance. What a contrast!
It makes you wonder: which is the more potent symbol? The garments of power, or the humble lentil, a reminder of our shared mortality? And what does it say about the different paths these brothers chose?