He wasn't just miffed at his brother Jacob. He was incandescent with rage. Remember, Jacob had received the blessings meant for Esau, and Esau wasn't about to let that go. He wanted revenge, and not just any revenge.
Esau, consumed by his burning anger toward Jacob, swore he wouldn't use some impersonal weapon like a bow and arrow. No, no. He wanted to get up close and personal. He vowed to bite Jacob to death, to suck his very blood! Think about the sheer visceral hatred in that image.
But here's where the story takes a fascinating turn. Esau was, according to this legend, doomed to disappointment.
When Esau lunged at Jacob, ready to carry out his gruesome plan, something miraculous happened. Jacob's neck became as hard as ivory. Imagine the frustration! Esau, in his uncontrollable fury, could only gnash his teeth in a helpless rage.
The Midrash (a method of interpreting biblical stories) paints a vivid picture of this struggle. The brothers are compared to a ram and a wolf. The wolf, representing Esau, wants to tear the ram (Jacob) to pieces. But the ram defends himself, driving his horns deep into the wolf's flesh. Both howl in pain. The wolf, because he can't get his prey. The ram, fearing another attack.
Ginzberg, in his Legends of the Jews, recounts how Esau bawled because his teeth were hurt by Jacob's suddenly impenetrable neck. Jacob, understandably, was terrified that his brother would try again.
This image of Esau gnashing his teeth on Jacob's rock-hard neck isn't just a funny image. It's a powerful metaphor. What happens when we try to consume someone with our hatred? What happens when we let rage guide our actions? Do we really wound the other person, or do we end up hurting ourselves in the process?
Esau’s foiled attempt to bite Jacob reveals a profound truth. Sometimes, the armor we wear – even if it's divinely granted, like Jacob's ivory neck – isn't just there to protect us from others. It's there to protect us from the destructive power of hate itself.