Kabbalah Library

55. It is written about Esau, “The first one came out red.” “The first one came out”; he is called “first.” Was Jacob the first drop of semen and Esau the first one to emerge into the world? No, since it is written, “The first one came out,” meaning that the first from before, meaning during the seeding.” It is not written “And he came out first” without the “the” [in Hebrew], for then it could be said that he is first only in the exit, and not in the seeding.

Because Isaac comes from the side of the harsh judgment, since he is the state of the left of ZA, Esau came out red, having a red color from the side of Gevura. Had Jacob been the first in the seeding, meaning if the first drop of semen were Jacob, the first drop would have come out with a red appearance, and Jacob would not have been red. But Jacob was the second drop, which is why he did not emerge red, since that drop of semen was from the side of Rachamim [mercy], which incorporates the right side and the left side.

56. Esau’s drop of semen was not as Jacob’s drop of semen, since one is complete and one is incomplete. When Esau was sawn, Isaac was aiming at the conclusion of the harsh judgment, at the end of the left line, where the waste of gold begins, the shells. From the left side, Isaac elicited lights that are engraved in the organs of Esau; for this reason, Esau was filth, waste that had been melted from gold.

57. Hence, a person should aim at the time of the coupling for the desire of his Master, so that holy sons will emerge from him to the world. Isaac aimed in holiness, and aimed at the Sium [end] of the left line, where the shells begin, but it is holiness. It follows that when the first drop came out, it was precisely at that place. This is why it is written, “like a hairy garment all over,” meaning judgments, which are called “hair.”

58. David, of whom it is written that he was red, emerged from the beauty of the red color, the left line of Bina that shines in Malchut, and united with the holiness of his master. This is why it is written, “Now he was reddish, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance.” Conversely, Esau was from the waste of gold, which begins at the end of the left.

Jacob was the elder and first in his deeds, not from the drop of semen, but not from the drop of semen. Rather, the intention of the desire at the time of the coupling was in the great and strong tree, in ZA, the middle line, and Esau was from the intention of the desire at the place of the end of everything, the end of holiness, where the shells begin. In that sense, Jacob is the elder and the first, and Esau is younger than him. This is why it is written, “Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised.”

59. Esau is called “first,” as it is written, “The first came out red, all of him.” The Creator is called “first,” as it is written, “I am the first,” and He is destined to avenge the first, first, meaning that the Creator will avenge against Esau and build the Temple, which is called “first,” as it is written, “A … high throne from the first.” For the days to come, it is written, “The first to Zion, here they are, and I will give Jerusalem a herald.”

60. In the future, the walls of Jerusalem will reach high up near the King’s throne, as it is written, “And the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold.” The light of Malchut, the moon, will be as great as the light of ZA, the sun, and the light of the sun, ZA, will be seven times greater than it is now. Then, as it is written, “In that day, the Lord will be one and His name, One.”