An Important Lesson about Hypocrites
This was a sign that he would be a deceptive hunter, deceiving his father just as is the way of the hypocrites [tzavuim] who display themselves as people of humble and modest dignity [tzanuim] as is stated regarding the future [Zecharia 13:4]:
“...and they shall not wear a hairy mantle in order to lie….”
For that was the custom in that time: The tzanuim would wear a hairy mantle.
And perhaps in the days of Yitzchak, that was the custom then.
Therefore he [Esav] was born like a mantle of hair [as if] to say that he will be a nazir for God from the womb.
Yet he would be from the class of hypocrites.
The Hebrew term translated as “hypocrite” is tzavua—painted.
Like Esav, hypocrites “paint” themselves as special people who risk their lives and well-being to fulfill important mitzvot, like bringing fresh game to their father and asking pious-sounding questions like “Do I need to tithe the salt?”
But look at what else they’re doing.
(And I don't mean the mistakes or misjudgements we all make at times. You don't accidentally and repeatedly kill people, engage in occult worship, or violate young women as Esav did.)
As the Kli Yakar points out Toldot I, Esav didn’t need to hunt down his father’s meat—they had huge flocks of meat right there! (Sheep, goats, and cows…)
His father, Yitzchak Avinu, sent Esav out to capture wild game for the reasons explained in Toldot I, but those weren't the lessons Esav chose to learn.
I've noticed that dysfunctional people often do engage in deeds that demand hard work and dedication - and even courage.
The question is: For whom are they being so mosser nefesh...for God? Or their own ego?
And what ELSE are they doing when they think no one will catch on?
May we always merit the influence of the tzanuim and not the tzavuim.
The above translation is mine and any errors are also mine.