55. It is written of Esau: "And the first came out red" (Beresheet 25:25). "And the first," FOR HE IS CALLED 'FIRST.' It is not so that Jacob was the first drop OF THE SEED AND ESAU WAS THE FIRST TO COME FORTH TO THE WORLD, for it is written: "And the first," NAMELY, THE FIRST AT THE TIME OF PROCREATION. It is not written, 'first,' WITHOUT THE DEFINITE ARTICLE HEI, FOR THEN YOU MIGHT SAY THAT HE IS ONLY THE FIRST TO COME FORTH AND NOT THE FIRST OF THE SEED. Because Isaac came from the side of the Stern Judgment, BEING OF THE LEFT SIDE OF ZEIR ANPIN, Esau "came out red," NAMELY, WITH THE RED COLOR OF THE SIDE OF GVURAH. If Jacob was the first IN THE INSEMINATION, THAT IS, IF THE FIRST DROP OF SPERM WAS JACOB'S, then he would have been red, for the first drop LOOKS red AND JACOB WAS NOT RED. Thus, JACOB was from the second drop of sperm and he did not come out so RED, for that drop OF SPERM came from the side of Mercy and INCLUDED this side and that side, BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT.

56. The drop of sperm of Esau was not like that of Jacob, for that one was complete and the other was not. At the time OF THE INSEMINATION OF ESAU, Isaac's thoughts were centered on ending the Stern Judgment, MEANING AT THE END OF THE LEFT SIDE WHERE THE DROSS OF GOLD, NAMELY THE KLIPOT, STARTS. For he produced from his own side, the LEFT, lights imprinted on the limbs OF ESAU. Hence, Esau WAS filth, NAMELY the dross which was melted out of gold.

57. Therefore, we have learned that at the time OF MATING, a man should meditate on the desire of his Master so that his descendants will be holy. You might say that Isaac did not meditate ON HOLINESS. This is not so, for he centered his thoughts on Holiness and meditate on the end of the place OF THE LEFT SIDE, WHERE THE KLIPOT START BUT WHICH PERTAINS TO HOLINESS. When the first drop of the sperm came out, IT WAS exactly at that point. Therefore, it is written: "all over like a hairy garment" (Ibid.), NAMELY JUDGMENTS WHICH ARE CALLED 'HAIR.'

58. Come and behold: of David, IT IS WRITTEN THAT HE WAS "RUDDY," FOR he was created from the beauty of the red COLOR, WHICH IS THE LEFT SIDE OF BINAH AND WHICH ILLUMINATES MALCHUT. He was linked with his Master's sanctity. Therefore, it is written: "Now he was ruddy with fine eyes and good looking" (I Shmuel 16:12). THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID OF ESAU, FOR HE WAS CREATED FROM THE DROSS OF GOLD, WHICH BEGINS AT THE END OF THE LEFT SIDE, AS SAID. Indeed, Jacob was the firstborn, BEFORE Esau, not through the drop OF SPERM but because the intention DURING MATING was connected with the huge and mighty tree, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Esau CAME FROM THE DIRECTING OF DESIRE, at the place which is the ending of all, NAMELY, THE PLACE WHERE HOLINESS ENDS, FOR THERE THE KLIPOT BEGIN. FROM THAT ASPECT, JACOB IS REGARDED AS THE FIRSTBORN AND THE FIRST, AND ESAU WAS SMALLER THAN HIM. Therefore, it is written: "Behold, I will make you small among all the nations; you are greatly despised" (Ovadyah 1:2).

59. Rabbi Yehuda taught that Esau is called "first," as it is written: "And the first came out red." The Holy One, blessed be He, is called "first" as it is written: "I am the first and I am the last" (Yeshayah 44:6), "and with the last, I am he" (Yeshayah 41:4). The "first" will one day punish the "first," meaning THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, WILL PUNISH ESAU and build THE TEMPLE, WHICH IS CALLED 'first,' as it is written: "A glorious throne exalted from the beginning (lit. 'first')" (Yirmeyah 17:12). Of the days to come, it is written: "A harbinger (lit. 'first') to Zion will I give, behold, behold them, and to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings" (Yeshayah 41:27).

60. We have learned that one day the walls of Jerusalem will reach on high to the Throne of the King, as it is written: "At that time they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of Hashem" (Yirmeyah 3:17). Then, "the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold" (Yeshayah 30:26). FOR THE LIGHT OF MALCHUT, WHICH IS CALLED 'THE MOON,' WILL BE AS THE LIGHT OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS CALLED 'THE SUN,' AND THE LIGHT OF THE SUN, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, WILL BE SEVENFOLD MORE THAN IT IS NOW. Then, "on that day, Hashem shall be One and His Name One" (Zecharyah 14:9).