73. "And the boys grew..." (Beresheet 25:27). This refers to the side of Abraham, THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH IS CHASSADIM AND which caused them to grow. His merit supported them, for he was teaching them the precepts, as it is written, "For I know him, that he will command (Et) his children" (Beresheet 18:19). THE PARTICLE ET means that Jacob and Esau are included AMONG HIS SONS. Therefore, the explanation of, "And the boys grew," IS THAT THEY GREW IN HOLINESS, ONLY AFTERWARDS ESAU BECAME CORRUPTED. Rabbi Elazar disagreed. HE BELIEVES THAT each went his own way - one towards faith, and the other towards idolatry.
74. So it was. While still in Rivkah's womb, each went toward his own side. When she was performing good deeds or passing near a place that is favorable to the precepts of Torah, Jacob was glad and struggled to come out. And when she walked past a place of idolatry, the wicked one struggled to come out. This has already been explained. For that reason, when they were born into the world, each was drawn to the place he deserved. Therefore it is written, "And the boys grew, and Esau was a cunning hunter...," WHICH MEANS THAT HE LED PEOPLE ASTRAY TO REBEL AGAINST HASHEM.
75. "And Isaac loved Esau, for he relished his venison" (Beresheet 24:28). This verse has been explained. Here, it is written, "a cunning hunter, a man of the field," while elsewhere it is written, "he was a mighty hunter" (Beresheet 10:9). THERE IT MEANS THAT HE DELUDED MEN AND LED THEM ASTRAY TO REBEL AGAINST HASHEM; HERE, IT MEANS THE SAME. THUS, "a man of the field" is one who robbed and murdered people. And ESAU said HE WENT TO THE FIELD to pray, AS IT IS WRITTEN OF ISAAC, "AND ISAAC WENT OUT TO MEDITATE IN THE FIELD" (BERESHEET 24:63). He hunted AND CHEATED ISAAC through his mouth, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "HE RELISHED HIS VENISON (LIT. THERE WAS VENISON IN HIS MOUTH)." HE WAS CALLED "a man of the field," because his lot was not in a populated place, but in a desolate place, in the open wilderness, in the field. Thus, he was called "a man of the field."
76. You may ask why Isaac did not know of all the wicked deeds of Esau, as the Shechinah was with him AND HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. For without the Shechinah, how could he have blessed Jacob when he did? Assuredly, the Shechinah dwelt in his house and was with him always. But the Shechinah did not inform him of that, because Jacob was to be blessed only with the knowledge of the Holy One, blessed be He. And so it had to be. For when Jacob came before his father, the Shechinah came with him, and then Isaac saw in his mind that Jacob was worthy of being blessed and that he would be blessed by the approval of the Shechinah.