hand over this privilege?9 The other man demanded an oath as well so that the exchange would be binding. “Esau took the oath,”10 the text says. Behold, the order is now reversed, and the dignity of firstborn is transferred to the man conspicuous for virtue of soul. “Esau handed over the birthright,” the text says, that is, he traded the privilege given him by nature for food; hence, the text adds, “Esau treated the birthright as of no account,”11 proving unappreciative of the precedence given him