Esau עשו
Yaakov's twin brother, ancestor of Edom
Esav was born first, red and hairy; his brother followed, holding his heel. «Esav became a man who knew hunting, a man of the field, while Yaakov was a wholesome man, dwelling in tents.» Yitzchak loved Esav for his game; Rivka loved Yaakov.
On the day Avraham died he came in from the field famished and sold his birthright for lentil stew, and the Torah sums it up: «and Esav despised the birthright». Later, when Yaakov takes the blind father's blessing, Esav cries out «a great and bitter cry» and resolves to kill his brother once their father dies — which sends Yaakov to Charan.
Twenty-two years later they meet at the Yabok. Esav comes with four hundred men but embraces his brother and weeps. Peace is made, yet their roads part: Esav goes to Seir and becomes Edom.
In tradition Edom stands for power that lives by the sword, and later for Rome — though the sages praise his honour of his father.