And the boys grew
In stature, became strong and fit for business, and betook
themselves to different employments: and Esau was a cunning
hunter, a man of the field:
whose business lay in tilling and sowing it, which his father
Isaac followed sometimes; or rather he chose to range about the
field and hunt after beasts and birds, in which he was very
expert, and contrived traps and snares to catch them in; and this
course of life was most agreeable to his temper and disposition,
being active, fierce, and cruel; according to the Targum of
Jonathan, he was also a hunter and slayer of men, Nimrod and
Henoch his son: and Jacob was a plain man;
an honest plain hearted man, whose heart and tongue went
together; a quiet man, that gave no disturbance to others; a
godly man, sincere, upright, and perfect, that had the truth of
grace and holiness in him, as well as the perfect righteousness
of his Redeemer on him: dwelling in tents;
keeping at home and attending the business of the family, as we
afterwards find him boiling pottage, ( Genesis
25:29 ) ; or rather this denotes his pastoral life, being a
shepherd, he dwelt in tents, which could be removed from place to
place for the convenience of pasturage: Jarchi's note is,
``in the tent of Shem and in the tent of Eber;''agreeably to the Targum of Jonathan,
``a minister in the school of Shem, seeking doctrine from the Lord;''a student there, where he resided awhile, in order to be instructed in the doctrines of truth and righteousness.