Parshas Toldos: Maharsha - A Yetzer Hara In The Womb?
Rashi brings the Medrash that says that when Rivka passed a house of Avodah Zara, Eisav pushed to run out. However the gemara in Sanhedrin (91a) says that Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi agreed with Antoninus that the Yetzer Hara influences a person only when he leaves the womb. If so what made Eisav desire Avodah Zara in his mother's womb?
The Maharsha further asks from an incident in Yuma (82b) where a pregnant woman was famished for food to the point of danger on Yom Kippur. Rebbi Chanina whispered in her ear telling the baby that it was Yom Kippur. Her pangs did not subside and Rebbi Chanina quoted a pasuk that the child was a Rasha even in the womb. The Maharsha says that in that case it may have been the mother's bad influence. However what can we say about Eisav the son of Rivka?
The Chumash Mesilos Maharsha brings from the Be'er Sheva that there are two kinds of Yetzer Hara, one intellectual and one practical. Every child has intelligence in the womb, where it learns the whole Torah with a Malach. Obviously this child's intelligence is capable of distinguishing between good and evil. However practically speaking there is no Yetzer Hara pushing him to act evil in the womb. This is why Eisav, who intellectually chose the path of bad, pushed his way towards the exit when passing Avodah Zara. In the womb he was limited. He wanted to get to the outside world and receive his practical Yetzer Hara so that he can embark on his bad way.
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