They are mentioned in the Bible. It describes how Esau sold his birthright for a lentil stew to his younger brother Jacob: "Then Jacob gave him bread and the lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." Or he simply loved lentils. They have a high protein content, making them a valuable and affordable food source, especially during intermittent fasting or a permanent vegetarian diet. And they are delicious too.