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Save "Toldot ~ Hunger and Vision
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Toldot ~ Hunger and Vision
(כד) וַיִּמְלְא֥וּ יָמֶ֖יהָ לָלֶ֑דֶת וְהִנֵּ֥ה תוֹמִ֖ם בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃ (כה) וַיֵּצֵ֤א הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ אַדְמוֹנִ֔י כֻּלּ֖וֹ כְּאַדֶּ֣רֶת שֵׂעָ֑ר וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ שְׁמ֖וֹ עֵשָֽׂו׃ (כו) וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֞ן יָצָ֣א אָחִ֗יו וְיָד֤וֹ אֹחֶ֙זֶת֙ בַּעֲקֵ֣ב עֵשָׂ֔ו וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְיִצְחָ֛ק בֶּן־שִׁשִּׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בְּלֶ֥דֶת אֹתָֽם׃ (כז) וַֽיִּגְדְּלוּ֙ הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וַיְהִ֣י עֵשָׂ֗ו אִ֛ישׁ יֹדֵ֥עַ צַ֖יִד אִ֣ישׁ שָׂדֶ֑ה וְיַעֲקֹב֙ אִ֣ישׁ תָּ֔ם יֹשֵׁ֖ב אֹהָלִֽים׃ (כח) וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב יִצְחָ֛ק אֶת־עֵשָׂ֖ו כִּי־צַ֣יִד בְּפִ֑יו וְרִבְקָ֖ה אֹהֶ֥בֶת אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (כט) וַיָּ֥זֶד יַעֲקֹ֖ב נָזִ֑יד וַיָּבֹ֥א עֵשָׂ֛ו מִן־הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה וְה֥וּא עָיֵֽף׃ (ל) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֗ב הַלְעִיטֵ֤נִי נָא֙ מִן־הָאָדֹ֤ם הָאָדֹם֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֥י עָיֵ֖ף אָנֹ֑כִי עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמ֖וֹ אֱדֽוֹם׃ (לא) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִכְרָ֥ה כַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־בְּכֹרָֽתְךָ֖ לִֽי׃ (לב) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר עֵשָׂ֔ו הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י הוֹלֵ֖ךְ לָמ֑וּת וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לִ֖י בְּכֹרָֽה׃ (לג) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֗ב הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה לִּי֙ כַּיּ֔וֹם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע ל֑וֹ וַיִּמְכֹּ֥ר אֶת־בְּכֹרָת֖וֹ לְיַעֲקֹֽב׃ (לד) וְיַעֲקֹ֞ב נָתַ֣ן לְעֵשָׂ֗ו לֶ֚חֶם וּנְזִ֣יד עֲדָשִׁ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אכַל וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וַיָּ֖קׇם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וַיִּ֥בֶז עֵשָׂ֖ו אֶת־הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ {פ}

(24) When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. (25) The first one emerged red, like a hairy mantle all over; so they named him Esau. (26) Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of Esau; so they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born. (27) And the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the outdoors; but Jacob was a mild man who stayed in camp. (28) Isaac loved Esau because game was in his mouth; but Rebekah loves Jacob. (29) Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open, famished. (30) And Esau said to Jacob, “Give me some of that red stuff to gulp down, for I am famished”—which is why he was named Edom. (31) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” (32) And Esau said, “I am at the point of death, so of what use is my birthright to me?” (33) But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. (34) Jacob then gave Esau bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank, and he rose and went away. Thus did Esau spurn the birthright.

~ How is the family dynamic portrayed in these verses?

~ How do the inner characteristics of Yitzchak and Rivkah find counterpoints on Esav and Yaakov?

~ What is the set up for the selling of the birthright?

~ How does the text judge the actions of Esav? Does it judge the actions of Yaakov?

The nature of Esav...

Esau is identified in the Torah with Edom, a nation bordering on Judah to the southeast. During the First Temple period, Edom was sometimes a vassal of Israel or Judah, and sometimes independent, but was always the weaker party. After the destruction of Judah by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E., however, the Edomites took the opportunity to move into the Negev and southern Judean hill country as far north as Hebron, and remained entrenched there, even through the time that Judeans began to return from Babylon to resettle the land, beginning in 538 B.C.E. In keeping with this change of fortunes, we begin to see very negative evaluations of Edom during the Second Temple period. (Dr. Barry Dov Walfish, The Denigration of Esau, https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-denigration-of-esau)

וַיִּגְדְּלוּ הַנְּעָרִים (בראשית כה, כז), רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר מָשָׁל לַהֲדַס וְעִצְבוֹנִית שֶׁהָיוּ גְּדֵלִים זֶה עַל גַּבֵּי זֶה, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגְדִּילוּ וְהִפְרִיחוּ זֶה נוֹתֵן רֵיחוֹ וְזֶה חוֹחוֹ, כָּךְ כָּל י"ג שָׁנָה שְׁנֵיהֶם הוֹלְכִים לְבֵית הַסֵּפֶר וּשְׁנֵיהֶם בָּאִים מִבֵּית הַסֵּפֶר, לְאַחַר י"ג שָׁנָה זֶה הָיָה הוֹלֵךְ לְבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת וְזֶה הָיָה הוֹלֵךְ לְבָתֵּי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר צָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִטָּפֵל בִּבְנוֹ עַד י"ג שָׁנָה, מִיכָּן וָאֵילָךְ צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֹּאמַר בָּרוּךְ שֶׁפְּטָרַנִּי מֵעָנְשׁוֹ שֶׁל זֶה. (בראשית כה, כז): וַיְהִי עֵשָׂו אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד, צָד אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת בְּפִיו, לָא גְנַבְתְּ מַאן גְּנַב עִמָּךְ, וְלָא קְטַלִית מַאן קְטַל עִמָּךְ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ שׂוֹדָנִי, צַיְדָנִי. צָד בַּבַּיִת, צָד בַּשָּׂדֶה. בַּבַּיִת, הֵיךְ מְתַקְנִין מִלְחָא. בַּשָּׂדֶה, הֵיךְ מְתַקְנִין תִּבְנָא. רַבִּי חִיָּא אָמַר הִפְקִיר עַצְמוֹ כַּשָּׂדֶה. אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים לֹא דַיֵּינוּ שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּעְבַּדְנוּ לְשִׁבְעִים אֻמּוֹת, אֶלָּא אַף לֹא זוֹ שֶׁנִּבְעֶלֶת כַּנָּשִׁים. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אַף אֲנִי בּוֹ בַּלָּשׁוֹן אֲנִי פּוֹרֵעַ הֵימֶנּוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה מט, כב): וְהָיָה לֵב גִּבּוֹרֵי מוֹאָב בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כְּלֵב אִשָּׁה מְצֵרָה. (בראשית כה, כז): וְיַעֲקֹב אִישׁ תָּם ישֵׁב אֹהָלִים, שְׁנֵי אֹהָלִים, בֵּית מִדְרָשׁוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁם וּבֵית מִדְרָשׁוֹ שֶׁל עֵבֶר. (בראשית כה, כח): וַיֶּאֱהַב יִצְחָק אֶת עֵשָׂו כִּי צַיִד בְּפִיו, קוֹפַּרָא טָבָא לְפוּמֵיהּ, וְכַסָּא טָבָא לְפוּמֵיהּ. (בראשית כה, כח): וְרִבְקָה אֹהֶבֶת אֶת יַעֲקֹב, כָּל שֶׁהָיְתָה שׁוֹמַעַת קוֹלוֹ הָיְתָה מוֹסֶפֶת לוֹ אַהֲבָה עַל אַהֲבָתוֹ.

..."...And the youths grew up" (Bereishit 25:27). Rabbi Levi made an analogy to a myrtle and wild rosebush which grew next to each other; when they had grown, one gave forth scent and the other thorns. So too with these, for thirteen years they both went to school (beit hasefer) and came back from school, but after thirteen years this one went to study-houses (batei midrashot) and this one went to idolatrous temples (batei avodat kochavim). Rabbi Elazar said, until thirteen years a person needs to take care of their children - from this age onwards, they need to say "Blessed is the one who has exempted me from the punishment of this one." "And Eisav was a man who knew how to hunt..." (ibid.) - he trapped people with his mouth; "you didn't steal?! Who stole with you? You didn't kill?! Who killed with you?" Rabbi Abahu said, robber [is the same as] hunter. He "hunted" in the house and in the field; in the house he said "How do you tithe salt?" and in the field "how do you tithe straw?" Rabbi Chiya said, he made himself ownerless like a field. Yisrael said before the Holy Blessed One, "Master of all universes: is it not enough for us that we are subjugated by the seventy nations - must we also be subjugated by this one, who is penetrated like women?" The Holy Blessed One said to them, "Even I will come in the [Latin] language, I will be revenged upon them." Behold it is written, "And the heart of the heroes of Edom was on that day like the heart of a woman in labour" (Yirmiyahu 49:22). "But Ya'akov was a simple man, a dweller in tents..." (Bereishit 25:27) - two tents, the study-house of Shem and the study-house of Ever. "And Yitzchak loved Eisav, for game was in his mouth..." (Bereishit 25:28) a good piece of meat for his mouth, a good cup of wine for his mouth. "And Rivka loved Ya'akov..." (ibid.) - every time she heard his voice she would add love to her love.

~ What is the picture that the midrash paints of Esav?

~ Rabbi Chiya was alive in the land of Israel, then Palestine, between 180 and 230 CE. Who does he identify Edom with? Why?

~ What is the picture that the midrash paints of the family dynamics?

כתנאי (בראשית כ״ד:א׳-ב׳) וה׳ ברך את אברהם בכל מאי בכל ר״מ אומר שלא היתה לו בת רבי יהודה אומר שהיתה לו בת אחרים אומרים בת היתה לו לאברהם ובכל שמה. רבי אליעזר המודעי אומר אצטגנינות גדולה היתה לו לאברהם שכל מלכי מזרח ומערב משכימין לפתחו. רשב״י אומר מרגלית טובה היתה לאברהם תלויה בצוארו שכל חולה שראה אותה מיד נתרפא ובשעה שנפטר מן העולם נטלה הקב״ה ותלאה בגלגל חמה אמר אביי היינו דאמרי אינשי אידלי יומא אידלי קצירא. ד״א שלא מרד עשו בימיו ד״א שעשה ישמעאל תשובה בימיו שלא מרד עשו בימיו דכתיב (בראשית כה כט) ויבא עשו מן השדה והוא עיף וגו׳ ותנא אותו היום נפטר אברהם אבינו מן העולם ועשה יעקב אבינו תבשיל של עדשים לנחם את יצחק אבינו. ושעשה ישמעאל תשובה בימיו מנ״ל כי הא דרבינא ור״ח בר ביזנא הוו יתבי קמיה דרבא וקא מנמנם רבא א״ל רבינא לר״ח בר ביזנא ודאי דאמריתו משמיה דר״י כל מיתה שנאמר בה גויעה אינה אלא מיתה של צדיקים א״ל והא דור המבול דכתיב בהו גויעה א״ל גויעה ואסיפה קאמרינן והא ישמעאל דכתיב ביה גויעה ואסיפה אדהכי איתער בהו רבא אמר להו דרדקי הכי אמר רבי יוחנן ישמעאל עשה תשובה בחיי אביו מנ״ל דכתיב (בראשית כה ט) ויקברו אותו יצחק וישמעאל בניו מכדי ישמעאל קשיש מיצחק מ״ש דקחשיב ליה ברישא אלא ש״מ תשובה עבד ואדבריה ליצחק מקמיה. ודלמא דרך חכמתן קחשיב אלא מעתה (שם לה כט) ויקברו אותו עשו ויעקב בניו הכי נמי אלא ש״מ מדאקדמיה אדבורי אדבריה מקמיה ומדאדבריה ש״מ תשובה עביד:
On this point, however, the Tanaim of the following Baraitha differ. (Gen. 24) The Lord has blessed Abraham bakol (in all things). What does the word bakol mean? R. Maier savs: "He was blessed in not having any daughters." R. Juda says: "On the contrary he was blessed in having a daughter." Acherim says: "He had a daughter by the name bakol" R. Elazar the Modai, said: "Abraham, our father, was an astrologer; and therefore all the kings from the West and the East came to his door to ask his advice." R. Simon b. Jochai said: "A diamond was hanging on Abraham's neck, and when a sick man looked upon it, he was cured. And when Abraham passed away, the Holy One, praised be He! sealed it in the planet of the sun." Abaye said: "This is the reason for the statement: 'When the sun rises the sick become better.' " There is another explanation [of the word bakol] that as long as Abraham was alive Esau did not become bad. According to still others: "Because Ishmael repented in his days." That Esau did not rebel in his days, as it is written (Gen. 25, 29-34) and Esau came from the field, etc., and it was taught in a Baraitha that on that day our ancestor Abraham died, and Jacob boiled lentils to offer consolation to Isaac. And whence do we learn that Ishmael had repented? As It happened when Rabina and R. Chama b. Bizna were sitting before Raba while Raba was slumbering, Rabina then said to R. Chama b. Bizna: "Is it a real fact what you said in the name of R. Jochanan, that any death which is termed Geviah, refers only to a death of a righteous?" "Yes," came the reply. "But the same expression is also written concerning the generation of the flood?" "Our reference is only when the word geviah (departed) goes together with Asipha (gathered)." But concerning Ishmael both expressions are used." Meanwhile Raba awoke from his slumber. He then said to them: "Children, thus said R. Jochanan, 'Ishmael repented during his father's life, for it is written (Ib., ib. 9) And his sons Isaac and Ishmael, etc. And from the fact that Isaac is named first, although Ishmael was older, it is to be understood that Ishmael had repented and, knowing that Isaac was better than he, he gave him the preference.' " But perhaps the verse counts them inaccordance with their wisdom. Then the Scripture (Ib. 35, 29) And Esau, and Jacob, his sons, buried him, should also have said, Jacob and Esau, and not according to the age, as it is now. Hence, we infer that Ishmael had repented.

~ What is the connection the midrash makes between Avraham and Esav?

~ What is the scene of the sale of the birthright? When did it happen?

~ What is the contrast that this midrash makes between Esav and Yishmael? What didn't Esav do, ever? Does it make sense, if Esav is identified with the Roman Empire?

(א) ויגדלו … ויהי עשו. כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהָיוּ קְטַנִּים, לֹא הָיוּ נִכָּרִים בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, וְאֵין אָדָם מְדַקְדֵּק בָּהֶם מַה טִּיבָם; כֵּיוָן שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ בְנֵי שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה, זֶה פֵּרֵשׁ לְבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת וְזֶה פֵּרֵשׁ לַעֲ"זָ: (ב) ידע ציד. לָצוּד וּלְרַמּוֹת אֶת אָבִיו בְּפִיו וְשׁוֹאֲלוֹ אַבָּא, הַאֵיךְ מְעַשְּׂרִין אֶת הַמֶּלַח וְאֶת הַתֶּבֶן? כַּסָּבוּר אָבִיו שֶׁהוּא מְדַקְדֵּק בְּמִצְוֹת (תנחומא): (ג) איש שדה. כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, אָדָם בָּטֵל וְצוֹדֶה בְקַשְׁתּוֹ חַיּוֹת וְעוֹפוֹת: (ד) תם. אֵינוֹ בָקִי בְכָל אֵלֶּה, כְּלִבּוֹ כֵּן פִּיו, מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ חָרִיף לְרַמּוֹת קָרוּי תָּם: (ה) ישב אהלים. אָהֳלוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁם וְאָהֳלוֹ שֶׁל עֵבֶר:

(1) ויגדלו… ויהי עשו AND THEY GREW … AND ESAU WAS — So long as they were young they could not be distinguished by what they did and no one paid much attention to their characters, but when they reached the age of thirteen, one went his way to the houses of learning and the other went his way to the idolatrous temples (Genesis Rabbah 63:10).

(2) יודע ציד A CUNNING HUNTER literally, understanding hunting — understanding how to entrap and deceive his father with his mouth. He would ask him, “Father how should salt and straw be tithed”? (Genesis Rabbah 63:10) (although he knew full well that these are not subject to the law of tithe). Consequently his father believed him to be very punctilious in observing the divine ordinances.

(3) איש שדה A MAN OF THE FIELD — Explain it literally (i.e., not in a Midrashic manner): a man without regular occupation, hunting beasts and birds with his bow.

(4) תם A PLAIN MAN — not expert in all these things: as his heart was his mouth (his thoughts and his words tallied). One who is not ingenious in deceiving people is called תם plain, simple.

(5) יושב אהלים DWELLING IN TENTS — the tent of Shem and the tent of Eber (Genesis Rabbah 63:10).

בפיו. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ בְּפִיו שֶׁל יִצְחָק. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ בְּפִיו שֶׁל עֵשָׂו, שֶׁהָיָה צָד אוֹתוֹ וּמְרַמֵּהוּ בִדְבָרָיו:
בפיו [THERE WAS HUNTING] IN HIS MOUTH — Understand this as the Targum renders it: in Isaac’s mouth (i. e. Isaac ate the venison he brought home). But its Midrashic explanation is: there was hunting in Esau’s mouth, meaning that he used to entrap and deceive him by his words (Genesis Rabbah 63:10).

~ What is Esav's nature, for Rashi? Is this reading supported in the text of the Torah?

The nature of the family...

(א) איש שדה יודע בעבודת האדמה: (ב) יושב אוהלים שני מיני אהלים האחד אהל רועה והשני אהל בל יצען שבו התבונן להכיר בוראו ונקדש בכבודו:

(1) a man of the field - an expert farmer.

(2) sitting on tents - the plural indicates two tents; one is the tent used by shepherds, the other the tent described as "not moved" (Isaiah 33:20)in which one meditates to gain insight into one's Creator and become holy, inspired by God's glory.

ויאהב יצחק את עשו גם את עשו אע''פ שידע בלי ספק שלא היה שלם כיעקב:

And Yitzchak loved Esav - also Esau, not only Yaakov, even though he must have been aware that Esav was far less perfect than Yaakov.

ורבקה אוהבת את יעקב לבדו מפני שהכירה ברשעו של עשו:

Rivkah loves Yaakov - she only loved Yaakov, recognising the wickedness of Esau.

~ How does Sforno understand Esav? How does he understand Yaakov? How does he understand the dynamics in the family?

ויאהב יצחק את עשו גבי יצחק כתיב ויאהב ללמדך שלא היה יצחק אוהבו תמיד אלא באותו זמן כי ציד בפיו, אבל גבי יעקב שהיה איש תם כתיב ביה ורבקה אהבת את יעקב אהבה תדירה. ועוד דדרך אשה לאהוב את מי שמגדל בהמותיה.

“Yitzchak loved Esav” - in connection with Esau the Torah uses the past tense, "Itzchak loved Esav", to show that Yitzchak did not love Esav all the time, but only "when the game was in his mouth". But regarding Yaakov, who was a "simple person" the writes "and Rivka loves Yaakov" as her feelings for him were constant. Furthermore, it is the nature of women to love those who look after her domestic animals.

~ Chizkuni is reading the text closely and pointing out a difficulty on the verbs. Did you notice that in the translation? Do you think his explanation makes sense?

ויאהב יצחק את עשו. לא כתיב לעשו כמו ואהבת לרעך ויבואר בס׳ דברים ו׳ ה׳ דאהבה שענינה במחשבה ובלב כתיב באת. משא״כ אהבה שענינה מלוי רצון כתיב בל׳:

And Yitzchak loved Esav - The text does not have what we would expect when looking at the Hebrew "love your neighbor", it is not written with the lamed but with the direct object marker et, and it is explained in [the commentary] Devarim 6:5 that a love that has to do with the heart and the thought has the direct object marker et, which is not the case with a love that has to do with will, that one is written with lamed.

כי ציד בפיו. ביאר הכתוב שלא היו יצחק ורבקה מחולקים בדעות. ושניהם ידעו דעיקר הזרע אשר עליו נאמר כי ביצחק יקרא לך זרע. ביצחק ולא כל יצחק. הוא יעקב יושב אהל אברהם בתורה. ורק אהבה החוזרת היה ליצחק את עשו דמשמש לי׳ כעבדא ונהנה בשימושו מאד. משא״כ יעקב הי׳ יושב אהל ולא שימש הרבה ועיין עוד להלן כ״ו ל״ד:

Because game was in his mouth - the text comes to explain that Rivkah and Yitzchak were not divided in their thoughts. And both of them knew that the essence of [Avraham's] seed was in them, since it says "in Yitzchak your seed will be called." In Yitzchak, and not in all of Yitzchak - this is Yaakov, who would sit in the tent of Avraham, in the Torah. And the love of Yitzchak for Esav is the love that loves only in return, which points out to him as servant, and he enjoyed his service very much. This was not the case with Yaakov, who sat in the tent, and did not provide any service, and see more in 26:34.

ורבקה. שלא היתה נצרכת לשימוש בניה:

And Rivkah - who did not need any service from her sons.

אהבת את יעקב. לא הביטה אלא על המעלה והתכלית מש״ה כתיב לשון הוה ולא כמו ביצחק דלא כתיב ויהי יצחק אוהב משום דאהבת יצחק לא היה אלא במקרה ע״פ השעה. ובאמת בסוף ימיו נתהפכה האהבה. וע׳ מש״כ ס״פ זו. משא״כ אהבת רבקה היתה מצד טבע הענין. וגם היתה מוספת אהבה יום יום כמאמרם בעבודת כוכבים ד״ג כל הלומד תורה בלילה חוט ש״ח משוך עליו ביום:

Loves Yaakov - she did only paid attention to level and purpose, and that is why it is written in the present tense, and that was not the case with Yitzchak. With Yitzchak it was a case of a love that changes according to circumstance and time, and in truth his love changed at the end of his days. See what it is written there. But this was not the case with Rivkah, whose love was from the essence and nature of the issue. And she also added to her love daily as they say "whoever studies Torah at night has a line of lovingkindness that continues throughout the day" (Chagigah 12b:8).

~ How does the Netziv understand the different loves of Yitzchak and Rivkah for their children?

~ What are the family dynamics, according to him?

About that birthright...
הלעיטני. אֶפְתַּח פִּי וּשְׁפֹךְ הַרְבֵּה לְתוֹכָהּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ אֵין אוֹבְסִין אֶת הַגָּמָל אֲבָל מַלְעִיטִין אוֹתוֹ:
הלעיטני LET ME SWALLOW — I will open my mouth and you pour a lot in. The word is really used of feeding animals as we find the word in the Mishna, (Shabbat 155b) “One may not fatten up a camel on the Sabbath but one may put food (מלעיטין) into its mouth. ”

~ Note how Rashi's commentary is consistent with the denigration of Esav.

מן האדם האדם. עֲדָשִׁים אֲדֻמּוֹת, וְאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם מֵת אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאֶה אֶת עֵשָׂו בֶּן בְּנוֹ יוֹצֵא לְתַרְבּוּת רָעָה, וְאֵין זוֹ שֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה שֶׁהִבְטִיחוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה; לְפִיכָךְ קִצֵּר הַקָּבָּ"ה ה' שָׁנִים מִשְּׁנוֹתָיו, שֶׁיִּצְחָק חַי ק"פ שָׁנָה וְזֶה קע"ה, וּבִשֵּׁל יַעֲקֹב עֲדָשִׁים לְהַבְרוֹת אֶת הָאָבֵל. וְלָמָּה עֲדָשִׁים? שֶׁדּוֹמוֹת לְגַלְגַּל, שֶׁהָאֲבֵלוּת גַּלְגַּל הַחוֹזֵר בָּעוֹלָם (וְעוֹד מָה עֲדָשִׁים אֵין לָהֶם פֶּה, כָּךְ הָאָבֵל אֵין לוֹ פֶה, שֶׁאָסוּר לְדַבֵּר, וּלְפִיכָךְ הַמִּנְהָג לְהַבְרוֹת הָאָבֵל בִּתְחִלַּת מַאֲכָלוֹ בֵּיצִים, שֶׁהֵם עֲגֻלִּים וְאֵין לָהֶם פֶּה, כָּךְ אָבֵל אֵין לוֹ פֶה, כִּדְאָמְרִינַן בְּמוֹעֵד קָטָן (מועד קטן כא:) אָבֵל כָּל שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים אֵינוֹ מֵשִׁיב שָׁלוֹם לְכָל אָדָם וְכָ"שֶׁ שֶׁאֵינוֹ שׁוֹאֵל בַּתְּחִלָּה, מִג' וְעַד ז' מֵשִׁיב וְאֵינוֹ שׁוֹאֵל וְכוּ'; בְּרַשִׁ"י יָשָׁן):

מן האדם האדם הזה FROM THIS RED, EVEN THIS RED THING —red lentils. On that day Abraham had died in order that he might not see his grandson Esau falling into degenerate ways. This would not have been the “good old age” (cf. 25:8) which God had promised him; therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, cut his life short by five years — for Isaac lived 180 years and he only one hundred and seventy five. Jacob was boiling lentils to provide the customary first meal for the immediate mourners. Why should lentils be the mourner’s food? Because they are round like a wheel and mourning (sorrow) is a wheel that revolves in the world (it touches everyone sooner or later as a revolving wheel touches every spot in turn) (Bava Batra 16b). And a further reason is: just as lentils have no mouth — (the word mouth פה peh, is used in Hebrew of a serrated edge) — so, too, mourners have no mouth (appear dumb), for speech (greeting others) is forbidden to them. For this reason, also, it is customary to give eggs to a mourner as his first meal, because they are round and have no mouth (serrated edge) and similarly a mourner has no mouth (may not greet others), just as we say in Moed Katan 21b. “A mourner during the first three days (of the week of mourning) may not respond to the greeting of any person — it follows, of course, that he may not be the first to greet anyone — and from the third to the seventh day he may respond to a greeting but may not be the first to offer a greeting etc.” From “And a further reason” is to be found in an old Rashi text.

~ What are the lessons that Rashi decides to teach at this moment?

~ If this was a mourner's meal, what is the problem with the sale?

(א) הנה אנכי הולך למות. (מִתְנוֹדֶדֶת וְהוֹלֶכֶת הִיא הַבְּכוֹרָה שֶׁלֹּא תְהֵא כָל עֵת הָעֲבוֹדָה בַּבְּכוֹרוֹת, כִּי שֵׁבֶט לֵוִי יִטֹּל אוֹתָהּ, וְעוֹד) אָמַר עֵשָׂו: מַה טִּיבָהּ שֶׁל עֲבוֹדָה זוֹ? אָמַר לוֹ: כַּמָּה אַזְהָרוֹת וָעֳנָשִׁין וּמִיתוֹת תְּלוּיִין בָּהּ כְּאוֹתָהּ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ, אֵלּוּ הֵן שֶׁבְּמִיתָה: שְׁתוּיֵי יַיִן וּפְרוּעֵי רֹאשׁ; אָמַר: אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ לָמוּת עַל יָדָהּ, אִם כֵּן מַה חֵפֶץ לִי בָהּ?
(1) הנה אנכי הולך למות BEHOLD I AM IN PERIL TO DIE — The birthright is something unstable, for not always will the sacrificial duties be performed by the first-born, for the tribe of Levi will assume this. Further Esau said: What is the nature of this Service? Jacob replied, “Many prohibitions and punishments and many acts involving even the punishment of death are associated with it — just as we read in the Mishna, (Sanhedrin 22b): The following priests are liable to death: those who carry out their duties after having drunk too much wine and those who officiate long-haired. He said: If I am going to die through it, why should I desire it.

~ How does Rashi understand Esav's words "here I am going to die"?

השבעה לי כיום כאשר אמר עשו למה זה לי בכורה אינני חפץ בה אמר לו יעקב השבעה לי כי לא תחפוץ בה ולא תירשנה לעולם ונשבע לו ואחר כן מכרה לו ונתן לו המחיר או הנזיד שבקש ויתכן שאמר עשו למה זה לי בכורה הנה היא מכורה לך ויאמר השבעה לי שלא תערער על המכירה לעולם ואמר הכתוב שנשבע לו ומכרה כאלו אמר מכרה ונשבע לו:
SWEAR TO ME THIS DAY. When Esau said, “What is this birthright to me? I do not desire it,” Jacob said to him, “Swear to me that you will not desire it, nor will you inherit it forever.” Thereupon he swore to him, and following that he sold it to him, and Jacob gave him the purchase price or the pottage he desired.
It is possible that Esau said, “What is this birthright to me? It is sold to you,” and Jacob said, “Swear to me that you will never complain about the sale.” And when Scripture says that first he swore to him and then he sold it to him, its intent is as if it said that he sold it to him first and then swore to him.

~ What is the Ramban adding to the scene of the sale?

הלעיטני, כענין האכילני כמו שארז"ל (שבת קנ"ה) אין ממראין את העגלים אבל מלעיטים אותן, וכן אמרו (חולין נ"ח) שהלעיטה חלתית.
ויאמר...הלעיטני נא, the word הלעיטני is equivalent to האכילני, “feed me!” Our sages in Shabbat 155 in dealing with methods permissible to feed one’s livestock on the Sabbath, say אין ממארים את העגלים אבל מלעיטים אותן, “whereas it is forbidden to use mechanical devices to feed one’s animals one may do so by hand.” In other words, הלעטה describes the crudest form of introducing food into one’s mouth.
מן האדם האדם הזה, העדשים הקלופים הם אדומים, וכפל הדבור לרוב תאותן אליהן. על כן קראו שמו אדם, לפי שהתאוה מאד האדם:
מן האדם האדם הזה, a reference to the lentils, which when peeled, look reddish. The reason why he repeated the word האדם unnecessarily was that it reflects his intense desire for them. This is why he called his name Edom, to reflect the fact that he was always attracted, nay, fascinated by anything red.

~ What does the Radak add to the scene of the sale?

ומה שיישב זה, הוא מה שאמרו רבותינו ז"ל בבבא בתרא (ב"ב טז, ב) שאותו היום מת אברהם, ובישל יעקב עדשים להברות את האבל, ועשו לפי הנראה לא היה בפטירת אברהם כלל, לא דמעה עינו למותו, ולא נשבר לבו לאבל יצחק, אבל בא אליהם כחסר לב בוזה דרכיו, והוא התעסק בשדה בשגעונותיו, גם כאשר קרה מקרהו לבא אל הבית ומצא יעקב מתעסק בהבראת אביו, לא הסב אליה כמשפט לנוד ולנחם, אבל אמר כדרך הזוללים הלעיטני נא וגו', כלומר אפתח פי ושפוך לתוכה כמו שכתב רש"י ז"ל (בראשית כה ל). ובראותו יעקב מקלה אבותיו על זה הענין הזר, קינא מאד שירשם כבוד יצחק עליו יותר ממה שירשם על יעקב, כי כבוד הבכור על הצעיר הוא מצד היות האב מתחקה ונרשם יותר עליו כי הוא ראשית אונו, ולזה יחוייב הצעיר לכבד האח הגדול כמו שדרשו רבותינו ז"ל (כתובות קג, א), ואחרי היות עשו מקלה אבותיו איך ירשם כבודם בו יותר מיעקב, ולזה אמר יעקב לעשו בראותו רוע מעשיו, אחרי אשר אני מעלה אבותי על ראש תפארתי, וכיום אני מתיחס אליהם יותר ממך, מכרה כיום את בכורתך לי, כלומר שיהיה יחסנו אל אבינו בימים הבאים כיחסנו היום, כי אין מן הראוי שתריח כל היום ריח שדך ואנכי הולך בעקבות אבינו, וכאשר יעלה על רוחך תתנשא לאמר אשר עליך נקרא שם אבינו יותר ממני.
And this explanation is forthcoming in the words of our sages of blessed memory (Bava Bathra 16b) to the effect that on that day Abraham had died and Jacob was cooking a lentil dish for the mourner's meal. Esau, it seems, was not present at Abraham's demise at all, his eye had shed no tear for his death, and his heart had not broken over Isaac's mourning, but he related to them heartlessly and shamefully and pursued his frivolities in the field. Even when he chanced to come home and found Jacob busy preparing the mourner's dish for his father, he did not sit down, as was the custom, to nod his head in woe and to console, but he shouted out in the manner of the carousers (Genesis 25:30): "Pour me some of this red, red stuff!" That is, I'll open my mouth, and you pour it down! (as Rashi explains). And when Jacob saw him thus abhorrently demeaning his fathers, he was extremely pained that Isaac's honor should be more deeply stamped upon Esau than it was upon himself. For the respect due the elder son by the younger derives from the father's image being more deeply stamped and impressed upon the former in point of his being "the first of his strength." For this reason the younger brother is required to honor the elder, as our sages have explained (Kethuvoth 103a). But if Esau demeaned his fathers, how could their honor be more deeply impressed upon him than upon Jacob! For this reason, Jacob, seeing the evil of his ways, said to him: Because I consider my fathers the crown of my glory, and because (49)"As this day" I relate to them more deeply than you do (Genesis 25:31): "Sell as this day your birthright to me." That is, let our relationship to our father in the days to come be as it is this day. For it is not right that you walk around all day with the stench of your field and I follow in the footsteps of our father, and yet, whenever you feel like it, you vaunt yourself, saying that our father's name is more deeply impressed upon you than upon me.
וסיפר (בראשית כה, לד) שיעקב נתן הלחם והנזיד לעשו, ושמח בנפשו למה שמילא כרסו, וביזה הבכורה, [ו]גם אחרי לכתו לא ניחם על סכלותו ורעתו לומר מה עשיתי, והוא אומרו ויאכל וישת ויקם וילך ויבז וגו', כלומר גם אחרי לכתו. וזהו שלא מצאנוהו מתאונן עליה כלל כי אם בצירוף תלונת הברכה, שאמר (בראשית כז, לו) את בכורתי לקח וגו', אשר בנפול עליו תלונה עלתה על לבו גלגול הכל. מצורף כי אז הכיר שהקשר אשר ליצחק עם תולדותיו, דבר רב הערך מאד, כי מבורכיו יירשו ארץ, ולזה דאג על הבכורה. מצורף כי בעת ההיא היה בן ששים שנה ויותר, וכאשר בז אליה היה נער חסר לב בן חמש עשרה שנה, ולזה בז אליה ונתנה בנזיד עדשים או בכסף מלא לא נתפרש בכתוב כדברי האומר כן.
It is then related that Jacob gave the bread and the pottage to Esau, who reveled in the filling of his belly and shamed the birthright. Even after he had gone he did not regret his folly and his wickedness and say: "What have I done!" This is the intent of (Genesis 25:34): "And he ate, and he drank, and he arose, and he went away, and he shamed…" That is, even after he went away. Indeed, we never find him regretting the act at all, except in conjunction with his complaint over losing the blessing, as it is written (Ibid 27:36): "He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing." It is only when he has a mundane complaint that he spills out everything along with it. In addition to this, he realized then that the tie between Isaac and his children was an extremely valuable commodity, "for His blessed ones shall inherit the land" (Psalms 37:22). It is for this reason that he worried about the birthright. Add to this the fact that at the time he was more than sixty years old, whereas his shaming of the birthright had taken place when he was a callow youth of fifteen, for which reason he made light of it and sold it for a mess of lentils (or received full payment for it, though this is not stated explicitly, according to those who subscribe to this view).

~ How does Nissim of Gerona explain the question of the meal of consolation and the sale?

~ How does he see the connection of Esav to the family?

ועם כל זה אין ספק, שכאשר השיב עשו הענין אל לבו, וסרה מעליו רוח עועים אשר בעתתו, שטם את יעקב על זה, כי כמו שהוטבעו האחים על טבעים מתנגדים ממשיכים מיעוט האחוה ורוב שנאה, כן נמשכו מעשיהם מקניאים עשו ביעקב, כי אם היות אשר יעקב לא פעל ועשה כי אם מה שראוי לעשות, עם כל זה דרכיו ומעשיו עם עשו באו בענין אשר כמעט אפילו בשר המת ירגיש, והרפאים יחוללו, אף כי מרגיז הארץ כעשו.
With all this there is no doubt that when Esau bethought himself of what had taken place and the dizzying spirit that had confounded him departed from him, he despised Jacob for this. For just as the brothers had been made diametrically opposed in nature, generating little love and much hatred in consequence of this difference, so their deeds, too, contributed to the intensification of Esau's contempt for Jacob. For though Jacob did only what it was right for him to do, still, his acts and deeds vis-à-vis Esau were manifested in such a way as to cause even the flesh of the dead to be sentient of them and the very shades to quake — how much more so an "earth-shaker" such as Esau!
ובפרט דבר ענין הבכורה, עם היות שיעקב פיתהו ויפת, מכל מקום כבר הסכים בו מדעתו, ותלונתו לנפשו וחמתו על עצמו, אבל דבר הברכה יקנא יותר מאד, מי יוכל שאתו, שאחר שעשו קיוה להתברך מפי אביו אשר עוררהו בזה, לא שנתעורר מעצמו הוא, בא יעקב ויקח ברכתו, זה דבר מקנא מאד, משלח מדנים בין אחים.
And as far as the sale of the birthright itself is concerned, though Jacob played upon him, still, he willingly consented and had no one but himself to blame; but in the episode of the blessing, how could his anger be contained! After having aspired to his father's blessing, after having been moved to this aspiration by his father himself and not through his own arousal — after all this to have Jacob come and snatch away his blessing! Is there anything more potent than this to "sow discord among brothers"?

~ How does Nissim Gerondi understand the effects of the family dynamics on the blessing and on the feelings of Esav after the snatching of the blessing?

מכרה כיום כי בהיות היום כל מגמת פניך אל מלאכתך באופן שאתה כ''כ עיף שאינך מכיר הנזיד אין ספק שלא תוכל להתעסק בעניני הבכורה לשרת לאל ית' ולעשו' את הראוי לבכור:

Sell to me like the day - seeing that as of now all your interests are focused on your work so that you are so tired that you cannot even recognize a dish of lentils for what it is, there is no question that you would not have the time or energy to perform the duties involved in the obligations associated with being a firstborn, serving the Blessed God.

~ What words does the Sforno add to the scene of the sale?

Esav as a teacher
[כו]. הֱוֵי זָהִיר שֶׁלֹּא לֶאֱכֹל בְּהַלְעָטָה, דְּהַיְנוּ בִּמְהִירוּת כְּדֶרֶךְ גַּרְגְּרָן, כִּי זֶה הוּא בְּחִינַת הַלְעִיטֵנִי נָא וְכוּ' (בְּרֵאשִׁית כה). רַק לְהַרְגִּיל עַצְמוֹ לֶאֱכֹל בִּמְתִינוּת, בְּיִשּׁוּב הַדַּעַת וּבְדֶרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאוֹכְלִין בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶרֶץ כְּשֶׁיּוֹשֵׁב אָדָם חָשׁוּב אֵצֶל הַשֻּׁלְחָן, כָּךְ יֹאכַל תָּמִיד אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאוֹכֵל לְבַדּוֹ. עַיֵּן לְעֵיל אוֹת ג' (צ"ל א'). אַשְׁרֵי הַזּוֹכֶה לָזֶה: (חיי מוהר"ן סי' תקט"ו)
Be careful not to gulp your food down hurriedly like a glutton. It was Esau who said, “Let me swallow some of this red pottage” (Genesis 25:30). Get into the habit of eating at a moderate pace, calmly and with the same table manners you would show if an important guest were present. You should always eat like this, even when you are eating alone. Happy is the one who achieves this! (Chayey Moharan, Avodat Hashem, 69).

~ How does Rav Nachman of Bretslav understand the question of gulping? What does it teach us in terms of discipline and behavior?

Look at Esav. He has this great thing, which we learn he values later on, and he himself finds that he values later on, but that he himself sold for a plate of red lentils. Lentils cook fast. He could have made his own, but he didn't, he did not consider waiting a little, making his own plate. He only saw the immediate consequence, filling his belly. What do you sell, in your life, for a plate of red lentils? What are the overarching values that you feel you compromise in your life for an immediate gain? I leave you with those questions.

[Rabbi Nilton Bonder]

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