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Genesis

Perek 27

וַיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־זָקֵ֣ן יִצְחָ֔ק וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ עֵינָ֖יו מֵרְאֹ֑ת וַיִּקְרָ֞א אֶת־עֵשָׂ֣ו ׀ בְּנ֣וֹ הַגָּדֹ֗ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ בְּנִ֔י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו הִנֵּֽנִי׃

It was when Isaac was old, and his eyes dimmed from seeing, as he became blind, or his sight diminished considerably; he summoned Esau, his elder son, and said to him: My son. He, Esau, said to him: Here I am. Esau responded in the proper manner, as there was a mutually positive relationship between father and son.

RASHI

ותכהין.בַּעֲשָׁנָן שֶׁל אֵלּוּ. דָּ"אַ כְּשֶׁנֶּעֱקַד עַ"גַּ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְהָיָה אָבִיו רוֹצֶה לְשָׁחֳטוֹ, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה נִפְתְּחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְרָאוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת וְהָיוּ בוֹכִים, וְיָרְדוּ דִמְעוֹתֵיהֶם וְנָפְלוּ עַל עֵינָיו, לְפִיכָךְ כָּהוּ עֵינָיו. דָּ"אַ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּטֹּל יַעֲקֹב אֶת הַבְּרָכוֹת:

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה־נָ֖א זָקַ֑נְתִּי לֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי י֥וֹם מוֹתִֽי׃

He, Isaac, said: Behold, I have now grown old; I do not know the day of my death. In actuality, Isaac lived far longer than he expected, for as it follows from various calculations, he did not die until many years after this episode. Perhaps due to his blindness and inactive life, he felt old and frail before his time.

RASHI

לא ידעתי יום מותי.אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה אִם מַגִּיעַ אָדָם לְפֶרֶק אֲבוֹתָיו יִדְאַג חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים לִפְנֵיהֶן וְחָמֵשׁ לְאַחַר כֵּן; וְיִצְחָק הָיָה בֶּן קכ"ג, אָמַר שֶׁמָּא לְפֶרֶק אִמִּי אֲנִי מַגִּיעַ וְהִיא מֵתָה בַּת קכ"ז וַהֲרֵינִי בֶן ה' שָׁנִים סָמוּךְ לְפִרְקָהּ; לְפִיכָךְ לא ידעתי יום מותי, שֶׁמָּא לְפֶרֶק אִמִּי, שֶׁמָּא לְפֶרֶק אַבָּא:

וְעַתָּה֙ שָׂא־נָ֣א כֵלֶ֔יךָ תֶּלְיְךָ֖ וְקַשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ וְצֵא֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְצ֥וּדָה לִּ֖י צידה [צָֽיִד׃]

Now, please take your hunting gear, your quiver, which is hung on one’s back, and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.

RASHI

שא נא.לְשׁוֹן הַשְׁחָזָה, כְּאוֹתָהּ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ אֵין מַשְׁחִיזִין אֶת הַסַּכִּין, אֲבָל מַשִּׂיאָהּ עַל גַּבֵּי חֲבֶרְתָּהּ (ביצה כ"ח), חַדֵּד סַכִּינְךָ וּשְׁחֹט יָפֶה, שֶׁלֹּא תַאֲכִילֵנִי נְבֵלָה (בראשית רבה):

תליך.חַרְבְּךָ שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ לִתְלוֹתָהּ:

וצודה לי.מִן הַהֶפְקֵר וְלֹא מִן הַגֶּזֶל:

וַעֲשֵׂה־לִ֨י מַטְעַמִּ֜ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָהַ֛בְתִּי וְהָבִ֥יאָה לִּ֖י וְאֹכֵ֑לָה בַּעֲב֛וּר תְּבָרֶכְךָ֥ נַפְשִׁ֖י בְּטֶ֥רֶם אָמֽוּת׃

Prepare for me tasty food from the animals you capture, such as I like. As stated above (25:28), Esau would regularly feed Isaac from the animals he hunted, and Isaac enjoyed such meals. And bring it to me, and I will eat, so that my soul will bless you before I die.

וְרִבְקָ֣ה שֹׁמַ֔עַת בְּדַבֵּ֣ר יִצְחָ֔ק אֶל־עֵשָׂ֖ו בְּנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ עֵשָׂו֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה לָצ֥וּד צַ֖יִד לְהָבִֽיא׃

Rebecca heard as Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field, in accordance with his father’s command, to hunt game in order to bring it to him.

RASHI

לצוד ציד להביא.מַהוּ לְהָבִיא? אִם לֹא יִמְצָא צַיִד יָבִיא מִן הַגֶּזֶל:

וְרִבְקָה֙ אָֽמְרָ֔ה אֶל־יַעֲקֹ֥ב בְּנָ֖הּ לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֤ה שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־אָבִ֔יךָ מְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶל־עֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִ֖יךָ לֵאמֹֽר׃

Rebecca said to Jacob her son, saying: Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying as follows:

הָבִ֨יאָה לִּ֥י צַ֛יִד וַעֲשֵׂה־לִ֥י מַטְעַמִּ֖ים וְאֹכֵ֑לָה וַאֲבָרֶכְכָ֛ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י מוֹתִֽי׃

Bring me game and prepare for me tasty food, and I will eat, and I will bless you before the Lord before my death.

RASHI

לפני ה'.בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ, שֶׁיַּסְכִּים עַל יָדִי:

וְעַתָּ֥ה בְנִ֖י שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלִ֑י לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י מְצַוָּ֥ה אֹתָֽךְ׃

Now, my son, heed my voice to that which I command you. Rebecca invokes her authority in her address to her son, as she is telling him to perform a complicated and ostensibly questionable maneuver.

לֶךְ־נָא֙ אֶל־הַצֹּ֔אן וְקַֽח־לִ֣י מִשָּׁ֗ם שְׁנֵ֛י גְּדָיֵ֥י עִזִּ֖ים טֹבִ֑ים וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֨ה אֹתָ֧ם מַטְעַמִּ֛ים לְאָבִ֖יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָהֵֽב׃

Please go to the flock and take for me from there two fine goat kids. Rebecca assumed that Esau would return from his hunt with a deer or two. Consequently, she asked Jacob to bring two goat kids, which are similar in taste to deer. And I will make them tasty food for your father, such as he likes. Since she knew how to cook for her husband and was familiar with his sensitivities, it was likely that she could prepare him a dish of goat meat whose taste he would be unable to distinguish from that of deer meat.

RASHI

וקח לי.מִשֶּׁלִּי הֵם וְאֵינָם גֶּזֶל, שֶׁכָּךְ כָּתַב לָהּ יִצְחָק בִּכְתֻבָּתָהּ לִטֹּל שְׁנֵי גְּדָיֵי עִזִּים בְּכָל יוֹם (בראשית רבה):

שני גדיי עזים.וְכִי שְׁנֵי גְּדָיֵי עִזִּים הָיָה מַאֲכָל שֶׁל יִצְחָק? אֶלָּא הָאֶחָד הִקְרִיב לְפִסְחוֹ וְהָאֶחָד עָשָׂה מַטְעַמִּים; בְּפִרְקֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר:

כאשר אהב.כִּי טַעַם הַגְּדִי כְּטַעַם הַצְּבִי:

וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ לְאָבִ֖יךָ וְאָכָ֑ל בַּעֲבֻ֛ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְבָרֶכְךָ֖ לִפְנֵ֥י מוֹתֽוֹ׃

You shall bring it to your father and he will eat, so that he will bless you before his death.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֶל־רִבְקָ֖ה אִמּ֑וֹ הֵ֣ן עֵשָׂ֤ו אָחִי֙ אִ֣ישׁ שָׂעִ֔ר וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִ֥ישׁ חָלָֽק׃

And Jacob said to Rebecca his mother: I cannot approach my father as Esau, as behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man. Covered with hair already at birth, Esau had become even more hairy over the years. And I am a man of smooth skin. Jacob might not have been entirely hairless, but he was smooth-skinned in comparison to Esau.

RASHI

איש שעיר.בַּעַל שֵׂעָר:

אוּלַ֤י יְמֻשֵּׁ֙נִי֙ אָבִ֔י וְהָיִ֥יתִי בְעֵינָ֖יו כִּמְתַעְתֵּ֑עַ וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י עָלַ֛י קְלָלָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א בְרָכָֽה׃

Perhaps my father will feel me, not necessarily to discover my identity, but innocently, due to our physical proximity; and I shall be in his eyes as a deceiver, a trickster, as he will realize that I have disguised myself as Esau. And this is dangerous, as I shall bring upon myself a curse and not a blessing.

RASHI

ימשני.כְּמוֹ מְמַשֵּׁשׁ בַּצָּהֳרַיִם:

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ אִמּ֔וֹ עָלַ֥י קִלְלָתְךָ֖ בְּנִ֑י אַ֛ךְ שְׁמַ֥ע בְּקֹלִ֖י וְלֵ֥ךְ קַֽח־לִֽי׃

His mother said to him: If you will be cursed, your curse is upon me, my son. This is a rhetorical expression of her acceptance of responsibility for the curse. Only in the meantime heed my voice, and go, take the goat kids for me, as I have commanded you.

וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּקַּ֔ח וַיָּבֵ֖א לְאִמּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֤עַשׂ אִמּוֹ֙ מַטְעַמִּ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָהֵ֥ב אָבִֽיו׃

He went, and took the kids, and brought them to his mother, as she requested; and his mother made tasty food, such as his father liked.

וַתִּקַּ֣ח רִ֠בְקָה אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֨י עֵשָׂ֜ו בְּנָ֤הּ הַגָּדֹל֙ הַחֲמֻדֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתָּ֖הּ בַּבָּ֑יִת וַתַּלְבֵּ֥שׁ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֖ב בְּנָ֥הּ הַקָּטָֽן׃

In response to the problem Jacob had raised, Rebecca took the fine garments, the best clothes, reserved for special occasions, of Esau, her elder son, that were with her in the house, and she dressed Jacob, her younger son, in them.

RASHI

החמדת.הַנְּקִיּוֹת, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ דָּכְיָתָא, דָּ"אַ שֶׁחָמַד אוֹתָן מִן נִמְרוֹד:

אשר אתה בבית.וַהֲלֹא כַמָּה נָשִׁים הָיוּ לוֹ, וְהוּא מַפְקִיד אֵצֶל אִמּוֹ? אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיָה בָקִי בְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶן וְחוֹשְׁדָן:

וְאֵ֗ת עֹרֹת֙ גְּדָיֵ֣י הָֽעִזִּ֔ים הִלְבִּ֖ישָׁה עַל־יָדָ֑יו וְעַ֖ל חֶלְקַ֥ת צַוָּארָֽיו׃

The hides of the kids of the goats she placed as sleeves on his hands and on the smooth of his neck, as these are the exposed areas of the body where the difference between the brothers is likely to be most noticeable. When the blind Isaac felt the hides, he would assume that it was Esau standing before him.

וַתִּתֵּ֧ן אֶת־הַמַּטְעַמִּ֛ים וְאֶת־הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑תָה בְּיַ֖ד יַעֲקֹ֥ב בְּנָֽהּ׃

She gave the tasty food and the bread that she prepared into the hand of Jacob her son.

וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל־אָבִ֖יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אָבִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הִנֶּ֔נִּי מִ֥י אַתָּ֖ה בְּנִֽי׃

He came to his father and said: My father. He, Isaac, said: Here I am; who are you, my son? It is possible that the voices of the twins, Jacob and Esau, were very similar, and therefore Isaac would always ask this question upon their arrival.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל־אָבִ֗יו אָנֹכִי֙ עֵשָׂ֣ו בְּכֹרֶ֔ךָ עָשִׂ֕יתִי כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ אֵלָ֑י קֽוּם־נָ֣א שְׁבָ֗ה וְאָכְלָה֙ מִצֵּידִ֔י בַּעֲב֖וּר תְּבָרֲכַ֥נִּי נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

Jacob said to his father: I am Esau your firstborn; I did as you spoke to me. Arise now, sit and eat from my game, so that your soul will bless me.

RASHI

אנכי עשו בכורך.אָנֹכִי הַמֵּבִיא לְךָ וְעֵשָׂו הוּא בְּכוֹרֶךָ:

עשיתי.כַמָּה דְבָרִים כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ אֵלַי:

שבה.לְשׁוֹן מֵסֵב עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן, לְכָךְ מְתֻרְגָּם אִסְתָּחַר:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִצְחָק֙ אֶל־בְּנ֔וֹ מַה־זֶּ֛ה מִהַ֥רְתָּ לִמְצֹ֖א בְּנִ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֥י הִקְרָ֛ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לְפָנָֽי׃

Since Jacob did not go out hunting but simply took goat kids from the goat shed, he arrived sooner than his father had anticipated. Therefore, Isaac said to his son: How is it that you hastened so to find it, my son? According to my calculation, the hunt and the preparation of the dish should have taken longer. He, Jacob, said: Because the Lord your God coordinated it, the outcome, so that the game appeared before me without delay.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִצְחָק֙ אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב גְּשָׁה־נָּ֥א וַאֲמֻֽשְׁךָ֖ בְּנִ֑י הַֽאַתָּ֥ה זֶ֛ה בְּנִ֥י עֵשָׂ֖ו אִם־לֹֽא׃

Sensing that something strange was going on, Isaac said to Jacob: Please approach, that I may feel you, my son, so that I will know: Are you my son Esau or not? Due to his faulty eyesight, Isaac was unable to tell the twins apart.

RASHI

גשה נא ואמשך.אָמַר יִצְחָק בְּלִבּוֹ אֵין דֶּרֶךְ עֵשָׂו לִהְיוֹת שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם שָׁגוּר בְּפִיו, וְזֶה אָמַר כִּי הִקְרָה ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ:

וַיִּגַּ֧שׁ יַעֲקֹ֛ב אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו וַיְמֻשֵּׁ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַקֹּל֙ ק֣וֹל יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְהַיָּדַ֖יִם יְדֵ֥י עֵשָֽׂו׃

Jacob approached Isaac his father, and he, Isaac, felt him. He said: The voice is the voice of Jacob, as the subtleties of the voice bring to mind the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

RASHI

קול יעקב.שֶׁמְּדַבֵּר בִּלְשׁוֹן תַּחֲנוּנִים קוּם נָא, אֲבָל עֵשָׂו קִנְטוּרְיָא דִּבֵּר יָקֻם אָבִי:

וְלֹ֣א הִכִּיר֔וֹ כִּֽי־הָי֣וּ יָדָ֗יו כִּידֵ֛י עֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִ֖יו שְׂעִרֹ֑ת וַֽיְבָרְכֵֽהוּ׃

He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like the hands of his brother, Esau; and he blessed him. Although Jacob’s voice unnerved Isaac, his hands felt like those of Esau. Some say that Jacob’s vocabulary was also identical to that of Esau.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַתָּ֥ה זֶ֖ה בְּנִ֣י עֵשָׂ֑ו וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָֽנִי׃

He said: Are you my son Esau? Isaac sought further confirmation of his identity. He said: I am.

RASHI

ויאמר אני.לֹא אָמַר אֲנִי עֵשָׂו אֶלָּא אָנִי:

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַגִּ֤שָׁה לִּי֙ וְאֹֽכְלָה֙ מִצֵּ֣יד בְּנִ֔י לְמַ֥עַן תְּבָֽרֶכְךָ֖ נַפְשִׁ֑י וַיַּגֶּשׁ־לוֹ֙ וַיֹּאכַ֔ל וַיָּ֧בֵא ל֦וֹ יַ֖יִן וַיֵּֽשְׁתְּ׃

He said, in a somewhat ceremonial fashion: Serve me, and I will eat from my son’s game so that my soul will bless you. He served him, and he ate, and he brought him wine, and he drank.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו יִצְחָ֣ק אָבִ֑יו גְּשָׁה־נָּ֥א וּשְׁקָה־לִּ֖י בְּנִֽי׃

After eating, Isaac’s spirits lifted, and he sensed a closeness to his son. And Isaac his father said to him: Approach and kiss me, my son.

וַיִּגַּשׁ֙ וַיִּשַּׁק־ל֔וֹ וַיָּ֛רַח אֶת־רֵ֥יחַ בְּגָדָ֖יו וַֽיְבָרֲכֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר רְאֵה֙ רֵ֣יחַ בְּנִ֔י כְּרֵ֣יחַ שָׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ יְהוָֽה׃

He , Jacob, approached and kissed him. He, Isaac, smelled the scent of his, Esau’s, fine garments, which had absorbed the scent of one who frequents the fields, and he blessed him and said: See, the scent of my son is as the scent of a field that the Lord blessed. The Sages suggest that Isaac smelled the scent of an orchard, as a field of grain does not emit a pleasant fragrance, whereas one can smell the fruit in an area planted with trees.

RASHI

וירח וגו'.וַהֲלֹא אֵין רֵיחַ רַע יוֹתֵר מִשֶּׁטֶף הָעִזִּים? אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה עִמּוֹ רֵיחַ גַּן עֵדֶן;

כריח שדה אשר ברכו ה'.שֶׁנָּתַן בּוֹ רֵיחַ טוֹב וְזֶהוּ שְׂדֵה תַּפּוּחִים, כָּךְ דָּרְשׁוּ רַזִ"לִ:

וְיִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים מִטַּל֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּמִשְׁמַנֵּ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְרֹ֥ב דָּגָ֖ן וְתִירֹֽשׁ׃

While smelling the scent of the blessed field in the present, Isaac blesses Jacob with successful fields throughout his life. God will give you from the dew of the heavens, from the fat of the earth, and an abundance of grain and wine.

RASHI

ויתן לך.וְיַחֲזֹר וְיִתֵּן (בראשית רבה). וּלְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ מוּסָב לְעִנְיָן הָרִאשׁוֹן: רְאֵה רֵיחַ בְּנִי שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה כְּרֵיחַ שָׂדֶה וְגוֹ' וְעוֹד יִתֵּן לְךָ מִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ':

מטל השמים.כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ; וּמִדְרְשֵׁי אַגָּדָה יֵשׁ לְהַרְבֵּה פָנִים:

האלהים.מַהוּ הָאֱלֹהִים? בַּדִּין; אִם רָאוּי לְךָ יִתֵּן לְךָ וְאִם לָאו לֹא יִתֵּן לְךָ, אֲבָל לְעֵשָׂו אָמַר מִשְׁמַנֵּי הָאָרֶץ יִהְיֶה מוֹשָׁבֶךָ, בֵּין צַדִּיק בֵּין רָשָׁע יִתֵּן לְךָ; וּמִמֶּנּוּ לָמַד שְׁלֹמֹה, כְּשֶׁעָשָׂה הַבַּיִת סִדֵּר תְּפִלָּתוֹ. יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהוּא בַעַל אֱמוּנָה וּמַצְדִּיק עָלָיו אֶת הַדִּין לֹא יִקְרָא עָלֶיךָ תִּגָּר, לְפִיכָךְ וְנָתַתָּ לָאִישׁ בְכָל דְּרָכָיו אֲשֶׁר תֵּדַע אֶת לְבָבוֹ (מלכים א, ח'), אֲבָל נָכְרִי מְחֻסַּר אֲמָנָה, לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר אַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְעָשִׂיתָ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָא אֵלֶיךָ הַנָּכְרִי (שם), בֵּין רָאוּי בֵּין שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי תֵּן לוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִקְרָא עָלֶיךָ תִּגָּר:

יַֽעַבְד֣וּךָ עַמִּ֗ים וישתחו [וְיִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֤וּ] לְךָ֙ לְאֻמִּ֔ים הֱוֵ֤ה גְבִיר֙ לְאַחֶ֔יךָ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲוּ֥וּ לְךָ֖ בְּנֵ֣י אִמֶּ֑ךָ אֹרְרֶ֣יךָ אָר֔וּר וּֽמְבָרֲכֶ֖יךָ בָּרֽוּךְ׃

From bread and wine, the blessing turns to the nation that will descend from Jacob. Peoples will serve you, and nations will prostrate themselves to you. Be a lord and leader to your brethren, conquer them, and your mother’s sons will prostrate themselves to you. Cursed be one who curses you, and blessed be one that blesses you.

RASHI

בני אמך.וְיַעֲקֹב אָמַר לִיהוּדָה בְּנֵי אָבִיךָ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ בָנִים מִכַּמָּה אִמָּהוֹת, וְכָאן, שֶׁלֹּא נָשָׂא אֶלָּא אִשָּׁה אַחַת, אוֹמֵר בְּנֵי אִמֶּךָ (בראשית רבה):

ארריך ארור ומברכיך ברוך.וּבְבִלְעָם הוּא אוֹמֵר מְבָרְכֶיךָ בָרוּךְ וְאֹרְרֶיךָ אָרוּר? הַצַּדִּיקִים תְּחִלָּתָם יִסּוּרִים וְסוֹפָן שַׁלְוָה וְאוֹרְרֵיהֶם וּמְצָעֲרֵיהֶם קוֹדְמִים לִמְבָרְכֵיהֶם, לְפִיכָךְ יִצְחָק הִקְדִּים קִלְלַת אוֹרְרִים לְבִרְכַת מְבָרְכִים; הָרְשָׁעִים תְּחִלָּתָן שַׁלְוָה וְסוֹפָן יִסּוּרִין, לְפִיכָךְ בִּלְעָם הִקְדִּים בְּרָכָה לִקְלָלָה (בראשית רבה):

וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלָּ֣ה יִצְחָק֮ לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹב֒ וַיְהִ֗י אַ֣ךְ יָצֹ֤א יָצָא֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב מֵאֵ֥ת פְּנֵ֖י יִצְחָ֣ק אָבִ֑יו וְעֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֔יו בָּ֖א מִצֵּידֽוֹ׃

It was when Isaac concluded blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just departed from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came from his hunt. Fortunately, Esau arrived only after Jacob had received the blessings and left the room.

RASHI

יצא יצא.זֶה יוֹצֵא וְזֶה בָא:

וַיַּ֤עַשׂ גַּם־הוּא֙ מַטְעַמִּ֔ים וַיָּבֵ֖א לְאָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֗יו יָקֻ֤ם אָבִי֙ וְיֹאכַל֙ מִצֵּ֣יד בְּנ֔וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר תְּבָרֲכַ֥נִּי נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

He, Esau, too made tasty food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father: Let my father arise, and eat from his son’s game, so that your soul will bless me.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֛וֹ יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו מִי־אָ֑תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֲנִ֛י בִּנְךָ֥ בְכֹֽרְךָ֖ עֵשָֽׂו׃

Isaac his father said to him: Who are you? Isaac was confused by this second entrance. He said: I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.

וַיֶּחֱרַ֨ד יִצְחָ֣ק חֲרָדָה֮ גְּדֹלָ֣ה עַד־מְאֹד֒ וַיֹּ֡אמֶר מִֽי־אֵפ֡וֹא ה֣וּא הַצָּֽד־צַיִד֩ וַיָּ֨בֵא לִ֜י וָאֹכַ֥ל מִכֹּ֛ל בְּטֶ֥רֶם תָּב֖וֹא וָאֲבָרֲכֵ֑הוּ גַּם־בָּר֖וּךְ יִהְיֶֽה׃

Isaac was overcome with great trembling, as he realized something terrible had occurred. And he said: Who is it then who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate from it all before you came, and I blessed him; indeed, he shall be blessed. I know that the blessing has taken effect.

RASHI

ויחרד.כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וּתְוַהּ, לְשׁוֹן תְּמִיהָ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ רָאָה גֵּיהִנֹּם פְּתוּחָה מִתַּחְתָּיו:

מי אפוא.לָשׁוֹן לְעַצְמוֹ מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם כַּמָּה דְבָרִים; אֵיפֹה – אַיֵּה פֹה, מִי הוּא וְאֵיפֹה הוּא הַצָּד צַיִד?

ואכל מכל.מִכָּל טְעָמִים שֶׁבִּקַּשְׁתִּי לִטְעֹם, טָעַמְתִּי בוֹ (בראשית רבה):

גם ברוך יהיה.שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר אִלּוּלֵי שֶׁרִמָּה יַעֲקֹב לְאָבִיו לֹא נָטַל אֶת הַבְּרָכוֹת, לְכָךְ הִסְכִּים וּבֵרְכוֹ מִדַּעְתּוֹ (בראשית רבה):

כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ עֵשָׂו֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י אָבִ֔יו וַיִּצְעַ֣ק צְעָקָ֔ה גְּדֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה עַד־מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֔יו בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי גַם־אָ֖נִי אָבִֽי׃

When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried a very great and bitter cry, in disappointment, anger, and frustration. And he said to his father: Bless me too, my father.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בָּ֥א אָחִ֖יךָ בְּמִרְמָ֑ה וַיִּקַּ֖ח בִּרְכָתֶֽךָ׃

He, Isaac, said to him: Your brother came with deceit, and he took your blessing. The blessing has already taken effect and I cannot retract it. What’s done is done.

RASHI

במרמה.בְּחָכְמָה:

וַיֹּ֡אמֶר הֲכִי֩ קָרָ֨א שְׁמ֜וֹ יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַֽיַּעְקְבֵ֙נִי֙ זֶ֣ה פַעֲמַ֔יִם אֶת־בְּכֹרָתִ֣י לָקָ֔ח וְהִנֵּ֥ה עַתָּ֖ה לָקַ֣ח בִּרְכָתִ֑י וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הֲלֹא־אָצַ֥לְתָּ לִּ֖י בְּרָכָֽה׃

He, Esau, said in anger: Is it for this that his name was called Jacob [ Ya’akov ]? Although Jacob was originally named for the manner in which he held on to Esau’s heel [ akev ] at birth (see 25:26), and thus was born on his brother’s heels, here Esau uses the same root in its meaning of deceit and cheating. As he deceived me [ vayakveni ] these two times: He took my birthright, as he purchased it from me with deception, and behold, now he also took my blessing. Having been told that Isaac cannot undo what he had done, he said: Have you not reserved a blessing for me? There must be some kind of blessing left for me. You could not have granted Jacob all possible blessings.

RASHI

הכי קרא שמו.לְשׁוֹן תֵּמַהּ הוּא, כְּמוֹ הֲכִי אָחִי אַתָּה, שֶׁמָּא לְכָךְ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יַעֲקֹב עַל שֵׁם סוֹפוֹ שֶׁהוּא עָתִיד לְעָקְבֵנִי? תַּנְחוּמָא. לָמָּה חָרַד יִצְחָק? אָמַר שֶׁמָּא עָוֹן יֵשׁ בִּי שֶׁבֵּרַכְתִּי קָטָן לִפְנֵי גָּדוֹל וְשִׁנִּיתִי סֵדֶר הַיַּחַס, הִתְחִיל עֵשָׂו מְצָעֵק וַיַּעְקְבֵנִי זֶה פַעֲמַיִם, אָמַר לוֹ אָבִיו מֶה עָשָׂה לְךָ? אָמַר לוֹ אֶת בְּכֹרָתִי לָקָח, אָמַר בְּכָךְ הָיִיתִי מֵצֵר וְחָרֵד שֶׁמָּא עָבַרְתִּי עַל שׁוּרַת הַדִּין, עַכְשָׁו לַבְּכוֹר בֵּרַכְתִּי, גַּם בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה:

ויעקבני.כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וּכְמַנִי – אֲרָבַנִי; וְאָרַב – וּכְמַן. וְיֵשׁ מְתַרְגְּמִין וְחַכְּמַנִי, נִתְחַכֵּם לִי:

אצלת.לְשׁוֹן הַפְרָשָׁה כְּמוֹ וַיָּאצֶל:

וַיַּ֨עַן יִצְחָ֜ק וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעֵשָׂ֗ו הֵ֣ן גְּבִ֞יר שַׂמְתִּ֥יו לָךְ֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֶחָ֗יו נָתַ֤תִּי לוֹ֙ לַעֲבָדִ֔ים וְדָגָ֥ן וְתִירֹ֖שׁ סְמַכְתִּ֑יו וּלְכָ֣ה אֵפ֔וֹא מָ֥ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה בְּנִֽי׃

Isaac answered and he said to Esau: Behold, I have made him a lord to you; I have given to him all his brethren as servants; and I have supported him with grain and wine; I have blessed him that produce and wine should be easily available to him. For you then, what shall I do, my son? Since I am unable to negate his blessing, what blessing can I bestow upon you that will correspond to that which Jacob received?

RASHI

הן גביר.בְּרָכָה זוֹ שְׁבִיעִית הִיא, וְהוּא עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ רִאשׁוֹנָה? אֶלָּא אָמַר לוֹ מַה תּוֹעֶלֶת לְךָ בַּבְּרָכָה? אִם תִּקְנֶה נְכָסִים, שֶׁלּוֹ הֵם, שֶׁהֲרֵי גְּבִיר שַׂמְתִּיו לָךְ, וּמַה שֶּׁקָּנָה עֶבֶד קָנָה רַבּוֹ:

ולכה אפא מה אעשה.אַיֵּה אֵיפֹא אֲבַקֵּשׁ מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת לְךָ:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו אֶל־אָבִ֗יו הַֽבְרָכָ֨ה אַחַ֤ת הִֽוא־לְךָ֙ אָבִ֔י בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי גַם־אָ֖נִי אָבִ֑י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א עֵשָׂ֛ו קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃

Esau said to his father: Have you but one blessing, my father? There must be a blessing that does not conflict with the one you have already bestowed upon Jacob. Bless me too, my father, with some sort of blessing. And in his despair, Esau raised his voice and wept.

RASHI

הברכה אחת.הֵ"א זוֹ מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת לְשׁוֹן תְּמִיהָ, כְּמוֹ הַבְּמַחֲנִים? הַשְּׁמֵנָה הִיא? הַכְּמוֹת נָבָל?

וַיַּ֛עַן יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֑יו הִנֵּ֞ה מִשְׁמַנֵּ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ וּמִטַּ֥ל הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם מֵעָֽל׃

Ultimately, Isaac finds a way to bless his elder son as well. And Isaac his father answered and said to him: Behold, from the fat of the earth shall be your dwelling, you too shall inherit a fertile portion, and from the dew of the heavens above.

RASHI

משמני ארץ וגו'.זוֹ אִיטָלִיאָה שֶׁל יָוָן:

וְעַל־חַרְבְּךָ֣ תִֽחְיֶ֔ה וְאֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ תַּעֲבֹ֑ד וְהָיָה֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּרִ֔יד וּפָרַקְתָּ֥ עֻלּ֖וֹ מֵעַ֥ל צַוָּארֶֽךָ׃

By your sword you shall live. Since you are not the firstborn, you do not enjoy full rights to your place of dwelling, and therefore you will constantly have to fight for it. And you shall serve your brother. But it will be when you revolt that you will free yourself from him, and you will remove his yoke from your neck. However, in the basic state of affairs, he will be the lord and you will be his slave.

RASHI

ועל חרבך.כְּמוֹ בְּחַרְבְּךָ, יֵשׁ עַל בִּמְקוֹם בְּ', כְּמוֹ עֲמַדְתֶּם עַל חַרְבְּכֶם – בְּחַרְבְּכֶם; עַל צִבְאֹתָם – בְּצִבְאֹתָם:

תריד.לְשׁוֹן צַעַר כְּמוֹ אָרִיד בְּשִׂיחִי, כְּלוֹמַר, כְּשֶׁיַּעַבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְיִהְיֶה לְךָ פִּתְחוֹן פֶּה לְהִצְטַעֵר עַל הַבְּרָכוֹת שֶׁנָּטַל, ופרקת עלו וגומר:

וַיִּשְׂטֹ֤ם עֵשָׂו֙ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֔ב עַל־הַ֨בְּרָכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו בְּלִבּ֗וֹ יִקְרְבוּ֙ יְמֵי֙ אֵ֣בֶל אָבִ֔י וְאַֽהַרְגָ֖ה אֶת־יַעֲקֹ֥ב אָחִֽי׃

Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing that his father blessed him, and for the results of that blessing. Esau said in his heart: The days of mourning for my father will approach, or my father will die, and I will kill my brother Jacob. Out of respect for his father, whom he accepted as a figure of authority, Esau would not dare to harm his brother while Isaac was still alive.

RASHI

יקרבו ימי אבל אבי.כְּמִשְׁמָעוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא אֲצָעֵר אֶת אַבָּא, וּמִדְרְשֵׁי אַגָּדָה לְכַמָּה פָנִים יֵשׁ:

וַיֻּגַּ֣ד לְרִבְקָ֔ה אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י עֵשָׂ֖ו בְּנָ֣הּ הַגָּדֹ֑ל וַתִּשְׁלַ֞ח וַתִּקְרָ֤א לְיַעֲקֹב֙ בְּנָ֣הּ הַקָּטָ֔ן וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּה֙ עֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֔יךָ מִתְנַחֵ֥ם לְךָ֖ לְהָרְגֶֽךָ׃

The words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebecca; she sent and summoned Jacob her younger son and said to him: Behold, your brother Esau consoles himself in your regard to kill you. He consoles himself with the thought that he will kill you.

RASHI

ויגד לרבקה.בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ הֻגַּד לָהּ מַה שֶּׁעֵשָׂו מְהַרְהֵר בְּלִבּוֹ:

מתנחם לך.נִחָם עַל הָאַחְוָה לַחֲשֹׁב מַחֲשָׁבָה אַחֶרֶת לְהִתְנַכֵּר לְךָ וּלְהָרְגְּךָ. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה כְּבָר אַתָּה מֵת בְּעֵינָיו וְשָׁתָה עָלֶיךָ כּוֹס שֶׁל תַּנְחוּמִים. וּלְפִי פְּשׁוּטוֹ לְשׁוֹן תַּנְחוּמִים, מִתְנַחֵם הוּא עַל הַבְּרָכוֹת בַּהֲרִיגָתְךָ:

וְעַתָּ֥ה בְנִ֖י שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלִ֑י וְק֧וּם בְּרַח־לְךָ֛ אֶל־לָבָ֥ן אָחִ֖י חָרָֽנָה׃

Now my son, heed my voice. Just as you listened to me and took the blessing, which brought you into this problematic situation, you should once again obey me, this time in order to get you out of it. And arise, flee to Laban my brother, to Haran, where you can take refuge.

וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֥ עִמּ֖וֹ יָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֑ים עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־תָּשׁ֖וּב חֲמַ֥ת אָחִֽיךָ׃

Live with him a few years, until your brother’s anger subsides;

RASHI

אחדים.מֻעָטִים:

עַד־שׁ֨וּב אַף־אָחִ֜יךָ מִמְּךָ֗ וְשָׁכַח֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֖י וּלְקַחְתִּ֣יךָ מִשָּׁ֑ם לָמָ֥ה אֶשְׁכַּ֛ל גַּם־שְׁנֵיכֶ֖ם י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃

until your brother’s anger subsides from you, and he forgets that which you did to him, and until the matter of the blessings ceases to bother him. Once I see that his anger has calmed, I will send a messenger and take you from there, Haran. If you do not leave and keep away, you are liable to fight and even kill each other. Why should I be bereaved of both of you on one day?

RASHI

למה אשכל.אֶהְיֶה שַׁכּוּלָה מִשְּׁנֵיכֶם. הַקּוֹבֵר אֶת בָּנָיו קָרוּי שַׁכּוּל, וְכֵן בְּיַעֲקֹב אָמַר כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי:

גם שניכם.אִם יָקוּם עָלֶיךָ וְאַתָּה תַּהַרְגֶנּוּ יַעַמְדוּ בָנָיו וְיַהַרְגוּךָ; וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ נִזְרְקָה בָהּ וְנִתְנַבְּאָה שֶׁבְּיוֹם א' יָמוּתוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּפֶרֶק הַמְקַנֵּא לְאִשְׁתּוֹ:

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר רִבְקָה֙ אֶל־יִצְחָ֔ק קַ֣צְתִּי בְחַיַּ֔י מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנ֣וֹת חֵ֑ת אִם־לֹקֵ֣חַ יַ֠עֲקֹב אִשָּׁ֨ה מִבְּנֽוֹת־חֵ֤ת כָּאֵ֙לֶּה֙ מִבְּנ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ לָ֥מָּה לִּ֖י חַיִּֽים׃

Rebecca said to Isaac: I loathe my life, I am tired of life, due to the daughters of Het, whom Esau married (see 26:34–35). If Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Het, like these, from the daughters of the land, why do I need life? Rebecca hints to Isaac that he should suggest that Jacob follow his example and take a wife from his family who live far away, rather than from the local daughters of Het.

RASHI

קצתי בחיי.מָאַסְתִּי בְחַיַּי: