Parshas Toldos is filled with the
stories that begin the historical rivalry between Yaakov and Esav. Beginning
with the famous story of how Yaakov bought the firstborn from Esav, and ending
with Yitzchak intending to bless Esav with certain special blessings, until
Rivka and Yaakov joined forces to swoop in and allow Yaakov to receive them
instead. Exactly how Yaakov was allowed to receive them this way, why Yitzchak
wanted Esav to receive the brachos in the first place, and if Yaakov could buy
the firstborn at all are all good questions that we have discussed in previous
years. This year, however, I’d like to focus on a pasuk later on in the parsha.
When Esav realizes he has lost the brachos
to Yaakov, he is furious. He didn’t dare do anything while his father was
living, but he immediately began making plans to take revenge on Yaakov at the
earliest opportunity. Rivka sensed this and convinced Yitzchak to send Yaakov
away to her brother Lavan’s house. As Yitzchak sent Yaakov away, Lavan is given
a full introduction in the pasuk; “אֲחִ֣י
רִבְקָ֔ה אֵ֥ם יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב וְעֵשָֽׂו” “The brother of Rivka the mother of Yaakov and Esav” (Bereishis
28:8). The reason for the Torah having to tell us the relationship between Rivka
and her sons, an extremely obvious connection, is of much debate among the
commentaries. It’s a question we have discussed before, and this year, I’d like
to focus on a new answer.
Rabbi Yaakov
Kaminetzky goes back several pesukim to when Yitzchak is giving Yaakov some final
blessings before he leaves his house. “וְאֵל שַׁדַּי
יְבָרֵךְ אֹתְךָ וְיַפְרְךָ וְיַרְבֶּךָ וְהָיִיתָ לִקְהַל עַמִּים וְיִתֶּן לְךָ
אֶת בִּרְכַּת אַבְרָהָם לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ אִתָּךְ לְרִשְׁתְּךָ אֶת אֶרֶץ
מְגֻרֶיךָ” “And may the Almighty God bless you and make you fruitful
and multiply you, and you shall become an assembly of peoples. And may He give
you the blessing of Avraham, to you and to your seed with you, that you may
inherit the land of your sojournings…” (ibid: 3-4). In pesukim 1-2,
Yitzchak warned Yaakov to only marry a woman from Lavan’s house, a woman who,
as we learn in pesukim 3-4, would be worthy of receiving the brachos of Hashem
to Avraham, to father the nation of Yisrael.
When Yaakov bought the
firstborn rights from Esav, this was reason in part why he was able to take the
brachos from Esav later on. Explains Reb Yaakov, the Torah in pesukim 3-4 is
giving us one final proof that Yaakov deserved those blessings as the rightful
firstborn and heir to Avraham. How do we see this? From the connecting letter “vav”
at the beginning of pasuk 4. In pesukim 1-2, Yitzchak warns Yaakov to only
marry a worthy woman. He then continues in pasuk 3 that if Yaakov does so,
Hashem will bless him as a great nation. But we don’t know necessarily that
this is the blessing of Avraham. By including a ‘vav’ at the beginning of pasuk
4, which discusses the blessing of Avraham, we see that this blessing is also dependent
on him marrying a worthy woman.
The Torah shows us
that not only did Yitzchak approve of Yaakov getting his special brachos over
Esav (See 27:33 for more), he also affirmed Yaakov’s purchase of the firstborn
rights from Esav, thereby giving him the brachah of Avraham as well. Therefore,
he had to warn Yaakov to only marry someone appropriate for this mission. And
finally, this brings us back to our original question. The Torah specifically
tells us Rivka was the mother of Yaakov and Esav, not to remind us of their
relationship, but just to put them in the proper order! Yaakov first and then
Esav; the real firstborn, our forefather, in his rightful position.
Shabbat Shalom!
For any questions, comments, or to subscribe to our email list, please email is at AIMeMtorah@gmail.com.
AIMeM
