What are the connotations of 'Berachah' that Yaakov mentioned here?
Rashi: It refers to the gift 1 that he sent Esav, but in the context of greeting, which is often inherent in the word. 2
Hadar Zekenim: It is a gift for which you did not toil. It would be disgraceful for you not to accept it.
Malbim: It is a gift that has Berachah, e.g. Shmuel I 30:26, Melachim II 5:15.
Ha'amek Davar: Initially, Yaakov gave like a slave to his master. Even if I am your brother, and you are rich, you should take a big gift that can bring Berachah (increase).
Seforno (to 32:17): The gift had been structured in a way that was most beneficial to Esav, in that it would multiply rapidly. 3
Rosh: "Cursed heretics say that 'Birkasi' is an admission to the Berachos (that they are of Esav). I utterly refuted them. 'That was brought to you' connotes physically! Hashem told Yaakov, 'I will fulfill what I vowed to your fathers [through you].' Esav's angel, and also Yitzchak, blessed Yaakov after he took the Berachos. Yaakov needed to insist that Esav accept. If he returned the Berachos, Esav would take willingly!
Refer to 32:15:1:1*; refer to 32:17:1:2.
What is the difference between Esav's "Yesh Li Rav" (33:9), and Yaakov's "Yesh Li Kol"?
Rashi: The latter is an expression of modesty, which implies that he (Yaakov) had all his needs; whereas the former was one of arrogance, implying that he (Esav) had much more than he needed.
What are the implications of "v'Chi Yesh Li Kol"?
Refer to Bereishis 24:1:2 for various Perushim 1 of the word "Kol" that applied to Avraham, and can apply also to Yaakov.
Da'as Zekenim: "Yesh Li Kol" means that I have all I need to oppose you - now that Yosef was born, I have fire and a flame to consume your straw! 2
Ohr ha'Chayim #1: Yaakov sent a big gift to Esav, and Hashem replaced it, so there was no lack. I have all that I had before I sent it! Malbim - this is because I have a Berachah from Hashem that makes me rich.
Ohr ha'Chayim #2: It is a level of Kedushah in which lack makes no impression. The lack is filled automatically, like "Kad ha'Kemach Lo Chalasah" (Melachim I 17:16). Therefore, there is no reason not to take my gift.
Why was Yaakov so insistent that Esav accept his gift, and why did Esav initially decline to accept it?
Yaakov wanted to soften Esav's hatred and to force him, by way of a generous gift, to make up with him, while that was precisely what Esav was trying to avoid. This was a battle of wits which Yaakov, taking advantage of his brother's greed, won. 1 (EC)
'Ma'aseh Avos Siman l'Banim.' This was a lesson on how to handle our captors in Galus, as the Ramban will explain (to 33:16). (EC)
Moshav Zekenim (to 33:12): (Yaakov and Esav fought in the womb over inheritance of the worlds - refer to 25:22:2:2.) Esav gave up the world to come, and took this world. 2 When he saw that Yaakov has many animals, he said "if you receive also this world, I receive also the world to come"! Yaakov asked him to take all that Yaakov has, and in the end Esav agreed according to the first stipulation, but said "let me leave some of my men with you" (33:15) - if one of my descendants will convert, you will immediately accept him under the wings of the Shechinah.
The Seforno points out the difference between Elisha, who, although pressed to accept, refused Na'aman's offer of a gift (Melachim II 5:16), and Esav, who could not resist his brother's gift.
For Gur Aryeh's commentary, refer to 25:22:2.4:1 and 25:22:2.5:1.
Esav is compared to an angel ("Sarisa Im Elokim" (3:29)). He was a great Chacham, going to take great vengeance. How could a light gift bribe him [not to take vengeance]?
Chochmah u'Musar Vol. 2, p. 463: Due to his lust for money, the bribe blinded his Chochmah. 1
Ohr Yechezkel (Darchei ha'Avodah p. 235): Even though Esav was rich, a Rasha is never satisfied with what he has.
Chochmah u'Musar assumes that Esav still thought that he and his men could defeat Yaakov. If so, he could take all of Yaakov's wealth! (PF) Hadar Zekenim (to 32:14) points out that "bribes blind the clever" (Shemos 23:8); and all the more so Resha'im!
What is "Asher Huvas Lach"?
Ha'amek Davar: The messengers took the gift to Sedeh Edom. Yaakov insisted that he accept it and not return it; he agreed.
Gur Aryeh (explaining Rashi): Refer to 33:11:1.2.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'Birchasi' (lit. 'my blessing') - i.e. my gift...." How does Rashi demonstrate this?
Gur Aryeh: Once Rashi demonstrates that a greeting (to an official, periodically) is called a 'Berachah,' the tribute that accompanies such a greeting as called a 'Berachah' as well.
Rashi writes: "'Which has been brought to you' - You did not toil over it; whereas I toiled that it would arrive." How do we derive that this is what Yaakov meant?
Gur Aryeh: Yaakov could have said 'which I have brought to you.' The passive tense, "which has been brought," emphasizes that the work has been done already.
