1)

?Va'ye?ehav Yitzchak es Eisav?. Does this mean that he did not love Ya?akov?

1.

Seforno: Not at all! The Torah means that, in spite of Eisav's wickedness, he loved him too - knowing full well that he was not as righteous as Ya?akov. 1

2.

Ha'amek Davar: Also Yitzchak understood that Avraham's seed will be called through Ya?akov. He loved Eisav for serving him like a slave, and he benefited from this. Ya?akov sat in the tent, and did not serve him much.

3.

Gur Aryeh: Refer to 27:21:151.1:2.


1

Refer to 27:4:1:1 and 27:4:1:1 2

.

2)

What are the connotations of "Tzayid be'Fiv"? In whose mouth?

1.

Rashi #1, Targum Onkelos and Rashbam: There was venison in Yitzchak's mouth - meaning that Eisav would constantly supply his father with venison.

2.

Rashi #2 and Targum Yonasan: It means that there was Tzayid (deception 1 ) in the mouth of Eisav (Refer to 25:27:2:1). 2

3.

Ramban #1 (citing the Ibn Ezra and the Radak): It means that Yitzchak loved Eisav because he constantly placed in his mouth ? or brought him ? venison. 3

4.

Ramban #2: It means that Yitzchak constantly craved venison, to the point that that as all that he ate, 4 and Eisav the ?Yode?a Tzayid?, brought it to him,

5.

Malbim: It means that Eisav would tell his father about his mighty hunting acts.


1

Gur Aryeh: How is this inferred from the Pasuk? According to its simple sense (that Yitzchak would eat of the animals that Eisav trapped); the Pasuk should have said 'le'Fiv' - into Yitzchak's mouth.

2

Oznayim la'Torah: Rashi's two explanations are really one and the same, since, it was because Eisav provided him venison in his old age, that he became blind (both literally - refer to 27:1:1:7 - and figuratively) and failed to see through Eisav's falsehoods.

3. 3

Ramban: And the Torah omits the verb, as it sometimes does ? See for exaple, SHmuel 1, 13:8 and Yirmiyah, 20:11.

4

Like David ha'Melech wrote about himself (in Tehillim 109:4) "va'Ani Tefilah" (since he constantly Davened).

3)

Our Sages teach us that Esav excelled at honoring his father; and we find similar deeds of other Gentiles as well (e.g. Dama ben Nesinah - Kidushin 31a). How did this come about?

1.

Maharal #1 (Chidushei Agados Vol. 2, p.137, to Kidushin 31a): In Halachah, honor to one's teacher takes presence over honoring one's father, for one's father brought him only to this world, etc. Gentiles will more readily honor their parents, for this world is their environment - and for Esav in particular.

2.

Maharal #2 (ibid. p. 138): Honoring parents is dictated by both logic and justice. They do not have traits that would allow them to concede on that which justice requires.

3.

Maharal #3 (ibid.): One's parents created one's Guf; and HaSh-m provides the Neshamah. Their main focus is the Guf, whereas ours is the Neshamah.

4.

Maharal #4 (ibid.): A son is obligated to his father by Midas ha'Din, and Gentiles associate with this trait.

4)

Why did Rivkah love Yaakov and not Esav?

1.

Seforno: Because she saw through Esav and was not taken in by his flattery. 1

2.

Rashbam: Because she acknowledged Yaakov's Temimus, and following what HaSh-m told her that "The older one would serve the younger one." 2

3.

Ohr ha'Chayim #1: Esav tricked only Yitzchak, for he feared his curse and hoped to get his Berachah.

4.

Ohr ha'Chayim #2: According to Targum Onkelos, that Yitzchak loved Esav because he used to feed him venison. This was not so important to Rivkah, for Yitzchak was obligated to feed her like she was used to. Besu'el was very important in Aram, so she was used to eating well.

5.

Malbim: She heard that the older will serve the younger, and recognized better the youths' natures.


1

The Oznayim la'Torah attributes this to the fact that she had seen it all in her brother Lavan - whom Esav resembled (refer to 25:20:2:2) - as opposed to Yitzchak, who never saw such behavior in his parents' house.

2

The Rashbam adds that this Pasuk is an introduction to the following Parshah, where Yitzchak attempts to bless Esav, and Rivkah tricks him into blessing Yaakov.

5)

Since Rivkah knew about Yaakov's Tzidkus and Esav's evil; why did she not enlighten Yitzchak with the true facts?

1.

Seforno: Because she saw through Eisav and was not taken in by his flattery. 1

2.

Rashbam: Because she acknowledged Ya?akov's Temimus, and because she followed what Hashem told her that "The older one would serve the younger one."

3.

Ohr ha'Chayim #1: Refer to 25:28:4:2.

4.

Ohr ha'Chayim #2: According to Targum Onkelos, that Yitzchak loved Eisav because he used to feed him venison this was not so important to Rivkah, since Yitzchak was obligated to feed her like she was used to ? and, since Besu'el was very important in Aram, X she was used to eating well.

5.

Malbim: Having heard that the older one will serve the younger one, she was able to discern the difference between them. .


1

Refer to 27:4:3:1 and 27:4:3:3.

6)

Why does it say that Yitzchak loved "Es Esav" (with the definite article)? The Torah commands to love "l'Re'acha Kamocha" (lit. to your fellow - Vayikra 19:18).

1.

Ha'amek Davar: "Es" refers to loving in the heart. The prefix Lamed refers to fulfilling the person's desire.

7)

Why does it say that "Yitzchak loved Esav" in the past tense; and "Rivkah loves Yaakov" in the present?

1.

Ha'amek Davar: Rivkah loved Yaakov for his attributes. Also, it increased every day; one who learns Torah at night, Chesed is stretched over him during the day (Avodah Zarah 3b). Yitzchak's love for Esav was happenstance, at the time. Indeed, at the end it departed (refer to 28:8:1:4*)!

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:
Month: Day: Year:
Month: Day: Year:

KIH Logo
D.A.F. Home Page
Sponsorships & DonationsReaders' FeedbackMailing ListsTalmud ArchivesAsk the KollelDafyomi WeblinksDafyomi CalendarOther Yomi calendars