1)

Pasuk 33 implies that Eisav sold the birthright for lentil stew. Why does the Torah write here that Ya?akov also gave Eisav bread?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah: Because Eisav might have argued later that the sale was invalid since he was forced to agree to the sale due to life-threatening hunger. Therefore, Ya?akov gave to him bread, and after 1 he ate and was satiated, he sold his Bechorah for the stew, demonstrating that he sold it due to contempt of the Bechorah.

2.

Alshich: He was teaching him that it is gluttonous to pour the cooked food down his throat without bread, like one feeds camels. Rather, he should eat slowly with bread, like humans.


1

The simple past tense "Nasan" (as opposed to Vayiten, future with ?Vav? conversive) implies that it was earlier (refer to 4:1:1:1). I.e. he gave the bread before the sale mentioned in the previous Pasuk. (PF)

2)

Are bread and lentil stew fitting payment for the Bechorah?

1.

Maharal (Netzach Yisrael Ch. 15, p. 89): Esav wanted to sell the Bechorah due to his physical nature (i.e. he had no desire for Kedushah). He therefore received payment in material terms.

3)

What are the connotations of ?Vayivez Eisav es ha?Bechorah??

1.

Rashi: It means that Eisav disparaged the Avodah of Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu 1 - to teach us how wicked he was.

2.

Ramban: The Pasuk is informing us why Eisav was burned so badly on account of the Bechorah, as the Pasuk writes in Mishlei, 13:13 "He who scorns something will ultimately be injured by it".

3.

Seforno: Even after selling the Bechorah, he continued to consider it of no importance and not worth the price that Ya?akov paid for it - which teaches us in turn, that Ya?akov was not guilty of cheating Eisav.

4.

Rashbam: The Torah tells us now how he despised the Bechorah, as a prelude to the story later, where he changed his mind and complained bitterly to his father "He stole my birthright!"

5.

Da'as Zekenim: It teaches us that he despised the Bechorah even before the current episode, 2

6.

Ohr ha'Chayim and Malbim: It teaches us that the sale was not amidst duress of dire hunger. Also after he ate, he disparaged the Bechorah.

7.

Ha'amek Davar: Eisav openly held that the birthrite does not depend on order of birth, rather, on attributes. Many non-Jewish leaders held like this.


1

Refer to 25:32:1:1 & 2.

2

The Torah uses simple past tense (without Vav conversive) for something that was earlier. Here it does not, for he despised the Bechorah also after this. (PF)

4)

Why did Esav despise the Bechorah?

1.

Refer to to 25:34:2:1-7.

2.

Ibn Ezra: Because at that time, Yitzchak was poor, and he saw no financial advantage in being a firstborn. 1

3.

Maharal (Ohr Chadash, p. 130): Esav himself is "disgraced" (Ovadyah 1:2), and as such he disgraces others.


1

See Ibn Ezra inside. The Ramban, who vehemently disagrees with him, maintains that the Avos, with whom kings made pacts, were Divinely blessed with wealth and honor all their lives.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

5)

Rashi writes: "The verse testifies to Esav's wickedness; that he disdained HaSh-m's service." Why does Rashi add that "the verse testifies"?

1.

Gur Aryeh: This disdain was only in Esav's heart [i.e. he did not demonstrate it externally]. The verse tells us b'Ru'ach ha'Kodesh what his true feelings were.

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