1)

What is the significance of, "ha'Adom ha'Adom ha'Zeh"?

1.

Ramban: The dish that Ya?akov cooked was very red, either because it comprised red lentils or because he added other red ingredients. In any event, Eisav (perhaps on account of his exhausted state) did not recognize it and referred to it as 'this very red stuff'.

2.

Rashbam: It is the way of someone who wants something badly to repeat himself; and as we learned in the previous Pasuk, Eisav was tired and hungry.

3.

Hadar Zekenim: The second ?ha'Adom? refers to himself - give this red stuff to me; I was born Admoni. 1 He said "ha'Zeh," for Ya?akov replied that he prepared this for Yitzchak; he will make more for Eisav. Eisav did not want to wait, and agreed to sell his Bechorah for this that he has now.

4.

Oznayim la'Torah: It is well-known that after a person has killed someone, for the first time - as Eisav had just done 2 - he sees red drops wherever he looks, and particularly in liquids. Now lentils are automatically a little reddish, and when Eisav referred to them as extremely red, he revealed himself as a murderer and was subsequently dubbed 'Edom.'

5.

Ha'amek Davar: Had he recognized that it is lentils, he would have requested the lentils! This is why 25:29 says only "Nazid;" lentils are mentioned only in 25:34. This was Hashgachah, so he got the name Edom, which is appropriate for him.


1

Malbim: Also, I love blood, murder and every red appearance. This red food is proper for my nature.

2

See Bava Basra 16b.

2)

What are the connotations of the word "Hal'iteini"? Why did he not simply ask for a plate of broth?

1.

Rashi: It means, 'I will open my mouth wide. Pour it down my throat liberally? (like one feeds camels). 1

2.

Riva, Moshav Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim: Hunters often err on the road and in forests for four days, and they are weary, hungry and thirsty, close to death. Eisav 2 lacked the strength to feed himself. 3


1

Rashi: See Shabbos, 155b.

2

He was weary after fleeing Nimrod's men (See Midrash Tanchuma). Moshav Zekenim says that he erred in the forest for three or four days. Ya?akov was guarding the flock far from the city; Eisav had no strength to enter the city to request from his mother.

3

Oznayim la'Torah: Or because of the 'activities' in which he had indulged earlier that day. Refer to 25:29:4:2.

3)

Why did they call him 'Edom'?

1.

Ramban and Rashbam: They 1 were mocking him for selling something as precious as the Bechorah for something as trivial as a dish of red lentils. 2

2.

Seforno: When they saw how Eisav was so tied to his baseless work that all he could discern of the stew was its color, they named him ?Edom? in the form of a command, 3 - 'Become red and become colored red, by gulping down the red stew!'

3.

Oznayim la'Torah: They only called him Edom now, and not because he was born ruddy - because his new name reflected his murderous character, 4 which was only exposed now. 5

4.

Ohr ha'Chayim: He called himself Edom because he was about to die, and the red [food] revived him.

5.

Malbim: He called himself Edom because he prided himself that he murders.


1

The Torah writes "Kara Sh?mo," and it is not clear who did so. Refer also to 25:30:3:4 & 25:30:3:5.ad a

2

Rashbam: He was red, and he had a desire to eat a red dish. He did not however, sell the birthright for the lentil-stew. Refer to 25:31:2:1.

3

In the same way as the word for the command, 'Say!' is 'Emor;' and the command, 'Eat!' is 'Echol,' the command 'Become red!' is 'Edom.' (CS)

4

Refer to 25:30:1:4.

5

Refer also to 25:29:4:2.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

4)

Rashi writes: "... Avraham died on that day... Why lentils? They resemble a wheel, and mourning is a cycle...."

1.

For more on this Rashi, see our commentary on the preceding verse. Refer to 25:29:1; 25:29:2; 25:29:2.1;and 25:29:3.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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