1)

What was the gist of Eisav's question?

1.

Rashi (in Sanhedrin 101b): He was asking his father whether he did not have any other B?rachos with which to bless him ? an irrefutable argument. 1

2.

Sanhedrin 101b states that it was "ba'Alilah" - libelous or false. He knew that Yitzchak had already given everything to Ya?akov (and his question was a rhetorical one. 2

3.

Malbim: ?You say that my B?rachah was only to support Ya?akov. I do not want this! I want wealth and authority for my own benefit in this world, and not for the sake of the world to come!?

4.

Ha'amek Davar: ?[Even if you made him master over me,] you can bless also me with grain and wine!?


1

See Torah Temimah, note 19.

2

See note on answer #1.

2)

What did Esav's crying achieve?

1.

Rashi (to Tehilim 80:6): The Pasuk "va'Tashkeimo bi'Dema'os Shalish" (Tehilim 80:6) alludes to "Tze'akah Gedolah u'Marah" (in our Pasuk), the three tears that Esav shed 1 at losing his father's blessing. On that merit, he was given the blessing of 'living by the sword.'

2.

Midrash Sechel Tov: HaSh-m paid up in the days of Haman - Mordechai screamed (due to Haman's decree 2 - Esther 4:1).

3.

Eliyahu Rabah (22): As a reward for two tears, he was given Har Se'ir, from which rain of Berachah never ceases. 3

4.

Refer to 27:39:152:1.


1

As Chazal say (in Berachos 32b), 'The gates of tears are never shut!'

2

Lev Eliyahu (Bereishis, p. 85): The Midrash equates them. Esav's pain over losing the Bechorah and Berachos equaled Mordechai's pain over the decree to kill all the Yehudim. Esav knew the eternal value of what he traded for a fleeting pleasure - just he followed his heart's desire.

3

Mishnas R. Aharon (Vol. 1, p. 219): Perhaps this was due to his Emunah, which was expressed through his pain (over the loss of the Berachos).

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

3)

Rashi writes: "'a'Veracha Achas' - The letter 'Hey' expresses astonishment, as in the verses...." What is Rashi trying to prove with the verses he cites?

1.

Gur Aryeh: Usually, a Hey that indicates a question or astonishment is vowelized with a Sheva (i.e. a Chataf-Patach); whereas in this word, the Hey has a Patach. 1 Rashi cites additional examples where this is the case; and the reason is that the following letter also has a Sheva, and two Shevas cannot come consecutively. 2


1

Which usually means 'the,' the definite article, and does not indicate a question.

2

At the beginning of a word. (CS)

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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