Toldot

 A Matter of Conflict

by

Miriam Ben-Yaacov

And the children moved violently against each other within her womb, and when this occurred, she said: "Why am I thus?" and she went to inquire of Gd.-Genesis 25:22

Rebecca had been barren for twenty years of her marriage to Isaac when they went to the mountain, where he had been bound on the altar, to pray for her to become pregnant.  As in future times of trouble, "the ashes of Isaac" invoked divine mercy for his descendants.

The twins she conceived struggled within her.  The Midrash says she went to Shem to inquire of Gd.  He saw prophetically that the two nations to be born would be the driving powers of history.   Whenever one would rise, the other would fall, but that the mighty one would ultimately serve the lesser.

For the first fifteen years, the differences in the boys were not obvious.   The pottage of lentils, for which Esau sold his birthright, is understood to have been a meal of mourning.  Abraham had died, and Jacob was preparing the dish for Isaac.   Abraham was spared seeing his grandson's evil character develop.  Yet even at a young age, Rebecca loved Jacob, and Isaac loved Esau.  It is remarkable that the parents (and grandparent) did not see the difference in Esau and find a way to encourage his particular interests into a holy expression.  How different history would have been if, rather than adversaries, Esau and Jacob could have learned to operate in harmony with each other!  However, the prophecy of Shem was to play out, and history would be effected by the ongoing conflict between them.  

When we look at the deception of Isaac, it is clear that Rebecca's idea could not have been the clumsy act she coaxed Jacob into playing.  The success of his pretending to be his brother could have lasted only until Esau walked through the door.  Then what?  Was this a way to secure a blessing of a lifetime, much less for the future of the nation?  Was her purpose truly what it seemed on the surface, or was there another intention?

Isaac was a very mild man.  From the time of the "akeda" (binding) he did not relate to this world in the same way as other people.  After he was forced to leave Gaza, he dug five wells-relinquishing each of them when pushed.  Esau, on the other hand, was called a "hunter"; this is meant not only of animals, but also of people-with his mouth.  Isaac loved him, seeing a "man's man" in his son.  Esau was able to convince him that he was, indeed, everything he thought he was.  Rebecca, however, was not convinced.  She saw the same antics in Esau that she remembered in her brother, Laban.  She also had the prophecy of Shem to substantiate her understanding of her son.  She loved him, too, but she saw the truth of who he was and realized he could not carry forward the Abrahamite blessing in the world.  She was understanding enough of Isaac's devotion to Esau to realize that she could not convince him of this.  So she thought of a way to demonstrate it to him.  It is interesting to note that she does not seem to have confided any of this to Jacob.  She just told him to do as she instructed and that she would take the consequences. 

Part of the costume Rebecca prepared for Jacob was the clothing Esau had entrusted to her rather than to his wives.  He saw her as more honorable and trust-worthy than they.  This is very telling about what Esau, himself, knew to be true, in spite of how he behaved.  The clothes were Adam's garments, which he had taken from Nimrod when he killed him in the field, just before he sold his birthright to Jacob for the pottage.  The wearer had power over the animals, making a hunter invariably successful.  The day of the blessing, though, he had not worn them.  When Jacob walked into Isaac's tent, wearing Adam's garments, Isaac smelled the Gan Eden.  The hands were Esau's, but the voice was Jacob's.  Isaac was perplexed by the confusion he felt.  At last, he ate the savory dish Jacob brought to him and gave him the blessing of the firstborn.  

Just after Jacob left, Esau arrived.  Isaac smelled Gehinnom.  "Who are you?" he asked.  "I am your son, you firstborn, Esau."  Isaac trembled with great fear.  What had just happened?  Whom had he blessed?  What of Esau?  Was there a blessing for him?  In Isaac's mind, the sons were equally meritorious.  He had thought they would carry on the family destiny together.  Now he realized the depth of his error, how he easily he had been fooled.  Not only Rebecca and Jacob, but also Hashem participated in bringing the truth to out to him.  The one who was blessed, was to stay blessed.  The blessing he had reserved for Jacob-the spiritual blessing-was completely inappropriate for Esau.  He had nothing left for him in the manner he had intended.  With his eyes of understanding open, he gave Esau a blessing of prosperity in this world, careful never to invoke the Name of Gd.  Esau angrily told Isaac about the sale of the birthright, but called it "theft."  He had despised his birthright, and had lost the blessing on the same day.      

Esau plotted to seek his revenge after his father's death.  Word of this came to Rebecca.  Rather than saying this about Esau, she complained to Isaac that she did not want to see Jacob marry the local women, as Esau had done.  In her subtly taking card to avoid casting him in the same light as Cain, we see her genuine care for him.  She was still the mother of Esau and Jacob.  She saw the conflict, loved her family, and still strove to preserve the Abrahamite character of the Covenant family.

Written by :

Ray