Why Bless Esav/2

Why Bless Esav

Exegetical Approaches

Yitzchak Preferred Esav

Unaware of True Nature

Yitzchak was blind to Esav's faults and believed him to be worthy of the blessing.

Sources:Ralbag

What did the blessing constitute?

Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?

Was Yitzchak aware of the prophecy to Rivka?

What was Rivka thinking?

Evaluation of Esav

גַּם בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה

Esav was the First-born

Esav was not a wicked character and thus his status as first born sufficed to make made him deserving of the blessing.

What did the blessing constitute?

Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?

Was Yitzchak aware of the prophecy to Rivka?

What was Rivka thinking?

Evaluation of Esav

גַּם בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה

Esav Needed the Blessing

YItzchak recognized that Esav was not as righteous as his brother and hoped that by giving him the blessing he could help him become a better person.

Sources:Radak, R. Avraham b. HaRambam

What did the blessing constitute?

Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?

Was Yitzchak aware of the prophecy to Rivka?

What was Rivka thinking?

Evaluation of Esav

גַּם בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה

Brothers Were to Split the Blessings

Yitzchak had planned that each brother was to get a different blessing.  The material blessing was to go to Esav while the spiritual blessing and legacy of Avraham was to pass to Yaakov.

Sources:Radak, Maasei Hashem, Shadal, Malbim

What did the blessing constitute?

Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?

Was Yitzchak aware of the prophecy to Rivka?

What was Rivka thinking?

Evaluation of Esav

גַּם בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה