Difference between revisions of "Why Bless Esav/2"

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<opinion name="">Unaware of True Nature
 
<opinion name="">Unaware of True Nature
 
<p>Yitzchak was blind to Esav's faults and did not realize he was unworthy of the blessing.</p>
 
<p>Yitzchak was blind to Esav's faults and did not realize he was unworthy of the blessing.</p>
<mekorot><multilink><a href="TargumPseudo-JonathanBereshit25-27-28" data-aht="source">Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a><a href="TargumPseudo-JonathanBereshit25-27-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:27-28</a><a href="Targum Pseudo-Jonathan" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah65-510" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah65-510" data-aht="source">65:5,10</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit25-27-28" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit25-27-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:27-28</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SefornoBereshit26-35" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoBereshit26-35" data-aht="source">Bereshit 26:35</a><a href="SefornoBereshit27-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:1</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagBeiurDivreiHaParashahBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagBeiurDivreiHaParashahBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Beiur Divrei HaParashah Bereshit 25:28</a><a href="RalbagBereshit27-1-28-9Toalot28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:1-28:9 Toalot 2, 8</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershon (Ralbag)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershon</a></multilink>, Abarbanel</mekorot>
+
<mekorot><multilink><a href="TargumPseudo-JonathanBereshit25-27-28" data-aht="source">Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a><a href="TargumPseudo-JonathanBereshit25-27-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:27-28</a><a href="Targum Pseudo-Jonathan" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah65-510" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah65-510" data-aht="source">65:5,10</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit25-27-28" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit25-27-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:27-28</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SefornoBereshit26-35" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoBereshit26-35" data-aht="source">Bereshit 26:35</a><a href="SefornoBereshit27-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:1</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagBeiurDivreiHaParashahBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagBeiurDivreiHaParashahBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Beiur Divrei HaParashah Bereshit 25:28</a><a href="RalbagBereshit27-1-28-9Toalot28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:1-28:9 Toalot 2, 8</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershon (Ralbag)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelBereshit27" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit27" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RSRHirschBereshit27-1" data-aht="source">R. S"R Hirsch</a><a href="RSRHirschBereshit27-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:1</a><a href="R. Samson Raphael Hirsch" data-aht="parshan">About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch</a></multilink></mekorot>
 
<point><b>Why was Yitzchak oblivious?</b></point>
 
<point><b>Why was Yitzchak oblivious?</b></point>
 
<point><b>וַתִּכְהֶיןָ עֵינָיו מֵרְאֹת</b></point>
 
<point><b>וַתִּכְהֶיןָ עֵינָיו מֵרְאֹת</b></point>
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</opinion>
 
</opinion>
 
<opinion name="">Esav was the First-born
 
<opinion name="">Esav was the First-born
<p>Esav was not a wicked character and thus his status as first born sufficed to make made him deserving of the blessing.</p>
+
<p>Esav was not a particularly wicked character and thus his status as first born sufficed to make made him deserving of the blessing.</p>
<mekorot>Ramban, R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</mekorot>
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<mekorot><multilink><a href="RambanBereshit27-4" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:28</a><a href="RambanBereshit25-34" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:34</a><a href="RambanBereshit27-4" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:4</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Nachmanides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit25-34" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit25-34" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:34</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShor27-4" data-aht="source">27:4</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink></mekorot>
 
<point><b>What did the blessing constitute?</b></point>
 
<point><b>What did the blessing constitute?</b></point>
 
<point><b>Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?</b></point>
 
<point><b>Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?</b></point>
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</category>
 
</category>
 
<category name="">Esav Needed the Blessing
 
<category name="">Esav Needed the Blessing
<p>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.</p>
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<p>YItzchak recognized that Esav was not as righteous as his brother and he hoped that&#160; the blessing would help improve his character..</p>
<mekorot>Radak, R. Avraham b. HaRambam</mekorot>
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<mekorot><multilink><a href="PhiloQuestionsandAnswersonGenesisIV-198" data-aht="source">Philo</a><a href="PhiloQuestionsandAnswersonGenesisIV-198" data-aht="source">Questions and Answers on Genesis, IV:198</a><a href="Philo" data-aht="parshan">About Philo</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RadakBereshit27-4-5" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit25-23" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:23</a><a href="RadakBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:28</a><a href="RadakBereshit27-4-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:4-5</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>,<fn>Radak combines this approach with the one below which suggests that Yaakov was planning on giving Esav only the material blessing while Yaakov was to inherit the spiritual one.</fn> <multilink><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit26-34" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit26-34" data-aht="source">Bereshit 26:34</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink></mekorot>
 
<point><b>What did the blessing constitute?</b></point>
 
<point><b>What did the blessing constitute?</b></point>
 
<point><b>Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?</b></point>
 
<point><b>Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?</b></point>
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<point><b>גַּם בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה</b></point>
 
<point><b>גַּם בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה</b></point>
 
</category>
 
</category>
<category name="">Brothers Were to Split the Blessings
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<category name="">Both Brothers were to be&#160; Blessed
<p>Yitzchak had planned that each brother was to get a different blessing.&#160; The material blessing was to go to Esav while the spiritual blessing and legacy of Avraham was to pass to Yaakov.</p>
+
<p>Yitzchak had planned that each brother was to get a blessing.&#160; While Esav was given a a material blessing and dominion, the blessing and legacy of Avraham was meant to be inherited either by Yaakov alone or by both brothers together.</p>
<mekorot>Radak, Maasei Hashem, Shadal, Malbim</mekorot>
+
<mekorot><multilink><a href="RadakBereshit27-4-5" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit25-23" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:23</a><a href="RadakBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:28</a><a href="RadakBereshit27-4-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:4-5</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, Maasei Hashem, Shadal, <multilink><a href="RSRHirschBereshit27-1" data-aht="source">R. S"R Hirsch</a><a href="RSRHirschBereshit27-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:1</a><a href="R. Samson Raphael Hirsch" data-aht="parshan">About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch</a></multilink>, R. D"Z Hoffmannn, <multilink><a href="MalbimBereshit27-1" data-aht="source">Malbim,</a><a href="MalbimBereshit27-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:1</a><a href="MalbimBereshit27-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 27:5</a><a href="R. Meir Leibush Weiser (Malbim)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Meir Leibush Weiser</a></multilink></mekorot>
 
<point><b>What did the blessing constitute?</b></point>
 
<point><b>What did the blessing constitute?</b></point>
 
<point><b>Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?</b></point>
 
<point><b>Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?</b></point>

Version as of 11:09, 26 November 2014

Why Bless Esav

Exegetical Approaches

Yitzchak Preferred Esav

Unaware of True Nature

Yitzchak was blind to Esav's faults and did not realize he was unworthy of the blessing.

Why was Yitzchak oblivious?
וַתִּכְהֶיןָ עֵינָיו מֵרְאֹת
What did the blessing constitute?
Was Yitzchak aware of the prophecy to Rivka?
Was Yitzchak aware of the sale of the birthright?
What was Rivka thinking?
Why ask Esav to prepare food?
Evaluation of Esav
גַּם בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה

Esav was the First-born

Esav was not a particularly 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 he hoped that  the blessing would help improve his character..

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

Both Brothers were to be  Blessed

Yitzchak had planned that each brother was to get a blessing.  While Esav was given a a material blessing and dominion, the blessing and legacy of Avraham was meant to be inherited either by Yaakov alone or by both brothers together.

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