Why Bless Esav/2

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.

Sources:Targum Pseudo-JonathanBereshit 25:27-28About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Bereshit Rabbah65:5,10About Bereshit Rabbah, RashiBereshit 25:27-28About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, SefornoBereshit 26:35Bereshit 27:1About R. Ovadyah Seforno, RalbagBeiur Divrei HaParashah Bereshit 25:28Bereshit 27:1-28:9 Toalot 2, 8About R. Levi b. Gershon, AbarbanelBereshit 27About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, R. S"R HirschBereshit 27:1About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch

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.

Sources:RambanBereshit 25:28Bereshit 25:34Bereshit 27:4About R. Moshe Nachmanides, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorBereshit 25:3427:4About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor

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..

Sources:PhiloQuestions and Answers on Genesis, IV:198About Philo, RadakBereshit 25:23Bereshit 25:28Bereshit 27:4-5About R. David Kimchi,¹ R. Avraham b. HaRambamBereshit 26:34About R. Avraham Maimonides

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.

Sources:RadakBereshit 25:23Bereshit 25:28Bereshit 27:4-5About R. David Kimchi, Maasei Hashem, Shadal, R. S"R HirschBereshit 27:1About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch, R. D"Z Hoffmannn, Malbim,Bereshit 27:1Bereshit 27:5About R. Meir Leibush Weiser

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

¹ 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.