Why Bless Esav/2
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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 wicked character and thus his status as first born sufficed to make made him deserving of the blessing.
Sources:Ramban, 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 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
