Difference between revisions of "Yaakov/0/en"

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<p>Bereshit 25 introduces Yaakov by telling the reader that he was an "אִישׁ תָּם יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים". What, though, do each of these descriptions mean?</p>
 
<p>Bereshit 25 introduces Yaakov by telling the reader that he was an "אִישׁ תָּם יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים". What, though, do each of these descriptions mean?</p>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li><b>"אִישׁ תָּם"</b> – Most commentators explain this term to mean that Yaakov was honest and upright, a man of integrity.&#160; Shadal adds that despite that there might have been an element of deceit in Yaakov's actions towards Esav, this does not negate his overall honest nature.</li>
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<li><b>"אִישׁ תָּם"</b> – Most commentators explain this term to mean that Yaakov was honest and upright, a man of integrity.&#160;&#160;<multilink><a href="ShadalBereshit25-27" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalBereshit25-27" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:27</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink> adds that despite that there might have been an element of deceit in Yaakov's actions towards Esav, this does not negate his overall honest nature.</li>
 
<li><b>"יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים"</b> – Commentators explain this term in very differing ways:</li>
 
<li><b>"יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים"</b> – Commentators explain this term in very differing ways:</li>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li><b>A man of learning</b> – Bereshit Rabbah, Rashi, and Ralbag all explain that Yaakov spent his days in the "Beit Midrash of Shem and Ever" learning. Radak agrees that "אֹהָלִים" refers to "tents of learning" but suggests that Yaakov filled his days searching after more general wisdom.<fn>The difference of opinion might relate to the question of what would have been learned in a Beit Midrash centuries before the Torah was given.&#160; Did the Avot know of future mitzvot? For elaboration, see <a href="Avot and Mitzvot – Was Avraham the First Jew" data-aht="page">Avot and Mitzvot – Was Avraham the First Jew?</a></fn></li>
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<li><b>A man of learning</b> – <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah63-10" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah63-10" data-aht="source">63:10</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit25-27" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit25-27" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:27</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, and&#160;<multilink><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah25-27-28" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah25-27-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 25:27-28</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink> all explain that Yaakov spent his days in the "Beit Midrash of Shem and Ever" learning. Radak agrees that "אֹהָלִים" refers to "tents of learning" but suggests that Yaakov filled his days searching after more general wisdom.<fn>The difference of opinion might relate to the question of what would have been learned in a Beit Midrash centuries before the Torah was given.&#160; Did the Avot know of future mitzvot? For elaboration, see <a href="Avot and Mitzvot – Was Avraham the First Jew" data-aht="page">Avot and Mitzvot – Was Avraham the First Jew?</a></fn></li>
 
<li><b>A man of solitude</b> –&#160;<multilink><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit25-27" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit25-27" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:27</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink> suggests&#160; that Yaakov spent his days in solitude, engaging in "התבודדות", presumably trying to commune with His creator.</li>
 
<li><b>A man of solitude</b> –&#160;<multilink><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit25-27" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit25-27" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:27</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink> suggests&#160; that Yaakov spent his days in solitude, engaging in "התבודדות", presumably trying to commune with His creator.</li>
<li><b>Shepherd</b>&#160;–&#160;<multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:28</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink> and Ibn Ezra more simply suggest that the verse speaks of Yaakov's shepherding profession, pointing to the phrase "אֲבִי יֹשֵׁב אֹהֶל וּמִקְנֶה" (Bereshit 4:20) as evidence.</li>
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<li><b>Shepherd</b>&#160;–&#160;<multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit25-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:28</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink> and&#160;<multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary25-27" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary25-27" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 25:27</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink> more simply suggest that the verse speaks of Yaakov's shepherding profession, pointing to the phrase "אֲבִי יֹשֵׁב אֹהֶל וּמִקְנֶה" (Bereshit 4:20) as evidence.</li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
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<category>Possible Sins / Flaws
 
<category>Possible Sins / Flaws
 
<subcategory>Sale of the Birthright
 
<subcategory>Sale of the Birthright
<p>Bereshit 25 discusses Yaakov's buying of the birthright from the famished Esav. The story raises several question regarding the ethics of Yaakov's actions.&#160; Did he not exploit his brother's hunger for his own gain? Is not buying the birthright for a mere pot of lentils considered extortion?&#160; Commentators attempt to defend Yaakov's behavior in a number of ways: [For a full discussion of the issue, see <a href="Sale of the Birthright – A Fair Deal" data-aht="page">Sale of the Birthright – A Fair Deal?</a>]</p>
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<p>Bereshit 25 discusses Yaakov's buying of the birthright from the famished Esav. The story raises several question regarding the ethics of Yaakov's actions.&#160; Did he not exploit his brother's hunger for his own gain? Is not buying the birthright for a mere pot of lentils considered extortion?&#160; Commentators attempt to defend Yaakov's behavior in a number of ways: [For a full discussion of the issue, see <a href="Sale of the Birthright – A Fair Deal" data-aht="page">Sale of the Birthright – A Fair Deal?</a>]</p><ul>
<ul>
 
 
<li><b>Esav was unworthy</b> – According to&#160;<a href="BereshitRabbah63-13" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a> and <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit25-31-34" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit25-31-34" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:31-34</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, the birthright was a spiritual commodity, the priestly status, which Esav was both unworthy of and uninterested in receiving.</li>
 
<li><b>Esav was unworthy</b> – According to&#160;<a href="BereshitRabbah63-13" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a> and <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit25-31-34" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit25-31-34" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:31-34</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, the birthright was a spiritual commodity, the priestly status, which Esav was both unworthy of and uninterested in receiving.</li>
 
<li><b>Yaakov paid fair value</b>&#160;–&#160;<multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit25-31-34" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit25-31-34" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:31-34</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink> claims that Yaakov paid for the birthright in full, with money.&#160; The accompanying meal served simply to seal the deal.&#160; <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary25-31-34" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary25-31-34" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 25:31-34</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, instead, suggests that the birthright was almost worthless since Yitzchak was penniless. As such, the lentil stew was a fair price.</li>
 
<li><b>Yaakov paid fair value</b>&#160;–&#160;<multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit25-31-34" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit25-31-34" data-aht="source">Bereshit 25:31-34</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink> claims that Yaakov paid for the birthright in full, with money.&#160; The accompanying meal served simply to seal the deal.&#160; <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary25-31-34" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary25-31-34" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 25:31-34</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, instead, suggests that the birthright was almost worthless since Yitzchak was penniless. As such, the lentil stew was a fair price.</li>

Version as of 06:16, 15 November 2018

Yaakov – Overview

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Unique Traits

"וְיַעֲקֹב אִישׁ תָּם יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים"

Bereshit 25 introduces Yaakov by telling the reader that he was an "אִישׁ תָּם יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים". What, though, do each of these descriptions mean?

Businessman

Possible Sins / Flaws

Sale of the Birthright

Bereshit 25 discusses Yaakov's buying of the birthright from the famished Esav. The story raises several question regarding the ethics of Yaakov's actions.  Did he not exploit his brother's hunger for his own gain? Is not buying the birthright for a mere pot of lentils considered extortion?  Commentators attempt to defend Yaakov's behavior in a number of ways: [For a full discussion of the issue, see Sale of the Birthright – A Fair Deal?]

Taking the Blessing

Chapter 27 describes Rivka's machinations to ensure that Yitzchak's blessing go to Yaakov rather than Esav.  How should Yaakov's role in the deception of his father be viewed?  Was he a willing or unwilling participant?   Were his actions justified?

  • Justified –Several commentators suggest that Yaakov's deceit was justified:
    • Heeding mother and prophecy – Radak suggests that Yaakov was simply acting according to his mother's wishes. Moreover since he was the worthy son, and acting to fulfill the prophecy,2 his deception was justified.3 
    • Retrieving a loss – R"Y Bekhor Shor, instead, claims that when Yaakov bought the birthright, he bought the rights to the blessing.  Sine Esav was trying to renege on the deal, Yaakov cannot be blamed for trying to retrieve was was rightfully his.
  • Mitigate wrong-doing – Bereshit Rabbah and Rashi attempt to minimize Yaakov's lying by repunctuating his words "אָנֹכִי עֵשָׂו בְּכֹרֶךָ" to read "אנכי – המביא לך, ועשו הוא בכורך."
  • Unwilling participant – HaKetav veHaKabbalah, instead, defends Yaakov by  suggesting that he was an unwilling participant, and even hoped to be found out.
  • Unjustified – Tanchuma suggests that Yaakov was punished measure for measure for his trickery. See also Maasei Hashem.

Family Life

Favored by Rivka

Bereshit 25:28 shares that while Yitzchak preferred Esav, Rivka favored Yaakov (וְרִבְקָה אֹהֶבֶת אֶת יַעֲקֹב).  What led Rivka to love Yaakov?

  • The prophecy – Rashbam clams that Rivka's preference for Yaakov was a direct result of the prophecy which granted him superior status to his brother.
  • Shepherd –
  • Character

Relationship with Esav

Favoring Yosef

Religious Identity

Oath at Beit El

Comparisons