A Twin After All.
Already in the womb of Rivka did Esau and Yaakov have issues. They were difficult enough for Rivka to complain to Shem ben Noach, who explains to her that she will give birth to twins.
Commentaries believe that Rivka didn’t know that she was having twins. She thought that the turmoil inside her was coming from one person. Yaakov gets born after Esau clutching his heel.
Years later, as Yaakov prepares lentil soup for his father Yitzhak (commentaries point out that this traditional mourners dish is so chosen because Avraham died that day), Eisav comes home and asks for some of the food. When Yaakov asks Esau for his birthright in return, Esau gives it to him.
How wicked was Esau really?
How wicked was Yaakov really?
Giving up your birthright for a cup of lentil soup doesn’t fit the portrait of a wicked person. But Esau learned that day that even a man like Avraham eventually dies. Don’t forget, Esau had great respect for Avraham and that day he didn’t sinned but merely gave in to mortality. He believed in Avraham’s immortality. Did Yaakov seized this moment of weakness of his brother by negotiating food for birthright?
How wicked was Esau really?
How wicked was Yaakov really?
Rabbis state that one child would devote his energies to the conquest of the external world. The second child would concentrate his abilities on the conquest of the internal world. This makes Esau a man of the field and Yaakov a man of Torah. Yet, how does one explain the conspiracy between mother and child to deceive on her husband and his father; Yitzchak? Yaakov cheats on his father Yitzchak; dresses up as his brother to steal away his rightful firstborn’s blessing.
It seems that our Sages jump gladly to the defense of Yaakov in some direct or indirect way. Abravanel is no different here, he almost blames Yitzchak for letting it come this far:
Quote: “There is no doubt that Yitzchak should have given thought to Esau’s character”…”He should have prayed to G’d for guidance as to whether he should bless the eldest or the most deserving…”
There are quite some contrasts and variations in opinion among the Rabbi’s as to why Yitzchak insisted in blessing Esau. The author of Hamidrash VaHama-aseh, writes that Yitzchak’s deed was even greater than Avraham’s willingness to offer up his son, because Avraham was given an direct order and Yitzchak obeyed out of pure Da-at – faith. The Torah informs us all too well that Yitzchak did know of Esau’s misbehaviour, like his marrying of the wrong wives.
Or HaChayim, suggests that Yitzchak insisted of blessing Esau versus Yaakov, because he hoped that this meaningful blessing would correct Esau from his ways.
Many Rabbi’s have pointed out that Yaakov paid for this terrible behaviour by being cheated on himself. One example: Lavan tricks his son-in-law Yaakov by giving him Rachel instead of Leah. Pointing out to him that in his house the eldest does take precedence. Years later it is his own sons who lie to him about the fate of Yosef using his garment stained in goat’s blood to prove that he had died. Just like Yaakov used the skin of a goat to trick his father, did his own sons use a cloth to trick him.
Maimonides argues that true repentance is finding one self in the same circumstance where one sinned – and not making the same mistake.
But did that second chance ever arise for Yaakov?
Interestingly the Torah shows us that Yaakov’s son Yehudah is blessed with a twin from Tamar. During birth the firstborn receives a scarlet thread as if Yehudah wants to say that he will not make his father’s mistakes.
Years later, when Yosef brings his children before his father Yaakov, Yaakov reverses his hands and puts his right on the youngest and his left on the eldest. Yosef not wanting to follow his father's mistake, tries to correct his father.
It is as if Yehudah and Yosef make tikkun for what happened to their father and uncle.
It is said that twins can feel each other even when they’re not together. Studies have been done that point out that one twin knows that the other is sick, even when thousands of miles apart. Maybe it’s because Esau and Yaakov were twins, that the Torah tries to tell us that tikkun can be had perhaps not through your own direct deeds, but your indirect deeds like having righteous children.
Both Yehudah and Yosef were the better deeds of Yaakov. Both reject deception. And by that Yaakov has been repaired and can die in peace.
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