A Tale of 2 Brothers
You’ve probably heard of sibling rivalry – brothers and sisters often get on each other’s nerves. Regarding Yaakov and Eisav, “sibling rivalry” is a huge understatement.
As Yaakov and Eisav grew up, their opposite personalities became more and more clear. Eisav loved to go out into the fields to hunt animals, while Yaakov loved to stay in the tent to learn Torah. Eisav was cruel, even robbing and murdering innocent people, while Yaakov was thoughtful and well-mannered.
This constant conflict between the twins was like a ticking time bomb about to explode!
Eisav’s Special Mitzvah
Yet, in one special Mitzvah (good deed), Eisav was indeed outstanding. He honored and showed great respect for his father, Yitzchak.
When Eisav returned from hunting, he would prepare the meat and serve his father a grand feast. Before entering the room, he would change from his dirty hunting clothes and put on festive, clean clothes, as if he were serving a king. Yitzchak appreciated Eisav’s care, and loved him dearly.
The truth is that Eisav had successfully tricked his father into believing that he was keeping the Torah laws. In fact, Eisav was the master of trickery and worked very hard to fool his father.
However, these schemes did not work with their mother Rivkah. She was able to see through Eisav’s deceptions. No wonder she loved Yaakov more.
Let’s Make a Deal
When the twins were 15 years old, their grandfather, Avraham, passed away. Yaakov was cooking a pot of red-hot lentils as he prepared the traditional meal served to mourners. After a long, unsuccessful day of hunting, the exhausted Eisav walked in to the delicious smell of a hearty stew.
“Hey, Yaakov, give me some of that red stew you’re cooking!” Eisav demanded. “I’m starving! I haven’t eaten the whole day!!”
Yaakov thought about that. “Hmmm… time to make a deal.”
“Sure, Eisav,” replied Yaakov. “You can have as much as you want. But I want one thing in return, your BIRTHRIGHT.”
“You want that useless birthright?” Eisav said. “You can have it! Now give me that stew. Pour that red stuff right down my throat…NOW!”
What a Bargain!
Licking his lips, Eisav said to his brother, “Aaaah…Those lentils sure hit the spot! A whole lot better than some old silly birthright!”
But Yaakov knew who really got the better end of the deal!
HUNGER…AGAIN!
Sometime later, there was a terrible famine in the land of Cana’an (later to be known as Eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel), and the people had very little food to eat.
Yitzchak thought he should go down to Egypt as his father Avraham had done in a similar situation. However, HaShem told him, “Do not go. You were brought upon the altar as a sacrifice. You are indeed too holy to leave Eretz Yisrael. Stay here and I will protect you. I will bless you with offspring, as many as the stars in heaven. I will give you this land, just as I promised your father Avraham.”
Yitzchak stayed in Cana’an and settled in the city of Gerar, the capital city of the Plishtim (Philistines).
The Plishtim asked Yitzchak, “Who is that lovely lady with you?”
Yitzchak didn’t want to reveal that Rivkah was his wife. Rivkah was very beautiful and he was afraid that the Plishtim would kill him, so that she could marry King Avimelech.
Yitzchak replied, “This woman here is… my…my sister.”
Identity Crisis!
Back at the palace, King Avimelech heard the good news, “Your majesty, we are pleased to announce that we have with us a stunning foreigner, fit for the king.”
“Bring her to me immediately!” the king commanded.
When Avimelech saw Rivkah, he had no doubts. He wanted her as a wife. But he suspected that perhaps she was already married to her so-called “brother” Yitzchak. He’d already heard about that other king, Paraoh, who was punished with nasty plagues when he tried to marry Avraham’s wife, Sarah. For that reason Avimelech did not want to take any chances!
One day, Avimelech observed Rivkah and Yitzchak talking and laughing together; they seemed friendlier than just brother and sister. He now suspected that they were indeed husband and wife!
“Yitzchak!” shouted Avimelech. “You lied to me. Rivkah is your wife, not your sister!”
“I had to say that,” Yitzchak answered, “otherwise I might have been killed!”
“What?! I, King Avimelech, the most important person in the royal kingdom, was about to marry a married woman?!” shouted the king. “That would have been my end! You should’ve warned me!”
A royal proclamation was immediately issued, “Hear ye! Hear ye! Anyone who dares even touch Yitzchak or his wife – will be put to death immediately!”
Blessings x 100!
HaShem blessed Yitzchak in the land of the Plishtim. Yitzchak was very kind and gave one tenth of his proceeds to the poor. Hashem in turn rewarded him with over 100 times the normal produce!
Despite the year of drought and the fact that the soil was bad, everyone witnessed the incredible blessing Yitzchak received from HaShem. Actually, the Plishtim were quite jealous.
Who Gets the Blessing?
Many years passed. Yitzchak had grown old. His eyesight worsened over the years and he was now practically blind. Fearing that his life would soon end, Yitzchak called his beloved older son, Eisav, to his bedside. (Yitzchak did not know then that Eisav had sold his birthright privileges to his brother Yaakov.)
“Eisav, my son,” said Yitzchak. “I want to give you my blessing, since you are my firstborn son. But first, I want you to do a good deed – the Mitzvah of honoring your father. Go hunt an animal and prepare a delicious meal for me. Afterwards, I will give you a very special blessing.”
Eisav immediately headed out on his mission. Little did he know that his mother, Rivkah, had overheard Yitzchak’s instructions, and things were about to get rather complicated.
Rivkah’s Plan
Rivkah was determined to get Yaakov those important blessings, so she ran to tell him. “My dear son, Yaakov,” she exclaimed. “Your brother Eisav is about to get the special blessing from Father. Eisav doesn’t deserve the blessing, you do. After all, you are the B’chor.”
“But Mother, what can we do?” asked Yaakov.
“I have a plan,” she responded. “I’ve prepared some nice young goat meat for your father, just the way he likes it. Father can’t see very well, so he will think you are Eisav, and will therefore give you the blessing, which is rightfully yours!”
“But Mother, perhaps Father will touch me and realize that I’m not hairy like Eisav. That will just bring a curse upon me, not a blessing!”
“Do not worry, my son. The curse will be upon me.” Rivkah replied. “Now this is the plan. Let me dress with some of Eisav’s special clothes. Also, I’ll put some hairy goat skins on your hands and neck. Father will touch you and think you are Eisav.”
Rivkah gave Yaakov the delicious food she prepared and sent him off to his father.
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