Focus on Esau

Torah Study 2-11 Genesis 26:34-35. 27:1-7

Esau marries Hitites two wives.
Isaac sends Esau to hunt for his meal.

Two cryptic verses at the end of chapter 26
What Esau does a triple breach of custom -

• he took a wife... Usually the parents arrange this.
• violates monogamy rules
• intermarriage with the Hittites

Parents reaction... Rashi... Says it is rebellion and provokes Isaac and Rebecca.
Christian commentary... Notes that Esau is still around they do not break off the relationship... Even though they are not happy with his choices.
Ch 27.. Focus on the blessing from the father.
Not necessisarily related to the birthright. Separate

Book. Wrestling with the Angels. Naomi Rosenblat.
Fathers are distant..mothers are stronger. Look for surrogate fathers. Insecurities result.

Jacob is Genesis' is best described in a psychological terms... Easier to identify with.
So many flaws.. Rebecca turns her passion to her younger son...she taught him the lesson of the disenfranchised...

27:1. Isaac was old...
Eli Munk. Says that when the phrase is used it means that bad things will happen...
Isaacs success is short lived... Distrust and hatred within the family... And things are not so good...
Midrash.. Why told he is old here? Compare to Abraham. As he gets older he gets wiser. But for Isaac as he gets older he sees less both physically and in understanding.

His eyes were dim. Loss of vision is central to the plot...allows for the deception.
Robert Alter..says Isaac is sensual noted by his love of meat and of Rebecca... But loosing this.

Rashi. Why eyes dim?

• from the smoke - idol offerings of Esau's wives.
• when Isaac bound by his father..angels wept..tears fell into his eyes and effected his vision.
• bribes cloud our vision (from Exodus) Isaac took bribes from Esau in the special food...that effected his vision.

(Larry thinks Isaac has glaucoma - Jacob also later looses vision.)

Matthew Henry - Isaac really does live for another 40 years more... This is where he makes his will... Make his will early and after he lived with a better feeling of having his things in order.

Sforno. Blindness is a punishment for not teaching Esau better...

Eli Munk. Isaac requests physical suffering to pay for his sins... Better than need to suffer after death. Suffering is a kind of atonement.

Calls his older son... Never calls him the first born because he sold the birthright.

Response: Heneney. Here I am... Here it is ironic as he is requesting meat... Very different circumstances from the previous times this word is used.

Norman Cohen ..HUC professor.. Based on midrash.. Esau's response may have attitude attached - Isaacs request. Esau to take care of older parents...test of Esau...are we ready to respond to our parents request? Why didn't Esau respond recognize his father? Esau feels burdened by his fathers request...sees the response as being one with reluctance or being upset... Esau does show that he honors his parent..no matter the attitude.

Isaac says, "Old and do not know how soon I will die...."
Midrash... Within 5 years of our own parents death...start thinking of his own death...

Etz Hyiam commentary...those who tend to dying tells them to set affairs in order...planning ahead. This is where thy derive the need for an ethical will as well.

V3-4. Take gear, quiver and bow..
Rashi...sharpening...sharpen on another knife..sharpen his gear. Slaughter the animal properly..worried about kosher slaughter.

Isaac is trying to influence Esau ... Parenting