כ״ז
כ״חוְיִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים מִטַּל֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּמִשְׁמַנֵּ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְרֹ֥ב דָּגָ֖ן וְתִירֹֽשׁ׃
28“May God give youOf the dew of heaven and the fat of the earth,Abundance of new grain and wine.
ויתן לך. יִתֵּן וְיַחֲזֹר וְיִתֵּן (בראשית רבה). וּלְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ מוּסָב לְעִנְיָן הָרִאשׁוֹן: רְאֵה רֵיחַ בְּנִי שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה כְּרֵיחַ שָׂדֶה וְגוֹ' וְעוֹד יִתֵּן לְךָ מִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ':
ויתן לך THEREFORE GOD GIVE THEE — May he give thee and give thee repeatedly (Genesis Rabbah 66:3). However, according to its real meaning it must be connected with the preceding statement — viz., with the words, “See, the smell of my son, which the Holy One, blessed be He, has given him is like the smell of the field etc.“ And may He also give thee of the dew of heaven
מטל השמים. כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ; וּמִדְרְשֵׁי אַגָּדָה יֵשׁ לְהַרְבֵּה פָנִים:
מטל השמים OF THE DEW OF HEAVEN — Take it in the ordinary sense of the words; but there are Midrashic explanations giving many different meanings
האלהים. מַהוּ הָאֱלֹהִים? בַּדִּין; אִם רָאוּי לְךָ יִתֵּן לְךָ וְאִם לָאו לֹא יִתֵּן לְךָ, אֲבָל לְעֵשָׂו אָמַר מִשְׁמַנֵּי הָאָרֶץ יִהְיֶה מוֹשָׁבֶךָ, בֵּין צַדִּיק בֵּין רָשָׁע יִתֵּן לְךָ; וּמִמֶּנּוּ לָמַד שְׁלֹמֹה, כְּשֶׁעָשָׂה הַבַּיִת סִדֵּר תְּפִלָּתוֹ. יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהוּא בַעַל אֱמוּנָה וּמַצְדִּיק עָלָיו אֶת הַדִּין לֹא יִקְרָא עָלֶיךָ תִּגָּר, לְפִיכָךְ וְנָתַתָּ לָאִישׁ בְכָל דְּרָכָיו אֲשֶׁר תֵּדַע אֶת לְבָבוֹ (מלכים א, ח'), אֲבָל נָכְרִי מְחֻסַּר אֲמָנָה, לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר אַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְעָשִׂיתָ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָא אֵלֶיךָ הַנָּכְרִי (שם), בֵּין רָאוּי בֵּין שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי תֵּן לוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִקְרָא עָלֶיךָ תִּגָּר:
האלהים GOD [GIVE THEE]—What denotes the use here of the Divine Name אלהים which signifies God in His attribute of Justice? May He act in justice! If you are worthy of it may He give it to you, and if not, let Him not give it to you. But to Esau he said, (Genesis 27:39) “The fat places of the earth shall be thy dwelling” —whether you be righteous or wicked He will give you this. From him (Isaac) did Solomon learn when he built the Temple how to compose his prayer (having in mind a similar idea): An Israelite who is a man of faith and acknowledges that God’s judgment is just will not reproach You;—therefore (1 Kings 8:39) “Render unto every man (Israelite; 1 Kings 8:38) according to his ways whose heart thou knowest”. A stranger, however, is lacking in faith; therefore Solomon said, (1 Kings 8:43) “Hear thou in heaven … and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for — whether he be worthy or unworthy grant him his request in order that he may not reproach You. This explanation of האלהים is found in an old and correct text of Rashi.
כ״טיַֽעַבְד֣וּךָ עַמִּ֗ים (וישתחו) [וְיִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֤וּ] לְךָ֙ לְאֻמִּ֔ים הֱוֵ֤ה גְבִיר֙ לְאַחֶ֔יךָ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לְךָ֖ בְּנֵ֣י אִמֶּ֑ךָ אֹרְרֶ֣יךָ אָר֔וּר וּֽמְבָרְכֶ֖יךָ בָּרֽוּךְ׃
29Let peoples serve you,And nations bow to you;Be master over your brothers,And let your mother’s sons bow to you.Cursed be they who curse you,Blessed they who bless you.”
בני אמך. וְיַעֲקֹב אָמַר לִיהוּדָה בְּנֵי אָבִיךָ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ בָנִים מִכַּמָּה אִמָּהוֹת, וְכָאן, שֶׁלֹּא נָשָׂא אֶלָּא אִשָּׁה אַחַת, אוֹמֵר בְּנֵי אִמֶּךָ (בראשית רבה):
בני אמך THY MOTHER’S SONS — Jacob, however, said to Judah (49:8) “Thy father’s sons (shall bow down to thee]”, because he had sons by several wives, but here, because he (Isaac) had but one wife he said “thy mother’s sons” (Genesis Rabbah 66:4).
ארריך ארור ומברכיך ברוך. וּבְבִלְעָם הוּא אוֹמֵר מְבָרְכֶיךָ בָרוּךְ וְאֹרְרֶיךָ אָרוּר? הַצַּדִּיקִים תְּחִלָּתָם יִסּוּרִים וְסוֹפָן שַׁלְוָה וְאוֹרְרֵיהֶם וּמְצָעֲרֵיהֶם קוֹדְמִים לִמְבָרְכֵיהֶם, לְפִיכָךְ יִצְחָק הִקְדִּים קִלְלַת אוֹרְרִים לְבִרְכַת מְבָרְכִים; הָרְשָׁעִים תְּחִלָּתָן שַׁלְוָה וְסוֹפָן יִסּוּרִין, לְפִיכָךְ בִּלְעָם הִקְדִּים בְּרָכָה לִקְלָלָה (בראשית רבה):
ארריך ארור ומברכיך ברוך THEY THAT CURSE THEE SHALL BE CURSED AND THEY THAT BLESS THEE SHALL BE BLESSED — But in the case of Balaam Scripture says (Numbers 24:9) “Blessed be everyone that blesseth thee and cursed be every one that curseth thee”. The explanation is: the righteous have sufferings first and happiness afterwards, so that in point of time those who curse and afflict them (cause them suffering) come before those who bless them (cause them happiness) — therefore Isaac, a righteous man, invokes a curse upon those who themselves curse before he invokes a blessing upon those who bless. The wicked however have happiness first and suffering afterwards; therefore Balaam, a wicked man, invokes the blessing before the curse (Genesis Rabbah 66:4).
ל׳וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלָּ֣ה יִצְחָק֮ לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹב֒ וַיְהִ֗י אַ֣ךְ יָצֹ֤א יָצָא֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב מֵאֵ֥ת פְּנֵ֖י יִצְחָ֣ק אָבִ֑יו וְעֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֔יו בָּ֖א מִצֵּידֽוֹ׃
30No sooner had Jacob left the presence of his father Isaac—after Isaac had finished blessing Jacob—than his brother Esau came back from his hunt.
יצא יצא. זֶה יוֹצֵא וְזֶה בָא:
יצא יצא [JACOB] WAS YET SCARCE GONE OUT — this means, as one went out the other came in (Midrash Tanchuma, Toldot 11).
ל״אוַיַּ֤עַשׂ גַּם־הוּא֙ מַטְעַמִּ֔ים וַיָּבֵ֖א לְאָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֗יו יָקֻ֤ם אָבִי֙ וְיֹאכַל֙ מִצֵּ֣יד בְּנ֔וֹ בַּעֲבֻ֖ר תְּבָרְכַ֥נִּי נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
31He too prepared a dish and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father sit up and eat of his son’s game, so that you may give me your innermost blessing.”
ל״בוַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֛וֹ יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו מִי־אָ֑תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֲנִ֛י בִּנְךָ֥ בְכֹֽרְךָ֖ עֵשָֽׂו׃
32His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” And he said, “I am your son, Esau, your first-born!”
ל״גוַיֶּחֱרַ֨ד יִצְחָ֣ק חֲרָדָה֮ גְּדֹלָ֣ה עַד־מְאֹד֒ וַיֹּ֡אמֶר מִֽי־אֵפ֡וֹא ה֣וּא הַצָּֽד־צַ֩יִד֩ וַיָּ֨בֵא לִ֜י וָאֹכַ֥ל מִכֹּ֛ל בְּטֶ֥רֶם תָּב֖וֹא וָאֲבָרְכֵ֑הוּ גַּם־בָּר֖וּךְ יִהְיֶֽה׃
33Isaac was seized with very violent trembling. “Who was it then,” he demanded, “that hunted game and brought it to me? Moreover, I ate of it before you came, and I blessed him; now he must remain blessed!”
ויחרד. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וּתְוַהּ, לְשׁוֹן תְּמִיהָ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ רָאָה גֵּיהִנֹּם פְּתוּחָה מִתַּחְתָּיו:
ויחרד [AND ISAAC] TREMBLED — Explain it as the Targum renders it ותוה, which means he was perplexed. The Midrashic explanation (Midrash Tanchuma, Toldot 11) is that he saw Gehinnom opening beneath him (Esau).
מי אפוא. לָשׁוֹן לְעַצְמוֹ מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם כַּמָּה דְבָרִים; אֵיפֹה – אַיֵּה פֹה, מִי הוּא וְאֵיפֹה הוּא הַצָּד צַיִד?
מי אפוא WHO THEN IS HE — The word אפוא is an independent particle having no etymological connection with any other Hebrew word and is used with many different shades of meaning Another explanation of אפוא is that it is the same as איה פה where here, — so that מי אפוא means “Who is he and where is he here that hath hunted venison”?)
ואכל מכל. מִכָּל טְעָמִים שֶׁבִּקַּשְׁתִּי לִטְעֹם, טָעַמְתִּי בוֹ (בראשית רבה):
ואכל מכל AND I HAVE EATEN OF ALL — all tastes that I desired to find in it I indeed found therein (Genesis Rabbah 67:2).
גם ברוך יהיה. שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר אִלּוּלֵי שֶׁרִמָּה יַעֲקֹב לְאָבִיו לֹא נָטַל אֶת הַבְּרָכוֹת, לְכָךְ הִסְכִּים וּבֵרְכוֹ מִדַּעְתּוֹ (בראשית רבה):
גם ברוך יהיה YEA, AND HE SHALL BE BLESSED — In order that you may not say “If Jacob had not deceived his father he would never have received the blessing”, he, therefore, confirmed it, blessing him now of his own free will (Genesis Rabbah 67:2).
ל״דכִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ עֵשָׂו֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י אָבִ֔יו וַיִּצְעַ֣ק צְעָקָ֔ה גְּדֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה עַד־מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֔יו בָּרְכֵ֥נִי גַם־אָ֖נִי אָבִֽי׃
34When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst into wild and bitter sobbing, and said to his father, “Bless me too, Father!”
ל״הוַיֹּ֕אמֶר בָּ֥א אָחִ֖יךָ בְּמִרְמָ֑ה וַיִּקַּ֖ח בִּרְכָתֶֽךָ׃
35But he answered, “Your brother came with guile and took away your blessing.”
במרמה. בְּחָכְמָה:
במרמה WITH SUBTLETY — with cleverness (cf. Onkelos).
ל״ווַיֹּ֡אמֶר הֲכִי֩ קָרָ֨א שְׁמ֜וֹ יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַֽיַּעְקְבֵ֙נִי֙ זֶ֣ה פַעֲמַ֔יִם אֶת־בְּכֹרָתִ֣י לָקָ֔ח וְהִנֵּ֥ה עַתָּ֖ה לָקַ֣ח בִּרְכָתִ֑י וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הֲלֹא־אָצַ֥לְתָּ לִּ֖י בְּרָכָֽה׃
36[Esau] said, “Was he, then, named Jacob that he might supplantbsupplant Heb. ʻaqab, connected with “Jacob.” me these two times? First he took away my birthright and now he has taken away my blessing!” And he added, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”
הכי קרא שמו. לְשׁוֹן תֵּמַהּ הוּא, כְּמוֹ הֲכִי אָחִי אַתָּה, שֶׁמָּא לְכָךְ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יַעֲקֹב עַל שֵׁם סוֹפוֹ שֶׁהוּא עָתִיד לְעָקְבֵנִי? תַּנְחוּמָא. לָמָּה חָרַד יִצְחָק? אָמַר שֶׁמָּא עָוֹן יֵשׁ בִּי שֶׁבֵּרַכְתִּי קָטָן לִפְנֵי גָּדוֹל וְשִׁנִּיתִי סֵדֶר הַיַּחַס, הִתְחִיל עֵשָׂו מְצָעֵק וַיַּעְקְבֵנִי זֶה פַעֲמַיִם, אָמַר לוֹ אָבִיו מֶה עָשָׂה לְךָ? אָמַר לוֹ אֶת בְּכֹרָתִי לָקָח, אָמַר בְּכָךְ הָיִיתִי מֵצֵר וְחָרֵד שֶׁמָּא עָבַרְתִּי עַל שׁוּרַת הַדִּין, עַכְשָׁו לַבְּכוֹר בֵּרַכְתִּי, גַּם בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה:
הכי קרא שמו IS IT BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN CALLED [JACOB]—This is a question, like (29:15) “Is it because (הכי) thou art my brother?” Perhaps that is why they have given him the name Jacob — in reference to what was to happen in the future — that he would some time or other supplant me (יעקבני)? (Tanchuma). Why did Isaac tremble? He thought: Perhaps I have sinned in blessing the younger before the elder, thus changing the order of relationship between them. But when Esau began to cry out, “for he hath supplanted me these two times”, his father asked him, “What did he do to you?” He replied, “He took away my birth-right”. Isaac thereupon said, “It was on account of this that I was grieved and trembled: perhaps I had overstepped the line of strict justice. Now, however, I have really blessed the first-born — ‘And he shall indeed be blessed’”.
ויעקבני. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וּכְמַנִי – אֲרָבַנִי; וְאָרַב – וּכְמַן. וְיֵשׁ מְתַרְגְּמִין וְחַכְּמַנִי, נִתְחַכֵּם לִי:
ויעקבני THAT HE HATH SUPPLANTED ME — Explain it as the Targum renders it, וחכמני, which means “and he lay in wait for me.” The word (Deuteronomy 19:11) וארב “and he lies in wait” is rendered by the Targum וכמי. There are some who read in the Targum not וכמני but וחכמני which means “he showed himself clever against me” (outwitted me).
אצלת. לְשׁוֹן הַפְרָשָׁה כְּמוֹ וַיָּאצֶל:
אצלת HAST THOU NOT RESERVED — the word means “separating״, “setting aside״, like (Numbers 11:25) “And he separated.
ל״זוַיַּ֨עַן יִצְחָ֜ק וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעֵשָׂ֗ו הֵ֣ן גְּבִ֞יר שַׂמְתִּ֥יו לָךְ֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֶחָ֗יו נָתַ֤תִּי לוֹ֙ לַעֲבָדִ֔ים וְדָגָ֥ן וְתִירֹ֖שׁ סְמַכְתִּ֑יו וּלְכָ֣ה אֵפ֔וֹא מָ֥ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה בְּנִֽי׃
37Isaac answered, saying to Esau, “But I have made him master over you: I have given him all his brothers for servants, and sustained him with grain and wine. What, then, can I still do for you, my son?”
הן גביר. בְּרָכָה זוֹ שְׁבִיעִית הִיא, וְהוּא עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ רִאשׁוֹנָה? אֶלָּא אָמַר לוֹ מַה תּוֹעֶלֶת לְךָ בַּבְּרָכָה? אִם תִּקְנֶה נְכָסִים, שֶׁלּוֹ הֵם, שֶׁהֲרֵי גְּבִיר שַׂמְתִּיו לָךְ, וּמַה שֶּׁקָּנָה עֶבֶד קָנָה רַבּוֹ:
הן גביר AND BEHOLD I HAVE MADE HIM THY MASTER — This blessing is the seventh in the series of blessings which Isaac gave to Jacob (cf. w. 28. 29) and yet he (Isaac) singles it out as though it were the chief blessing? But the explanation is, he said to him (Esau): “What benefit will a blessing be to you? If you acquire property, it will belong to him, for “Behold, I have made him thy master״, and whatever a servant acquires becomes the property of his master (Genesis Rabbah 67:5).
ולכה אפא מה אעשה. אַיֵּה אֵיפֹא אֲבַקֵּשׁ מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת לְךָ:
ולכה אפוא מה אעשה בני AND WHAT SHALL I DO NOW UNTO THEE [MY SON?] — Where here (איפה) shall I look for something that I can do for you?
ל״חוַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו אֶל־אָבִ֗יו הַֽבְרָכָ֨ה אַחַ֤ת הִֽוא־לְךָ֙ אָבִ֔י בָּרְכֵ֥נִי גַם־אָ֖נִי אָבִ֑י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א עֵשָׂ֛ו קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃
38And Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, Father? Bless me too, Father!” And Esau wept aloud.
הברכה אחת. הֵ"א זוֹ מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת לְשׁוֹן תְּמִיהָ, כְּמוֹ הַבְּמַחֲנִים? הַשְּׁמֵנָה הִיא? הַכְּמוֹת נָבָל?
הברכה אחת HAST THOU BUT ONE BLESSING? The ה in הברכה is the interrogative prefix, as in (Num. XIII. 19, 20) “whether in camps (הבמחנים)”, “whether it is fat (השמנה)", and (2 Sam. III. 33) “Should Abner die (הכמות) as a churl dieth”?
ל״טוַיַּ֛עַן יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֑יו הִנֵּ֞ה מִשְׁמַנֵּ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ וּמִטַּ֥ל הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם מֵעָֽל׃
39And his father Isaac answered, saying to him,“See, your abode shall enjoy the fat of the earthAndcenjoy the fat of the earth / And In contrast to others “be away from the fat of the earth and from.” the dew of heaven above.
משמני ארץ וגו'. זוֹ אִיטָלִיאָה שֶׁל יָוָן:
משמני הארץ וגו THE FATNESS OF THE EARTH etc. — This refers to the Greek portions of Italy (Graeca Magna) (Genesis Rabbah 67:6).
מ׳וְעַל־חַרְבְּךָ֣ תִֽחְיֶ֔ה וְאֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ תַּעֲבֹ֑ד וְהָיָה֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּרִ֔יד וּפָרַקְתָּ֥ עֻלּ֖וֹ מֵעַ֥ל צַוָּארֶֽךָ׃
40Yet by your sword you shall live,And you shall serve your brother;But when you grow restive,You shall break his yoke from your neck.”
ועל חרבך. כְּמוֹ בְּחַרְבְּךָ, יֵשׁ עַל בִּמְקוֹם בְּ', כְּמוֹ עֲמַדְתֶּם עַל חַרְבְּכֶם – בְּחַרְבְּכֶם; עַל צִבְאֹתָם – בְּצִבְאֹתָם:
ועל חרבך—The phrase is equivalent to בחרבך BY THY SWORD. The word על is sometimes used instead of the prefix ב, as (Ezekiel 33:26) “Ye stand by your sword (על חרבכם)”, which is the same as בחרבכם; (Exodus 6:26) “by their hosts (על צבאותם), which is the same as בצבאותם.
תריד. לְשׁוֹן צַעַר כְּמוֹ אָרִיד בְּשִׂיחִי, כְּלוֹמַר, כְּשֶׁיַּעַבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְיִהְיֶה לְךָ פִּתְחוֹן פֶּה לְהִצְטַעֵר עַל הַבְּרָכוֹת שֶׁנָּטַל, ופרקת עלו וגומר:
AND והיה כאשר תריד AND IT SHALL CAME TO PASS THAT WHEN THOU ROVEST ABOUT — The word תריד signifies grief, pain, as (Psalms 40:3) “I am distraught (אריד) in my complaint”. It means: when Israel will transgress the Torah and you will have reason to feel aggrieved with regard to the Blessings, ופרקת עלו וגו THEN THOU SHALT PULL HIS YOKE FROM OFF THY NECK (Genesis Rabbah 67:7).
מ״אוַיִּשְׂטֹ֤ם עֵשָׂו֙ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֔ב עַ֨ל־הַבְּרָכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּרְכ֖וֹ אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו בְּלִבּ֗וֹ יִקְרְבוּ֙ יְמֵי֙ אֵ֣בֶל אָבִ֔י וְאַֽהַרְגָ֖ה אֶת־יַעֲקֹ֥ב אָחִֽי׃
41Now Esau harbored a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing that his father had given him, and Esau said to himself, “Let but the mourning period of my father come, and I will kill my brother Jacob.”
יקרבו ימי אבל אבי. כְּמִשְׁמָעוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא אֲצָעֵר אֶת אַבָּא, וּמִדְרְשֵׁי אַגָּדָה לְכַמָּה פָנִים יֵשׁ:
יקרבו ימי אבל אבי THE DAYS OF MOURNING FOR MY FATHER APPROACH — Explain it according to the evident meaning of the words — (I will wait to kill him until my father is dead), that I may not cause grief to my father. There are Midrashic explanations of various kinds.
מ״בוַיֻּגַּ֣ד לְרִבְקָ֔ה אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י עֵשָׂ֖ו בְּנָ֣הּ הַגָּדֹ֑ל וַתִּשְׁלַ֞ח וַתִּקְרָ֤א לְיַעֲקֹב֙ בְּנָ֣הּ הַקָּטָ֔ן וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּה֙ עֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֔יךָ מִתְנַחֵ֥ם לְךָ֖ לְהׇרְגֶֽךָ׃
42When the words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you.
ויגד לרבקה. בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ הֻגַּד לָהּ מַה שֶּׁעֵשָׂו מְהַרְהֵר בְּלִבּוֹ:
ויגד לרבקה WERE TOLD TO REBEKAH — It was told her by the Holy Spirit what Esau was thinking in his heart (Genesis Rabbah 67:9).
מתנחם לך. נִחָם עַל הָאַחְוָה לַחֲשֹׁב מַחֲשָׁבָה אַחֶרֶת לְהִתְנַכֵּר לְךָ וּלְהָרְגְּךָ. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה כְּבָר אַתָּה מֵת בְּעֵינָיו וְשָׁתָה עָלֶיךָ כּוֹס שֶׁל תַּנְחוּמִים. וּלְפִי פְּשׁוּטוֹ לְשׁוֹן תַּנְחוּמִים, מִתְנַחֵם הוּא עַל הַבְּרָכוֹת בַּהֲרִיגָתְךָ:
מתנחם לך DOTH COMFORT HIMSELF CONCERNING THEE — He regrets the brotherly relationship existing between you, harbouring thoughts other than those of brotherhood, to estrange himself from you and to kill you. The Midrashic explanation (Genesis Rabbah 67:9) is: In his eyes you are already regarded as dead and he has drunk for you (i. e. because he regards you as dead) the cup of consolation (which it was customary for near relatives of the deceased to drink). But according to the real meaning the word signifies “comforting” — he will comfort himself for the loss of the blessings by killing you.
מ״גוְעַתָּ֥ה בְנִ֖י שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלִ֑י וְק֧וּם בְּרַח־לְךָ֛ אֶל־לָבָ֥ן אָחִ֖י חָרָֽנָה׃
43Now, my son, listen to me. Flee at once to Haran, to my brother Laban.
מ״דוְיָשַׁבְתָּ֥ עִמּ֖וֹ יָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֑ים עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־תָּשׁ֖וּב חֲמַ֥ת אָחִֽיךָ׃
44Stay with him awhile, until your brother’s fury subsides—
אחדים. מֻעָטִים:
אחדים means A FEW.
מ״העַד־שׁ֨וּב אַף־אָחִ֜יךָ מִמְּךָ֗ וְשָׁכַח֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֖י וּלְקַחְתִּ֣יךָ מִשָּׁ֑ם לָמָ֥ה אֶשְׁכַּ֛ל גַּם־שְׁנֵיכֶ֖ם י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃
45until your brother’s anger against you subsides—and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will fetch you from there. Let me not lose you both in one day!”
למה אשכל. אֶהְיֶה שַׁכּוּלָה מִשְּׁנֵיכֶם. הַקּוֹבֵר אֶת בָּנָיו קָרוּי שַׁכּוּל, וְכֵן בְּיַעֲקֹב אָמַר כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי:
למה אשכל means WHY SHOULD I BE BEREAVED משניכם OF BOTH OF YOU? — The one who buries his children is termed שכול bereaved: so we find in the case of Jacob (43:14), “If I am to be bereaved (שכלתי) let me be bereaved”.
גם שניכם. אִם יָקוּם עָלֶיךָ וְאַתָּה תַּהַרְגֶנּוּ יַעַמְדוּ בָנָיו וְיַהַרְגוּךָ; וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ נִזְרְקָה בָהּ וְנִתְנַבְּאָה שֶׁבְּיוֹם א' יָמוּתוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּפֶרֶק הַמְקַנֵּא לְאִשְׁתּוֹ:
גם שניכם OF YOU BOTH — If he attacks you and you kill him his children will rise and kill you. The Holy Spirit poured itself forth upon her and she prophesied (had a presage) that they would both die on one day just as it is stated in the Chapter המקנה לאשתו (Sotah 13a).
מ״ווַתֹּ֤אמֶר רִבְקָה֙ אֶל־יִצְחָ֔ק קַ֣צְתִּי בְחַיַּ֔י מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנ֣וֹת חֵ֑ת אִם־לֹקֵ֣חַ יַ֠עֲקֹ֠ב אִשָּׁ֨ה מִבְּנֽוֹת־חֵ֤ת כָּאֵ֙לֶּה֙ מִבְּנ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ לָ֥מָּה לִּ֖י חַיִּֽים׃
46Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am disgusted with my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries a Hittite woman like these, from among the native women, what good will life be to me?”
קצתי בחיי. מָאַסְתִּי בְחַיַּי:
קצתי בחיי means I AM DISGUSTED WITH MY LIFE.
כ״ח
א׳וַיִּקְרָ֥א יִצְחָ֛ק אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹת֑וֹ וַיְצַוֵּ֙הוּ֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ לֹֽא־תִקַּ֥ח אִשָּׁ֖ה מִבְּנ֥וֹת כְּנָֽעַן׃
1So Isaac sent for Jacob and blessed him. He instructed him, saying, “You shall not take a wife from among the Canaanite women.
ב׳ק֥וּם לֵךְ֙ פַּדֶּ֣נָֽה אֲרָ֔ם בֵּ֥יתָה בְתוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִ֣י אִמֶּ֑ךָ וְקַח־לְךָ֤ מִשָּׁם֙ אִשָּׁ֔ה מִבְּנ֥וֹת לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֥י אִמֶּֽךָ׃
2Up, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father, and take a wife there from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.
פדנה. כְּמוֹ לְפַדָּן:
פדנה is the same as לפדן to Padan;
ביתה בתואל. לְבֵית בְּתוּאֵל, כָּל תֵּבָה שֶׁצְּרִיכָה לָמֶ"ד בִּתְחִלָּתָהּ הֵטִיל לָהּ הֵ"א בְּסוֹפָהּ (יבמות י"ג):
ביתה בתואל is the same as לבית בתואל to the house of Bethuel. To every word requiring a ל prefixed you may attach a ה as a suffix (Yevamot 13b).
ג׳וְאֵ֤ל שַׁדַּי֙ יְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֹֽתְךָ֔ וְיַפְרְךָ֖ וְיַרְבֶּ֑ךָ וְהָיִ֖יתָ לִקְהַ֥ל עַמִּֽים׃
3May El ShaddaiaEl Shaddai See note at 17.1. bless you, make you fertile and numerous, so that you become an assembly of peoples.
ואל שדי. מִי שֶׁדַּי בְּבִרְכוֹתָיו לַמִּתְבָּרְכִין מִפִּיו, יברך אותך:
ואל שדי AND GOD ALMIGHTY —He who has a sufficiency of blessings שָׁדִּי for those who are blessed by Him, יברך אתך MAY HE BLESS THEE.
ד׳וְיִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ אֶת־בִּרְכַּ֣ת אַבְרָהָ֔ם לְךָ֖ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֣ אִתָּ֑ךְ לְרִשְׁתְּךָ֙ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ מְגֻרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְאַבְרָהָֽם׃
4May you and your offspring be granted the blessing of Abraham, that you may possess the land where you are sojourning, which God assigned to Abraham.”
את ברכת אברהם. שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל וְהִתְבָּרְכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ יִהְיוּ אוֹתָן בְּרָכוֹת אֲמוּרוֹת בִּשְׁבִילְךָ – מִמְּךָ יֵצֵא אוֹתוֹ הַגּוֹי וְאוֹתוֹ הַזֶּרַע הַמְבֹרָךְ:
את ברכת אברהם THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM, (i. e. the blessing which He gave to (Abraham) to whom He promised, (12:2) “and I will make of thee a great nation”, and (26:4) “and all the nations shall bless themselves by thy seed”: may these blessings have been said regarding you — may that great nation and that blessed seed issue from you.