Tol'dot / Genesis 25:19 ~ 28:9

Tol'dot: Generations

This parsha tells the story of Isaac and his family. Isaac was already a middle-aged man when he married Rebekah. After many years of marriage, Rebekah learned that she was pregnant with twins. G~d told her that she was carrying two separate nations, and the younger twin would rule over the younger one. Her first born twin was red and hairy, so he was named Esau. The second twin was holding on to his brother’s heal, and he was named Jacob.

Esau was a hunter and Isaac’s favorite son. Rebekah, however, preferred Jacob, who was more mild mannered. One day Esau returned from hunting and demanded some of Jacob’s lentil stew. Jacob promised Esau his food upon the condition that Esau sell him his birthright. Esau was so hungry, that he readily agreed.

This parsha also contains a Wife/Sister story. Isaac and Rebekah encountered some men of Gerar. Isaac, fearing that the men would kill him to gain access to Rebekah, told the men that Rebekah was his sister. King Abimelech, however, saw Isaac with Rebekah and realized that she was not Isaac’s sister. Ultimately, this story has a happy ending and the King instructed his people not to harm either Isaac or Rebekah.
When Esau was 40 years old, he married two Hittite women ~ Judith and Basemath. Neither Isaac nor Rebekah were happy with his choice of wives.

By now, Isaac was an old, frail man and is nearly blind. He asked Esau to hunt him some game and prepare a nice meat meal, then he will bless his son. Rebekah overheard the conversation and decided that her favorite son should receive the blessing. She instructed Jacob to kill two choice goats and prepared a meal for Jacob to give to Isaac. Jacob covered his skin with the goat’s hide so as to further deceive Isaac into thinking that he, Jacob, was really Esau. Jacob then received the blessing intended for Esau.

Jacob’s actions caused a rift between the brothers. Jacob fearing that Esau would kill him, after Isaac’s death, fled to Haran to live with his uncle Laban.