Yes, I know- we only went over the story today and tomorrow we will begin to answer the various questions. However, I had this question come up while we were sitting and learning and so I thought I would ask now, as it will hopefully make an interesting blog post.
Recall that Yaakov had dressed up as Esau so that he could receive the blessing that Yitzchak had intended to give to Esau. The blessing that he received, the one intended for Esau, was as follows: "May the lords give you the dews of the heaven, and nations shall serve you, you shall be a master over your brothers, and your mother's sons shall bow down to you."
When Esau shows up for his blessing, Yitzchak tells him that Yaakov tricked him and received it, and that Esau would have to serve his brother. Esau, of course, we angry.
My question is this: Why was it part of the blessing that one brother should serve another? How could that be part of the blessing- having your brother serve you. Why would Yitzchak tell "Esau" that Yaakov would serve him- how is that something good to promise anyone? It seems more like a curse than a blessing, dooming the two brothers to fight with each other. If all had gone as planned, Esau would have received that blessing and Yaakov would have been the one serving his brother. Would Yaakov not have been as enraged? Why would this be part of the blessing. It seems like Yitzchak was setting them up conflicts between Yaakov and Esau.
This whole story strikes me as sad. Do you not feel bad for Esau, the poor brother who cried because he wanted a blessing and his younger brother stole it from him. Do you not pity him?
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