Esau
Esau, in the Hebrew Bible, is the older son of Isaac. He is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, and by the prophets Obadiah and Malachi. The New Testament alludes to him in the Epistle to the Romans and in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Full Answer
Why did Rebekah choose Jacob over Esau in the Bible?
The first reason is quite simply because she loved Jacob more than Esau. 27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. - (Genesis 25: 27-28)
Why did Rebekah and Jacob trick Isaac?
Why did Rebekah and Jacob trick Isaac? When Jacob and Esau were born, God gave a prophecy to Rebekah that Jacob would receive the birthright and blessing. We see that there is heavy favoritism in this family as Rebekah loves Jacob and Isaac loves Esau.
Why did Rebekah spake unto Jacob?
Rebekah spake unto Jacob — Rebekah is here contriving to procure the blessing for Jacob, which was designed for Esau. If the end were good, the means were bad, and no way justifiable.
Why did Rebekah like Jacob More than other men?
So it is not hard to explain why Rebekah liked Jacob more. According to Bible, the God has predicted that the old will serve the young, and Rebekah may be a faithful servant and believer of God and believed Jacob will be more successful, so gave Jacob extra care. A lot of women are scheming and misguided,and they play this game up till today.
Why did Rebekah favor Jacob over Esau?
The Lord had revealed to Rebekah that Jacob was to receive the birthright, but Rebekah knew how much Isaac loved his oldest son and wanted to give these blessings to Esau. Because Esau had not always made right choices, Rebekah knew he was not worthy.
Did Rebekah love Jacob more than Esau?
The midrash explains that Rebekah did not act as she did because she loved Jacob more than Esau. Rather, she said: “Esau will not come and mislead that old man to give his blessing only to him, and take the blessing from Jacob” (Gen.
Did Rebekah ever see Jacob again?
Rebekah never saw her favourite son again. Isaac, despite God's will, wants to give the blessing to his son, . That meant Rebekah didn't get to have Jacob around anymore, and although he eventually came home, she died before ever seeing him again.
What kind of person was Rebekah?
Rebekah, the wife of Isaac and mother of twins, Esau and Jacob, is described as courteous, trusting, and helpful. Of her two sons, Rebekah favored Jacob so intensely that she deceived Isaac into bestowing his blessing (inheritance) on him.
Why was Esau birthright so important?
Jacob offered to give Esau a bowl of stew in exchange for his birthright (the right to be recognized as firstborn) and Esau agreed. The birthright (bekorah) has to do with both position and inheritance. By birthright, the firstborn son inherited the leadership of the family and the judicial authority of his father.
What is the moral of the story of Jacob and Esau?
Explain that Esau was hungry, but his life was not in danger. He placed more value on satisfying his hunger than on the blessings and covenants of his birthright.
Why was Rebekah given a nose ring?
There is no indication in the Biblical text that the nose ring that Eliezer gave to Rebekah was of any particular significance; like the golden bangles, it was a simple gift for a potential bride, a way to let Rebekah and her family know that her suitor was generous and well-to-do.
How old was Jacob when he ran away from Esau?
Jacob was about 77 when he parted from Esau, because Joseph was born 14 years after Jacob left home (see Gen.
Why is Rebekah important in the Bible?
Rebekah secures her role as wife-elect for Isaac by befriending the servant and his ten camels in the famous well scene, which has been called a type-scene—a narrative episode with certain expected motifs that appears at the critical juncture in the life of a hero.
What can we learn from the life of Rebecca?
Here are some major lessons we can learn from Rebecca.Rebecca was Virtuous, Polite and kept her Virginity till Marriage. The Bible in Genesis 24:15-18 aptly describes the kind of person Rebecca was. ... She was a Source of Comfort to her Spouse. ... She always Inquired of God. ... She was a very Loving Mother.
Did Isaac and Rebekah love each other?
Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her.
How was Rebekah selected to become the wife of Isaac?
Then when she had given him a drink, she offered, “I will draw water for thy camels also.” This was the very sign the servant had prayed for, so he knew Rebekah was the woman the Lord had chosen to be Isaac's wife. After the camels had been given water to drink, the servant asked Rebekah, “Whose daughter art thou?
Why is Rebekah important in the Bible?
Rebekah secures her role as wife-elect for Isaac by befriending the servant and his ten camels in the famous well scene, which has been called a type-scene—a narrative episode with certain expected motifs that appears at the critical juncture in the life of a hero.
Why did Esau sell his birthright?
Esau disregarded God's law, married women outside of Israel, and didn't respect his birthright. It was part of God's providential plan that Esau be excluded from the line that would lead to Christ. Instead, God chose Jacob, who was flawed, yet faithful, to carry on His promise to Isaac and Abraham.
Why was Joseph loved by his father more than his brothers?
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.
What did Esau look like when he was born?
At birth, Esau was red and hairy, and he became a wandering hunter, while Jacob was a shepherd. Although younger, Jacob dominated him by deception.
Why did Rebecca push Jacob to get Esau's blessing?
Rather than dividing the spiritual and physical blessings between Jacob and Esau, Rebecca saw the need for Jacob to receive both. By Rabbi Nathan J. Diament. My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help. Donate.
Why does Jacob want Esau's birthright?
Jacob demands Esau’s birthright in exchange for some soup. Then, when Rebecca proposes that Jacob disguise himself as Esau in order to “steal” his berachah (blessing) from Isaac, Jacob protests–not because of the deception involved, but because he fears getting caught and consequently cursed by his father.
What is the difference between Jacob and Esau?
Esau is “a hunter, a man of the field,” while Jacob is “ ish tam, ” (a simple/whole man) who sits in tents. These textual descriptions, Rashi and Ibn Ezra point out, indicate that Esau is a “trickster,” a man not to be trusted, while Jacob is a “simple” or “naive” shepherd, who spends his days studying Torah.
Why did Jacob want to apprentice with Laban?
She thus wanted Jacob to undergo an apprenticeship with her brother, Laban, the master trickster, so that he would know how to combine these traits. He achieved mastery over the physical world, the Keli Yakar (17 th century commentator), points out ( Genesis: 31:1) when he surpasses Laban’s ability to beguile his adversaries.
What is Jacob's new name?
After this “education,” the fully developed Jacob is commanded by God to return to Canaan, whereupon he wrestles with Esau’s angel and is given a new name: Yisrael. This new name demonstrates his completed evolution, a name by which we, his descendants, are called: Benei Yisrael (the Children of Israel).
Who proposed to bless Esau with birkas haaretz?
As noted by the Netziv (Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehudah Berlin, 19 th century commentator), Isaac proposed to bless Esau with birkas haaretz (the blessing of the land)–physical plenitude and mastery over the physical world. Reserved for Jacob, and conferred upon him by Isaac before he fled to Laban’s house, was birkas Avraham ...
Who is the sister of Laban?
Combining Strength. However, Rebecca, the mother of these two brothers and, importantly, reared as the sister of Laban, (as emphasized in the second verse of the Torah portion), knew that such a partnership was impossible.
Why does Rebekah want Jacob to get Esau's blessing?
Now, why Rebekah wants Jacob to get Esau’s blessing? The first reason is quite simply because she loved Jacob more than Esau. 27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
What was the answer to Rebekah's question before what you are describing?
Rebekah enquired of the Lord, why was it so ? The answer was 'The elder shall serve the younger'.
What does Rebekah see in Genesis 27:1-40?
From reading Genesis 27:1-40 we see Rebekah overhearing a conversation between Isaac and Esau and, from there , plotting a theft in order for Jacob to receive the blessing meant for his brother, and Jacob managing to go through with the plan and steal the blessing.
Why did Isaac pray to the Lord for his wife?
21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
Who loved Esau and Jacob?
28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. - (Genesis 25: 27-28)
Who helped Jacob in obtaining the birthright of Esau?
And finally, Rebekah helped Jacob in obtaining the birthright of Esau.
How old was Isaac when he bore his twins?
26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
What did Isaac and Rebecca teach us?
Isaac and Rebecca's approach es to their sons teach us valuable lessons about education and relating to people with different natural inclinations. Early in Parashat Toldot we are introduced to Isaac and Rebecca’s twin sons, Esau and Jacob. As the. Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses. describes them, Esau and Jacob were as ...
How were Jacob and Esau different?
describes them, Esau and Jacob were as different from one another as brothers could be. Jacob was a Yoshev Ohelim (a dweller of tents) who enjoyed intellectual and spiritual pursuits, while Esau was an outdoorsman and a hunter enamored with the physicality of life. In rabbinic literature Jacob is the Tzadik Tamim (the guileless righteous person) ...
How is Torah taught?
“How is Torah taught? The teacher sits at the head of the class and the students sit around him. The teacher should not sit on a chair while his students sit on the ground. Rather, either everyone should sit on the ground or everyone should sit on chairs.” [ Rambam, Laws of
Who loved Esau?
“When the boys grew up, it came to pass that Esau was a man who understood hunting, a man of the field, and Jacob was a guileless man dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau, for he was a hunter for his mouth, but Rebecca loved Jacob.”.
Why did God prefer Jacob over Esau?
The first one is because Esau in Genesis 25:30-35 showed that he didn’t value God ’s blessings at all. In fact, he “ despised his birthright” (v.35). He valued worldly blessings over the spiritual ones.
Why did Esau not cultivate the graces of self control?
The second reason is that Esau didn’t cultivate the graces of self control over his physical passions. Paul in the book of Hebrews describes Esau with the term “pornos,” implying that he was a man ruled by his physical appetites (Hebrews 12:16). A third reason is that he took wives from among the Hittites (Genesis 26:34).
Why did Rebecca encourage Jacob to dress like his brother?
When Jacob hesitated because he feared a curse if his father found out, Rebecca invited the curse upon herself should this happen.
Who was Rebecca's master's wife?
The servant told the family how the Lord had led him to Rebecca to become his master’s wife. Bethuel and Laban both agreed that this was from God. The servant presented many gifts to Rebecca and her family and then escorted Rebecca back to Isaac where she was married. Rebecca married Isaac when he was forty.
How did the servant of Isaac find his wife?
In Genesis 24 you can read the story about the servant of Isaac being sent to find him a wife. He was led by God to Rebecca. The servant had asked the Lord to allow him to know the right girl for Isaac by allowing her to willingly provide him a drink and offer to water his camels as well. This was labor intensive work and any woman voluntarily doing it would have a spirit of servitude. The servant told the family how the Lord had led him to Rebecca to become his master’s wife. Bethuel and Laban both agreed that this was from God. The servant presented many gifts to Rebecca and her family and then escorted Rebecca back to Isaac where she was married. Rebecca married Isaac when he was forty. She was barren for the next twenty years approximately. In those days barrenness was looked upon with great disdain. Then Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife and she became pregnant according to Genesis 25:19-21, 26.
Why did Isaac's eyes not see well?
Because Isaac’s eyes could no longer see well, the plan worked as Rebecca and Jacob had hoped . As parents Rebecca and Jacob showed great favoritism toward their sons. While there are not many other details regarding their parenting skills, they even continued that partiality when their children were grown adults.
What does the name Rebecca mean?
The name Rebecca literally means to tie up, a noose, or frequently translated secured. While she displayed a gentle spirit in the early recordings in thLabane Bible, there is much questionable behavior in the later recordings as you will see. She appears on the Biblical Timeline Chart between 1754-1704 BC.
Did Rebecca have twins?
Rebecca Had Twins. After her twenty years of barrenness, Rebecca’s pregnancy was trying. Even while in the womb, these two boys jostled around much. This caused Rebecca to ask the Lord for an explanation as to why this was happening to her.
What is Rebekah's plan for Jacob?
Rebekah forms a plan for diverting the blessing from Esau to Jacob. She was within hearing when the infirm Isaac gave his orders, and communicates the news to Jacob. Rebekah has no scruples about primogeniture.
What does the bewildered father do to Jacob?
The bewildered father now puts Jacob to a severer test. He feels him, but discerns him not. The ear notes a difference, but the hand feels the hairy skin resembling Esau's; the eyes give no testimony. After this the result is summarily stated in a single sentence, though the particulars are yet to be given.
What does Rebekah say in Genesis 27:6?
Genesis 27:6. Rebekah spake unto Jacob — Rebekah is here contriving to procure the blessing for Jacob , which was designed for Esau. If the end were good, the means were bad, and no way justifiable. If it were not a wrong to Esau to deprive him of the blessing, he himself having forfeited it by selling the birthright, ...
What does Genesis 27:6 say about Jacob?
Genesis 27:6 Commentaries: Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Behold, I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying,
Who was the woman who asked for the blessing before Jehovah?
Rebekah, who heard what he said, sought to frustrate this intention, and to secure the blessing for her (favourite) son Jacob. Whilst Esau was away hunting, she told Jacob to take his father a dish, which she would prepare from two kids according to his taste; and, having introduced himself as Esau, to ask for the blessing "before Jehovah." Jacob's objection, that the father would know him by his smooth skin, and so, instead of blessing him, might pronounce a curse upon him as a mocker, i.e., one who was trifling with his blind father, she silenced by saying, that she would take the curse upon herself. She evidently relied upon the word of promise, and thought that she ought to do her part to secure its fulfilment by directing the father's blessing to Jacob; and to this end she thought any means allowable. Consequently she was so assured of the success of her stratagem as to have no fear of the possibility of a curse. Jacob then acceded to her plan, and fetched the goats. Rebekah prepared them according to her husband's taste; and having told Jacob to put on Esau's best clothes which were with her in the dwelling (the tent, not the house), she covered his hands and the smooth (i.e., the smoother parts) of his neck with the skins of the kids of the goats,
