CHAMISHOH MI YODEI'A - FIVE QUESTIONS ON THE WEEKLY SEDRAH - PARSHAS TOLDOS 5771 - BS"D
1) Ch. 25, v. 22: "Va'yisrotz'tzu habonim" - And the sons jostled - Rashi says that when Rivkoh was near the Torah study hall of Shem and Eiver Yaakov wanted to exit, and when she stood near idol worship Eisov wanted to exit. Understandably, Eisov wanted to exit when near idol worship because he had no such environment inside his mother's womb, but since the gemara Nidoh 30a says that when one is inside is mother's womb he is taught the entire Torah by an angel, what was Yaakov lacking inside his mother's womb?
2) Ch. 25, v. 33: "Hishovoh li" - Swear to me - What is Yaakov's intention by adding "to me?"
3) Ch. 25, v. 33: "Va'yimkor es b'choroso" - And he sold his primo-geniture right - What was the technical act that created the transfer of ownership of the firstborn privileges?
4) Ch. 26, v. 30,31: "Va'yaas lo'hem mishteh va'yochlu va'yishtu, Va'yashkimu vaboker va'yishovu" - And he made for them a feast and they ate and they drank, And they rose early in the morning and they took an oath - In verse 28 we find that they agreed to make an oath of peaceful co-existence. Why did they wait until the next morning to take the oath and not do this at the time the meal that was served?
5) Ch. 26, v. 35: "Vati'h'yenoh moras ruach l'Yitzchok ul'Rivkoh" - And they were of a rebellious spirit to Yitzchok and to Rivkoh -
What did they do to aggravate their in-laws?
ANSWERS:
#1
From this we can derive that Yaakov preferred to forgo learning from an angel rather than "going to "cheder" with Eisov. (Admor Rabbi Yisochor Dov of Belz)
#2
The Sforno says that Yaakov asked Eisov to swear, not out of lack of trust, but rather, since he was asking for ownership of something that was not tangible, the sale would not be binding. Swearing compensates for this drawback and makes it binding. The Ohr Hachaim Hakodosh says that Yaakov insisted that Eisov swear as a means of not allowing Eisov to wheedle out of the sale. By saying "Hishovoh LI" Yaakov stated that the transaction should take place according to HIS terms and understanding.
#3
The Sforno says that the payment for the sale was not the food Yaakov gave Eisov. Rather, he sold it for an undisclosed amount of money. In the next verse he writes that the act of acquisition was through "kinyan chalipin," either with the lentils or the dish. The Ramban disagrees with the Sforno, saying that the payment was the "n'zid adoshim" itself and not money.
#4
Yitzchok insisted that the swearing not take place at the meal because they drank intoxicating beverages and might later excuse themselves by saying that they were not of sober mind when making the commitment. He therefore had them push this off until the next morning, but even then, specifically early in the morning before they hit the bottle again. (Tosfos Hasho'leim)
#5
To illustrate how nasty Yehudis and Bosmas were, Tosfos Hasho'leim writes that when Rivkoh would be in the middle of her prayers they would place their pagan idol forms in front of her face and force her to stop praying. Yitzchok was forced to leave the house to pray.
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