[Avodah] correct intentions vis a vis yaakov

[T613K at aol.com]

From: Harvey Benton <harvw613 at yahoo.com>
>> did yaakov  have the best of intentions when he 1. bought the bechor 
rights from 
his  brother eisav (eg, helping to save his life)
and 2. when he listened to his  mother <<
 


>>>>>
 
1. Yakov didn't buy the bechora in order to save his brother's life, why  
would you even imagine that?  In those days the bechor acted as the kohen  in 
each family, are you thinking that an unworthy kohen who brought an 
unworthy  korban would thereby risk his life?  Or in what sense do you think Esav's 
 life might have been in danger and Yakov was trying to save him?
 
He bought the bechora because he knew that Esav was not a suitable kohen,  
that's all.  Esav wanted whatever presents and perks went with being a  
kohen but he had no interest in the avodah, the service of Hashem.  In this  
case you don't even have to go to Rashi, the pasuk itself says of Esav "vayivez 
 es habechorah"  - he held the position in contempt.
 
2.  Yakov knew that his mother knew who and what Esav really was,  while 
Yitzchak was clueless.  Yes, his primary motive was kibud eim, he  listened to 
his mother, but he also knew that his mother was /right./   Rivkah had long 
tried to convince her husband of the reality, but it wasn't  until Yitzchak 
saw with his own eyes how easily he /could/ be fooled (which was  part of 
Rivka's plan) that he realized she was right and that Esav had been  fooling 
him all along -- which is why he immediately confirmed his bracha to  Yakov, 
"Gam baruch yiheyeh" -- rather than revoking it.  He thereby  affirmed that 
Rivka had acted correctly and that Yakov had acted  correctly.
 
 
 


--Toby Katz
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