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<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>From: Harvey Benton <harvw613@yahoo.com><BR>>> did yaakov
have the best of intentions when he 1. bought the bechor rights from <BR>his
brother eisav (eg, helping to save his life)<BR>and 2. when he listened to his
mother <<</FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>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?</DIV>
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<DIV>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.</DIV>
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<DIV>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.</DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><B><BR>--Toby Katz<BR>================</FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></B><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>_____________________ </DIV>
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