Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
When it became plain to Esau that he could not induce his father to
annul the blessing bestowed upon Jacob, he tried to force a blessing
for himself by an underhand trick. He said: "Hast thou but one
blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father, else it will
be said thou hast but one blessing to bestow. Suppose both Jacob and I
had been righteous men, had not then thy God had two blessings, one for
each?" The Lord Himself made reply: "Silence! Jacob will bless the
twelve tribes, and each blessing will be different from every other."
But Isaac felt great pity for his older son, and he wanted to bless
him, but the Shekinah forsook him, and he could not carry out what he
purposed. Thereupon Esau began to weep. He shed three tears—one ran
from his right eye, the second from his left eye, and the third
remained hanging from his eyelash. God said, "This villain cries for
his very life, and should I let him depart empty-handed?" and then He
bade Isaac bless his older son.[104]
The blessing of Isaac ran thus: "Behold, of the fat of the earth shall
be thy dwelling," by which he meant Greater Greece, in Italy; "and of
the dew of heaven from above," referring to Bet-Gubrin; "and by thy
sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother," but when he
casts off the yoke of the Lord, then shalt thou "shake his yoke from
off thy neck," and thou wilt be his master.[105]
The blessing which Isaac gave to his older son was bound to no
condition whatsoever. Whether he deserved them or not, Esau was to
enjoy the goods of this world. Jacob's blessing, however, depended upon
his pious deeds; through them he would have a just claim upon earthly
prosperity. Isaac thought: "Jacob is a righteous man, he will not
murmur against God, though it should come to pass that suffering be
inflicted upon him in spite of his upright life. But that reprobate
Esau, if he should do a good deed, or pray to God and not be heard, he
would say, 'As I pray to the idols for naught, so it is in vain to pray
to God.'" For this reason did Isaac bestow an unconditional blessing
upon Esau.[106]
JACOB LEAVES HIS FATHER'S HOUSE
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