1) Why was Yaakov not happy to provide food for his brother free of charge (see Zohar pg. 139a)?
R’ Chaim Kanievsky zt”l in Tama Dekra cites the Medrash HaGadol which says, then when Eisav requested הלעיטני מן האדום האדום הזה – “give me from this red stuff”, he was also asking for red wine. It’s also clear from the pasuk which says, ויאכל וישת – “he ate, and he drank”. The Gemara in Taanis (17) teaches that a Kohen isn’t allowed to drink wine as he may need to carry out the avodah. Since Eisav wanted to drink wine, Yaakov told him he must sell him the bechorah, to ensure he won’t need to perform the avodah. This is also what Eisav meant when he said, הנה אנכי הולך למות – “behold I am going to die”. The punishment for doing the avodah drunk is death. Since Eisav wanted wine, he said, if I don’t sell the bechorah I am going to die, therefore, I am happy to sell it.
The Madanay Asher suggests, that the halachah is that one isn’t allowed to give someone food if he knows that he won’t wash, due to the issur of lifnei issur, the issur to place a stumbling block in front of someone. Similarly, one is not allowed to give someone food if he knows that he won’t make berachos. Due to the above, Yaakov wasn’t allowed to give any food to Eisav. However, the poskim (Shu”t Maharsham 6:11, Shu”t Toras Chesed, Orach Chaim 5 and others) say if one is selling the food then there is no issur. Perhaps, this is why Yaakov insisted on selling the food.
Tosfos al HaTorah cites R’ Yehuda HaChossid on the pasuk: ויבז עשיו את הבכורה – “and Eisav despised the birthright”, that before this point Eisav was already despising it, and from here we learn that if there is in the possessions of a rosha a sefer Torah, mezuzah or any other mitzvah item, it’s permissible for a tzadik to trick him in order to retrieve the item. Since Eisav was despising the bechorah, Yaakov was tricking him in order to retrieve it and save it from any further disgrace,
2) In what way did Yaakov’s conduct demonstrate his righteousness even at such a young age?
The Paneiach Raza explains that Yaakov knew how difficult labor is for a woman, and the birth of twins all the more so. As a result, he came out holding Eisav’s heel, as he reasoned that once Rivka’s womb was open for one delivery, he would come out as well to make it as easy as possible for her.
3) Why did Rivka need so much meat? And what happened if she didn’t take the two goats on a particular day, was she able to take four the next day?
The Medrash (Yalkut Me’am Loez) teaches that Rivka Imeinu continued in the ways of Sorah Imeinu and excelled in the mitzvah of hachnosas orchim, and just like Sorah had many guests, so did Rivka. Yitzchok knew about this, therefore, he made sure to give her lots of meat.
The sefer Vayechi Yosef (R’ Yosef Greenvald) offers a similar answer with slightly more depth, he writes: The halachah is, whatever a woman acquires her husband acquires, as a result, if a woman gives tzedokah the mitzvah is considered the husbands mitzvah. Rivka Imeinu was a big ba’al chesed like we see in Chayei Sorah, and: נכפסה נפשה והשתוקקה מאוד לקיים מצות הכנסת אורחים וגמילות חסדים מהממון שלה - “she really wanted to be able to fulfill the mitzvah of having guests, and doing kindness with her own money”. However, she knew that once she got married, she would no longer be able to do this and was upset about it, therefore, Yitzchok wrote in her kesubah that she would be entitled to two goats every single day, that would be considered hers. This way, she would still be able to do hachnosas orchim and chesed with her own money.
Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman in his Ayalas HaShachar writes, that if Rivka didn’t use the two goats on a given day, she would be able to take four on the next day.
Hachnosas orchim requires more than just meat, where did Rivka have money to pay for the other items needed? The Nachlas Yaakov says, she would sell some of the goats and would use that money for the other items she needed. (The above riddle and answers were taken from the Sefer Pikudecha Dorashti)
4) Why did Yaakov bring his father wine to drink (27:25) when his mother only commanded him (27:17) to give him bread and meat, and from where did he get the wine?
The Chizkuni explains that Yaakov’s goal was for the alcohol to slightly confuse his father so that he would not pay so much attention to determining his true identity.
The Tosefes Bracha suggests that the wine was for reasons of health, as the Gemara in Shabbos (41a) teaches that it is unhealthy to eat without drinking.
The Torah L’Daas suggests that if the meat was from the Korban Pesach (Rashi Bereishis 27:9), then Yitzchok needed wine for the four cups that are consumed during the Seder.
Alternatively, just as many mitzvos are done with a glass of wine, Yaakov reasoned that so too the berachos he would receive from his father should be given with a glass of wine.
As for where Yaakov got the wine from, the Daas Z’keinim writes that the maloch Michoel brought it to him from Gan Eden (perhaps that was the aroma of Gan Eden that Yitzchok smelled when Yaakov entered the room – Rashi 27:27). (The above riddle and answers were taken from R’ Ozer Alport’s, Parsha Potpourri)
5) How many instances of the act of smelling occur in sefer Bereishis and how are they connected?
Hashem smelled the sweet smell of Noach’s korbonos after the flood (8:21) and Yitzchok detected the smell of Eisav’s clothing, worn by Yaakov (27:27). In each case, the word “vayarach” – “and he smelled” is used and the Baal HaTurim notes that the aroma was that of Gan Eden. (Torah IQ)
6) At what age did Eisav have his bris?
According to the Daas Zekeinim (25:25), Eisav never had a bris. Since he was very red when he was born, Yitzchok thought it would be dangerous to perform a bris on day eight. After a year or two, when his color remained the same, Yitzchok realized that this was his natural complexion so he could have a bris, but decided that since he hasn’t had a bris when he was eight days old, he should wait until 13, the same age Yishmoel had his bris. However, when Eisav turned 13, and Yitzchok wanted to perform the bris, Eisav refused. (Torah IQ)
