Yaacov Received Ten Blessings Corresponding to the Ten Pronouncements of Which the World Was Created
Perkei deRabbi Eliezer, chapter 32
Yitzchak blessed Yaacov saying that G-d should give you the following:
The Creation of the world by the Ten Pronouncements1) From the dew of the heavens1) In the beginning2) And the fatness of the earth2) A wind from G-d hovered3) And plenty of grain3) Let their be light4) And wine4) Let there be firmament5) Let the nations serve you5) Let the waters gather6) And bow down to you6) Let the earth be covered with grass7) Be lord over your brothers7) Let there be luminaries8) And let your mother’s sons bow down to you8) Let the waters swarm abundantly9) Cursed be those that curse you9) Let the earth bring forth living creatures10) And blessed be those that bless you10) Let us make manThe Lubavitcher Rebbe (in Lekutei Sichos א) comments:
When the expression “corresponding to” appears in Torah, the analogy is not just a mere similarity of numbers. The very subjects themselves are related one to the other, and that is why their number also corresponds.
In the Zohar, R. Eleazar was asked why the blessings given to Yaacov have not been fulfilled, while those given to Eisav have been fulfilled. R. Eleazar replied, “Yaacov took his portion above, and Eisav took his portion below”.
The blessings are brought about through the fulfillment of Mitzvos. Thus, just as the light elicited by the Mitzvos are concealed for the time being, as if contained in a box, so too, the blessings for the time being are in concealment. In the “future to come” Eisav will entirely perish and Yaacov will take both above and below, this world and the World to Come.
