Rivkah didn't understand why she was having so much pain during her pregnancy, as it states (25:22) בקרבה הבנים ויתרצצו, "The children struggled within her." Rashi writes, "When she passed the doorways of Torah of Shem and Ever, Yaakov struggled to run and leave the womb, and when she passed the doorways of avodah zarah, Eisav struggled and tried to leave the womb."
Two questions arise from this episode:
- Eisav was a rasha even before his birth. Already in the womb, he was rushing to go to avodah zarah. So, how can Eisav be punished for his bad ways? Evil was his nature, in his DNA, even before his birth!
- Yaakov Avinu was kadosh from the womb. When his mother passed the Beis medresh, he wanted to go there. Similarly, we are faced with the same question: why should Yaakov be rewarded for his good deeds? It was natural for him to be good!
Before we quote the Yismach Moshe's answer to these questions, we bring another two questions that the Yismach Moshe asks:
It states (25:26) עשו בעקב אחזת וידו אחיו יצא כן ואחרי יעקב שמו ויקרא, "After [Eisav was born], his brother emerged. His hand grasped Eisav's heel, and he named him Yaakov." One explanation in Rashi is that Hakadosh Baruch Hu, Hashem himself, named him Yaakov. We ask two questions:
- Why was Yaakov holding onto Eisav's ankle? Eisav was already born. Did he think he could draw him back into the womb?
- It seems strange that Yaakov was named for holding onto Eisav's heel, and it was Hakadosh Baruch Hu Who named him! Why was this episode so significant that Yaakov should be named for it?
The Yismach Moshe gives one answer to all the questions. He explains what a special moment it was when Yaakov grabbed onto Eisav's heel. It created a transfer of tendencies between Yaakov and Eisav. By grabbing onto Eisav's heel, Eisav received a drop of Yaakov Avinu's good, and Yaakov received a drop of the bad in Eisav. This created a test for both. Yaakov would have to overcome the tendencies he received from Eisav, and Eisav had to increase the good he received from Yaakov.
With this information, all the questions are resolved. Holding onto the heel was a critical moment because this is what gave them free choice and created the battle.
Why did Yitzchak Avinu want to give the brachos to Eisav and not Yaakov? Yitzchak knew that the greatest avodas Hashem is performed through challenge. Such a service generates the greatest nachas ruach for Hashem. Therefore, Yitzchak considered Eisav's potential greater than Yaakov's because Eisav would need to struggle very hard with his yetzer hara, and his avodas Hashem would bring pleasure to Hashem.
Yaakov Avinu said to his father (27:19) אני בכרך עשו, "I am Eisav, your firstborn." Yaakov said, “I also have an element of Eisav in me. I also have a yetzer hara. Things are not perfect for me. I also need these brachos.”
Yitzchok replied (27:22) ידי והידים יעקב קול הקול עשו, "The voice is the voice of Yaakov, but the hands are the hands of Eisav." Yitzchak was saying that although Yaakov studies Torah (יעקב קול הקול), he still has an element of Eisav in him (עשו ידי הידים), therefore, he also needs the brachos.
Further Explanation
8. Eisav shouted (27:36) ברכתי לקח עתה והנה לקח בכרתי את פעמים זה ויעקבני יעקב שמו קרא הכי, "Is it for this reason he was named Yaakov? For he has deceived me twice (פעמיים יעקבני). He took my birthright, and behold, now he has taken my brachos."
Rashi writes that when Yitzchak heard Eisav say this, he was relieved and declared, תהיה ברוך גם, that the brachos should remain with Yaakov.
We can explain that when he heard that Yaakov had deceived Eisav, he discovered that Yaakov Avinu also had negative attributes, which means that Yaakov will also have to struggle in his avodas Hashem. Therefore, Yaakov can receive the brachos.
