“I am Esov, your firstborn. I have done what you told me to do” (27:19)
The Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh asks the obvious question: how could Yaakov [whose midda is emes – truth] lie outright like this to his father?
The Ohr HaChaim says that since Yaakov purchased and acquired the birthright from Esov, he was in effect Esov with regard to this birthright. So when he declared, “I am Esov your firstborn,” he was telling the truth, being that he was in effect now the firstborn in lieu of Esov.
Then, when Yaakov said, “I have done as you asked me to do,” he was also telling the truth. Explains the Ohr HaChaim, since the reason Yitzchok asked Esov to hunt game was only because he thought Esov was the rightful firstborn and owner of the birthright, now that Yaakov was the legal and rightful owner of the birthright and legally considered the firstborn, it was he who had been commanded to carry out the instructions to hunt game.
Since Yaakov now owned the birthright, it was as if this command had been issued by Yitzchok to him to perform. Thus, Yaakov answered Yitzchok truthfully when he said, “I have done what you told me to do.”
Praises for the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh
An Angel in White, Shining as the Sun
In one of his letters, the Chida describes the shining countenance of the holy Rav Chaim ben Attar, mechaber of the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh, as follows:
“It was the night of Hoshana Rabba and our Rav was awake the entire night reciting the Tikkun. His countenance glowed like the light of the sun and brilliant rays shone from his face, and he resembled an angel robed in white garments!”
His Holiness, Miracles and Holy Name
The Chida continues to praise him and says:
The Rav [the Ohr HaChaim] was well versed in performing miracles and our own ears heard many wondrous tales of the wonders and miracles he performed while alive and after his passing, for those who daven at his matzeiva and for those who swore oaths in his name. I heard from elders and Rabbonim and other sages of the East that he was a holy, G-dly man; he did not benefit from the honor of the Torah, nor did he draw a salary, nor was he supported by public funds. They threw him once into a pit of lions and he was saved after having spent a day and a night inside! He was exceedingly G-dly and holy; many swore in his name and all those who took his name in vain and swore falsely by it, died.
