In the Torah portion of Toldot, we read about the early years of the twin boys, Yaakov and Eisav, as it says,
“The lads grew up. Eisav became a skilled trapper, a man of the field. Yaakov was a wholesome man, living in tents.”
Rashi explains (based on the Bereishit Rabbah 63:10) that while they were young, it was impossible to discern their true characters. When they turned 13, however, they became adults and started to behave in very different ways. The Midrash compares this to one who plants a myrtle and a thorn bush. When they are small, one cannot tell the difference between them. But when they grow and blossom, one can smell the fragrance of one and see the thorns on the other.
Rashi also says that Eisav didn’t sin in public until the day Avraham died and that this is why it says that Avraham passed away “in a good old age,” meaning he didn’t experience the anguish of seeing his grandson sin. Since Yitzchak was born when Avraham was 100, he would have been 75 when his father passed away at the age of 175. And since Yaakov and Eisav were born when Yitzchak was 60, they would have been 15 when Avraham died. As such, it seems that Eisav began his sinful career at the age of 15, not at the age of 13 as indicated earlier.
The commentaries offer several explanations:
Sinned in Private
Several commentaries explain that, although Eisav was sinning from the age of 13, he was doing so in private until he turned 15. Similarly, some say that Eisav began studying paganism at the age of 13 but that he didn’t practice it for two years – until after Avraham passed away.
Emend the Text
According to the Bartenura, the words, “when they turned 13 years old,” should be deleted from the text of Rashi since they were 15 at the time as explained above.
Two Years in Gan Eden
According to the Midrash, Yitzchak spent (nearly) three years in Gan Eden after the Akeidah (the binding of Isaac) and only returned to this world shortly before marrying Rivkah. The years he spent in Gan Eden are not counted in his years since Gan Eden is beyond time. As such, although Yitzchak was 60 when the twins were born, Avraham was 162 at that time since two of Avraham’s years didn’t count for Yitzchak. It emerges that the twins were 13 when Avraham passed away at the age of 175.
Why Did Yitzchak Go to Gan Eden?
According to the Midrash, Yitzchak was injured on his neck during the Akeidah. (Although the angel told Avraham “not to do anything to the lad,” it seems that by that time Avraham had already begun to cut.) Yitzchak therefore went into Gan Eden to be healed from his injury. The Torah says that, after the Akeidah, “Avraham returned to his assistants, and they rose and went together to Beer Sheva.” No mention is made as to where Yitzchak went. This is because he was in Gan Eden at that time.
This also explains why Yitzchak isn’t mentioned at his mother’s funeral; he did not attend it since it took place while he was in Gan Eden.
When Did He Return?
The verse says that while Rivkah was on her way to Canaan, “Yitzchak went out to pray in the field...” The Midrash says, “Out of where did he go? Out of Gan Eden.” This means that Yitzchak returned to this world in time for his wedding.
Remembered the Smell of Gan Eden
When Yaakov entered Yitzchak’s room (dressed up as Eisav) in order to receive the blessings, Yitzchak remarked, “My son’s fragrance is like the fragrance of a field blessed by G-d.” The Midrash says that this refers to the smell of Gan Eden. The commentaries explain that Yitzchak recognized the smell of Gan Eden having been there. Although a baby is made to forget their “in utero Torah learning” before he is born and although a person passing away from this world is made to forget the physicality of this world before his soul can ascend to the upper realms, Yitzchak did not forget his Gan Eden experience when he returned to this world. Rather, it continued to impact him.
Protection
The commentaries cite another reason as to why Yitzchak spent three years in Gan Eden. After Chanaya, Mishae’l, and Azaryah were miraculously saved from Nevuchadnetzar’s fiery furnace, there was an ayin harah (evil eye) cast on them which (according to some opinions) led to their early demise. Similarly, since Yitzchak was saved at the Akeidah at the last minute by Divine intervention, he was kept away from the public eye until his marriage. Gan Eden is a place that is free of any evil and was therefore the perfect place for Yitzchak to stay during this spiritually sensitive time. In addition, the time before one’s marriage is considered a very elevated time and is therefore more vulnerable to an “ayin harah.”
