Chazal teach us a rule that whenever the Torah says the word אֵלֶּה – these are – the Torah intends to disparage that which was said before, telling us that this is the important part of the story, as opposed to the previous parts, which are unimportant.
In this case, the word אֵלֶּה teaches us that all of the descendants of Esav in last week’s Parsha are unimportant in comparison to Yaakov and his descendants. However, in this case, the word אֵלֶּה is superfluous. We know already that Esav is evil and that Yaakov was the foremost son of Yitzchok. If Esav is evil, his spawn is equally evil and there is no reason to believe that his descendants are any better than him.
Another issue brought up by the Ohr Hachaim is the missing children of Yaakov. Why does the Torah ignore the other children of Yaakov and only mention Yosef? Chazal tell us that Yosef is the main son of Yaakov’s, and others say that all that occurred to Yaakov occurred to Yosef – both were hated by their brothers and both were born circumcised. But none of this is the simple pshat.
The Ohr Hachaim explains that Chazal tell us that Yaakov wished to live in peace after arriving in Eretz Yisroel, but he was immediately beset by the troubles of Yosef. The possuk describes what happened to Yaakov for wishing to live in peace. וַיֵשֶּב יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶּרֶּץ מְּגוּרֵי אָבִיו – Yaakov wished to settle in the land in which his father had lived. Because of this wish, a story happened. אֵלֶּה תֹלְּדוֹת יַעֲקֹב – this is the story that happened to Yaakov due to this wish. יוֹסֵף בֶּן שְּבַע עֶּשְּרֵה Yosef was seventeen years old etc.
The Torah is teaching us a lesson. Things do not occur at random. When Yaakov wished to live in a way that was not in accordance with Hashem’s plans, he was immediately shown that this was not possible and his son caused him terrible suffering.
Another explanation offered by the Ohr Hachaim to the first question is that Yaakov suffered much in his lifetime. Lavan and Esav both tried to kill him and he had to keep his wits about him. However, the most painful of his trials was that which happened with Yosef.
אֵלֶּה תֹלְּדוֹת יַעֲקֹב – These, and only these, are the true tribulations of Yaakov. All others pale into insignificance in regard to the trouble that Yosef caused him with being sold and disappearing for twenty two years.
Additionally, the Gemara explains the possuk that calls Klal Yisroel בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב וְּיוֹסֵף סֶּלָה – the children of Yaakov and Yosef, with the fact that Yosef supported Klal Yisroel when they lived in Mitzrayim. He provided them with enough food for their families, which makes them all into his children.
Here too, the children of Yaakov only survived due to Yosef, and Yosef alone is called the children of Yaakov.
