In this week’s Parsha, Esav came towards Yaakov with four hundred men, to take revenge on Yaakov for stealing his blessings from his father Yitzchak. Yaakov sent up front many presents to try and calm his anger. When Esav arrived Yaakov and all his family bowed down in front of Esav out of respect.
The Zohar Hakadosh asks how could Yaakov bow down to Esav who was such a wicked person?
The Zohar explains that Yaakov saw the Shechina in front him. So when Esav came towards Yaakov, Yaakov bowed down to the Shechina and Esav thought that it was in his honor.
After receiving so many gifts and so much honor, Esav’s heart melted and he kissed Yaakov. Esav offered to accompany Yaakov to Eretz Yisrael, but Yaakov kindly and cleverly refused.
The Passuk (36-6) tells us that Esav left Yaakov, took all his belongings and went to Sei’ir (Jibāl ash Sharāh) because of Yaakov his brother.
Rashi explains that Hashem told Avraham that his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land, and they would be enslaved and tortured (Bereishis 15-13). That was the condition for Avraham’s descendants to receive Eretz Yisrael.
Esav didn’t want to endure the suffering and therefore gave up on receiving Eretz Yisrael.
The question is, we find that although the Jews went through terrible suffering in Mitzrayim, the tribe of Levi didn’t. Shevet Levi sat and learned in the land of Goshen. If so, how did they merit a share in Eretz Yisrael? Furthermore, it was Moshe Rabbeinu from Shevet Levi who received the Torah and Aharon Hakohen and his children who served in the Beis Hamikdash.
The following Zohar will help us answer the question.
In Parshas Shemos (1-14) the Passuk says that the Egyptians embittered the lives of the Jews with chomer - clay, leveinim – bricks, uvechol avoda ba’sadeh - and all the work in the fields.
The Zohar explains this Passuk that it refers to Torah study. Chomer refers to Kal Vachomer (one of the principles in Gemarah), Leveinim refers to Libun Halacha – clarifying Halachic questions and Bechol Avoda basadeh refers to Braysas (the studies of the Tanaaim not included in Mishnayos).
When Pharaoh came and invited the Jews to come and join his workforces, Shevet Levi declined. The accepted on themselves the yoke of Torah. And as the Mishna in Pirkei Avos explains that someone who undertakes the yoke of Torah is released from any other burdens.
