(יט) וְאֵ֛לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֥ת יִצְחָ֖ק בֶּן־אַבְרָהָ֑ם אַבְרָהָ֖ם הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־יִצְחָֽק׃ (כ) וַיְהִ֤י יִצְחָק֙ בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה בְּקַחְתּ֣וֹ אֶת־רִבְקָ֗ה בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ הָֽאֲרַמִּ֔י מִפַּדַּ֖ן אֲרָ֑ם אֲח֛וֹת לָבָ֥ן הָאֲרַמִּ֖י ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (כא) וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר יִצְחָ֤ק לַֽיהוָה֙ לְנֹ֣כַח אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י עֲקָרָ֖ה הִ֑וא וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר לוֹ֙ יְהוָ֔ה וַתַּ֖הַר רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃
(19) This is the story of Isaac, son of Abraham. Abraham begot Isaac. (20) Isaac was forty years old when he took to wife Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. (21) Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD responded to his plea, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
1. Why is Yitzhak pleading, and not Rivkah?
(22) But the children struggled in her womb, and she said, “If so, why do I exist?” She went to inquire of the LORD,
2. What do you think Rivkah means by her questions?
3. How do you think she went to "inquire?"
4. If you were acting out the role of Rivkah in a play, how would you act it out? How would you ask her question in your own words?
(23) and the LORD answered her, “Two nations are in your womb, Two separate peoples shall issue from your body; One people shall be mightier than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
5. Is there a difference between "Two nations" and "two peoples?" If so, what is it? And if not, why does the Torah say both?
6. What affect on Rivkah do you think this answer could have?
(24) When her time to give birth was at hand, and behold! Twins were in her womb!
7. The Torah seems surprised at the twins - but didn't we already know this was destined?
(25) The first one emerged red, like a hairy mantle all over; so they named him Esau. (26) Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of Esau; so he called his name Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
8. Do you notice anything strange about the last three verses?
9. Who is naming the babies?
10. Why might these details be important to mention?
11. The Torah tells us the reason that Yitzhak loved Esau, but not why Rivkah loved Yaakov. What are your thoughts on this?
(29) Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open, famished. (30) And Esau said to Jacob, “Give me some of that red stuff to gulp down, for I am famished”—which is why he was named Edom. (31) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” (32) And Esau said, “I am at the point of death, so of what use is my birthright to me?” (33) But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
12. What do you think about this exchange? What might it teach us about the relationship between the two brothers?
(34) Jacob then gave Esau bread and lentil stew;
Then he ate.
And he drank.
And he got up.
And he left.
And Esau spurned the birthright.
14. Why give me the whole play-by-play of Esau's actions?