2 Kislev 5777
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Shabbat Shalom!
Parashat Toldot - Bereshit 25.23-26 with Rashi Commentary
..."Two nations are in your womb, and two kingdoms will separate from your innards, and one kingdom will become mightier than the other kingdom, and the elder will serve the younger.
will separate from your innards: From the womb they are separated, this one to his wickedness, and this one to his innocence.
will become mightier than the other kingdom: They will not be equal in greatness; when one rises, the other will fall, and so [Scripture] states (Ezek. 26:2): “I shall become full from the destroyed city.” Tyre became full [gained power] only from the destruction of Jerusalem. — [From Meg. 6a, Pes. 42b]
And her days to give birth were completed, and behold, there were twins in her womb.
there were twins in her womb: [תוֹמִם is spelled] defectively [missing an “aleph” and“yud”], but concerning Tamar, it is written תְּאוֹמִים, with the plene spelling, [with an “aleph” and“yud”] because they (Perez and Zerah) were both righteous, but here, one was righteous and one was wicked. — [From Gen. Rabbah 63:8]
And the first one emerged ruddy; he was completely like a coat of hair, and they named him Esau.
ruddy: That is a sign that he will be a person who sheds blood (Gen. Rabbah 63:8).
And afterwards, his brother emerged, and his hand was grasping Esau's heel, and he named him Jacob.
Esau’s heel: [This is] a sign that this one (Esau) will not manage to complete his reign until this one rises up and takes it from him. — [From Gen. Rabbah 63:9]
Haftarah - Malachi 1.2-4
...Was not Esau a brother to Jacob? says the Lord. And I loved Jacob. And I hated Esau, and I made his mountains desolate and his heritage into [a habitat for] the jackals of the desert.
Should Edom say, "We were poor, but we will return and build the ruins"? So said the Lord of Hosts: They shall build, but I will demolish; and they shall be called the border of wickedness and the people whom the Lord has damned forever.
