Saadia's Tafsir on Bereshit 27 (Parashat Toldot)

Bereshit 27:1

וַיְהִי כִּי-זָקֵן יִצְחָק וַתִּכְהֶיןָ עֵינָיו מֵרְאֹת וַיִּקְרָא אֶת-עֵשָׂו בְּנוֹ הַגָּדֹל וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו בְּנִי וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הִנֵּנִי

. . . .

And when Isaac had grown old, his eyes had ceased from seeing; and he called Esau his elder son, and said to him: 'My son.' He said: 'I am at your service.'

Bereshit 27:2

וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה-נָא זָקַנְתִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי יוֹם מוֹתִי

. .

He said: 'Behold, I have grown old; I do not know the day of my death.

Bereshit 27:3

וְעַתָּה שָׂא-נָא כֵלֶיךָ תֶּלְיְךָ וְקַשְׁתֶּךָ וְצֵא הַשָּׂדֶה וְצוּדָה לִּי צידה (צָיִד)

. . .

Now take up your gear — your weapon and your bow — and go out to the wilderness, and hunt for me game.

Bereshit 27:4

וַעֲשֵׂה-לִי מַטְעַמִּים כַּאֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתִּי וְהָבִיאָה לִּי--וְאֹכֵלָה בַּעֲבוּר תְּבָרֶכְךָ נַפְשִׁי בְּטֶרֶם אָמוּת

. .

And prepare for me savory dishes as I love, and bring them to me, that I may eat — so that my soul may bless you before I die.'

Bereshit 27:5

וְרִבְקָה שֹׁמַעַת--בְּדַבֵּר יִצְחָק אֶל-עֵשָׂו בְּנוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ עֵשָׂו הַשָּׂדֶה לָצוּד צַיִד לְהָבִיא

. . .

And Rebekah was listening when Isaac said this to Esau his son. And when Esau went to the wilderness to hunt game to bring it,

Bereshit 27:6

וְרִבְקָה אָמְרָה אֶל-יַעֲקֹב בְּנָהּ לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת-אָבִיךָ מְדַבֵּר אֶל-עֵשָׂו אָחִיךָ לֵאמֹר

. .

Rebekah said to Jacob her son: 'Behold, I heard your father Isaac saying to Esau your brother,

Bereshit 27:7

הָבִיאָה לִּי צַיִד וַעֲשֵׂה-לִי מַטְעַמִּים וְאֹכֵלָה וַאֲבָרֶכְכָה לִפְנֵי יְהוָה לִפְנֵי מוֹתִי

. . .

"Bring me game, and make me savory dishes; let me eat — that I may bless you before God before my death."

Bereshit 27:8

וְעַתָּה בְנִי שְׁמַע בְּקֹלִי--לַאֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מְצַוָּה אֹתָךְ

.

Now, my son, accept from me what I command you concerning this:

Bereshit 27:9

לֶךְ-נָא אֶל-הַצֹּאן וְקַח-לִי מִשָּׁם שְׁנֵי גְּדָיֵי עִזִּים טֹבִים וְאֶעֱשֶׂה אֹתָם מַטְעַמִּים לְאָבִיךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר אָהֵב

. . . .

Go to the flock, and take for me from there two choice kids of the goats; and I shall make them as savory dishes for your father, as he loves.

Bereshit 27:10

וְהֵבֵאתָ לְאָבִיךָ וְאָכָל בַּעֲבֻר אֲשֶׁר יְבָרֶכְךָ לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ

.

And you shall bring them to your father; let him eat — that he may bless you before his death.'

Bereshit 27:11

וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב אֶל-רִבְקָה אִמּוֹ הֵן עֵשָׂו אָחִי אִישׁ שָׂעִר וְאָנֹכִי אִישׁ חָלָק

. .

Jacob said to her: 'Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man; and I am a smooth man.

Bereshit 27:12

אוּלַי יְמֻשֵּׁנִי אָבִי וְהָיִיתִי בְעֵינָיו כִּמְתַעְתֵּעַ וְהֵבֵאתִי עָלַי קְלָלָה וְלֹא בְרָכָה

. . .

Perhaps my father shall feel me; and I shall be in his sight as a mocker; and I shall bring upon myself a curse, and not a blessing.'

Bereshit 27:13

וַתֹּאמֶר לוֹ אִמּוֹ עָלַי קִלְלָתְךָ בְּנִי אַךְ שְׁמַע בְּקֹלִי וְלֵךְ קַח-לִי

. . .

His mother said to him: 'Upon me is the warding off of your curse, my son; only accept from me, and go take it for me.'

Bereshit 27:14

וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיִּקַּח וַיָּבֵא לְאִמּוֹ וַתַּעַשׂ אִמּוֹ מַטְעַמִּים כַּאֲשֶׁר אָהֵב אָבִיו

. . .

And he went, and took them, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made them savory dishes, as his father loved.

Bereshit 27:15

וַתִּקַּח רִבְקָה אֶת-בִּגְדֵי עֵשָׂו בְּנָהּ הַגָּדֹל הַחֲמֻדֹת אֲשֶׁר אִתָּהּ בַּבָּיִת וַתַּלְבֵּשׁ אֶת-יַעֲקֹב בְּנָהּ הַקָּטָן

. . . .

And Rebekah took the choice garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house; and she clothed Jacob her younger son.

Bereshit 27:16

וְאֵת עֹרֹת גְּדָיֵי הָעִזִּים הִלְבִּישָׁה עַל-יָדָיו--וְעַל חֶלְקַת צַוָּארָיו

. .

And the skins of the kids of the goats she put upon his hands, and upon the smoothness of his neck.

Bereshit 27:17

וַתִּתֵּן אֶת-הַמַּטְעַמִּים וְאֶת-הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂתָה בְּיַד יַעֲקֹב בְּנָהּ

. .

And she set the savory dishes, and the bread which she had made, in the hand of Jacob her son.

Bereshit 27:18

וַיָּבֹא אֶל-אָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר אָבִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֶּנִּי מִי אַתָּה בְּנִי

. .

And he came in to his father, and said: 'O my father.' He said: 'I am at your service. Who are you, my son?'

Bereshit 27:19

וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב אֶל-אָבִיו אָנֹכִי עֵשָׂו בְּכֹרֶךָ--עָשִׂיתִי כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ אֵלָי קוּם-נָא שְׁבָה וְאָכְלָה מִצֵּידִי--בַּעֲבוּר תְּבָרְכַנִּי נַפְשֶׁךָ

. . . . .

Jacob said to his father: 'I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you commanded me. Arise now, sit, and eat of my game — so that your soul may bless me.'

Bereshit 27:20

וַיֹּאמֶר יִצְחָק אֶל-בְּנוֹ מַה-זֶּה מִהַרְתָּ לִמְצֹא בְּנִי וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי הִקְרָה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְפָנָי

. . .

He said: 'How is it that you have hastened to find it, my son?' He said: 'For God your Lord caused [it] to come before me.'

Bereshit 27:21

וַיֹּאמֶר יִצְחָק אֶל-יַעֲקֹב גְּשָׁה-נָּא וַאֲמֻשְׁךָ בְּנִי הַאַתָּה זֶה בְּנִי עֵשָׂו אִם-לֹא

. . .

He said: 'Draw near, that I may feel you, my son — are you my son Esau, or not?'

Bereshit 27:22

וַיִּגַּשׁ יַעֲקֹב אֶל-יִצְחָק אָבִיו וַיְמֻשֵּׁהוּ וַיֹּאמֶר הַקֹּל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב וְהַיָּדַיִם יְדֵי עֵשָׂו

. . .

And he drew near to him; and he felt him. And he said: 'The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.'

Bereshit 27:23

וְלֹא הִכִּירוֹ--כִּי-הָיוּ יָדָיו כִּידֵי עֵשָׂו אָחִיו שְׂעִרֹת וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ

. . .

And he did not recognize him — for his hands were like the hands of Esau his brother, hairy. So he blessed him.

Bereshit 27:24

וַיֹּאמֶר אַתָּה זֶה בְּנִי עֵשָׂו וַיֹּאמֶר אָנִי

. .

And he said to him: 'Are you my son Esau?' He said: 'I am he.'

Bereshit 27:25

וַיֹּאמֶר הַגִּשָׁה לִּי וְאֹכְלָה מִצֵּיד בְּנִי--לְמַעַן תְּבָרֶכְךָ נַפְשִׁי וַיַּגֶּשׁ-לוֹ וַיֹּאכַל וַיָּבֵא לוֹ יַיִן וַיֵּשְׁתְּ

. . . .

He said: 'Bring it to me, that I may eat of my son's game, so that my soul may bless you.' And he brought it to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

Bereshit 27:26

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו יִצְחָק אָבִיו גְּשָׁה-נָּא וּשְׁקָה-לִּי בְּנִי

.

And Isaac his father said to him: 'Draw near and kiss me, my son.'

Bereshit 27:27

וַיִּגַּשׁ וַיִּשַּׁק-לוֹ וַיָּרַח אֶת-רֵיחַ בְּגָדָיו וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ וַיֹּאמֶר רְאֵה רֵיחַ בְּנִי כְּרֵיחַ שָׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר בֵּרְכוֹ יְהוָה

. . . . .

And he drew near, and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his garments, and blessed him. And he said: 'Behold the smell of my son — like the smell of a garden which God has blessed.

Bereshit 27:28

וְיִתֶּן-לְךָ הָאֱלֹהִים מִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם וּמִשְׁמַנֵּי הָאָרֶץ--וְרֹב דָּגָן וְתִירֹשׁ

. . .

May God give you of the dew of the sky, and of the fat of the earth, and abundance of grain and grape-juice.

Bereshit 27:29

יַעַבְדוּךָ עַמִּים וישתחו (וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ) לְךָ לְאֻמִּים--הֱוֵה גְבִיר לְאַחֶיךָ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ בְּנֵי אִמֶּךָ אֹרְרֶיךָ אָרוּר וּמְבָרְכֶיךָ בָּרוּךְ

. . . . .

May the nations serve you, and the peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. The one who curses you, may he be cursed; and the one who blesses you, may he be blessed.'

Bereshit 27:30

וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה יִצְחָק לְבָרֵךְ אֶת-יַעֲקֹב וַיְהִי אַךְ יָצֹא יָצָא יַעֲקֹב מֵאֵת פְּנֵי יִצְחָק אָבִיו וְעֵשָׂו אָחִיו בָּא מִצֵּידוֹ

. . .

And when Isaac had finished blessing Jacob — it was just as he had gone out from before him, that Esau his brother came in from his hunt.

Bereshit 27:31

וַיַּעַשׂ גַּם-הוּא מַטְעַמִּים וַיָּבֵא לְאָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר לְאָבִיו יָקֻם אָבִי וְיֹאכַל מִצֵּיד בְּנוֹ--בַּעֲבֻר תְּבָרְכַנִּי נַפְשֶׁךָ

. . . .

And he too made savory dishes, and brought them to his father; and he said: 'Let my father arise, and eat of his son's game — so that your soul may bless me.'

Bereshit 27:32

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ יִצְחָק אָבִיו מִי-אָתָּה וַיֹּאמֶר אֲנִי בִּנְךָ בְכֹרְךָ עֵשָׂו

. .

And his father said to him: 'Who are you?' He said: 'I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.'

Bereshit 27:33

וַיֶּחֱרַד יִצְחָק חֲרָדָה גְּדֹלָה עַד-מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר מִי-אֵפוֹא הוּא הַצָּד-צַיִד וַיָּבֵא לִי וָאֹכַל מִכֹּל בְּטֶרֶם תָּבוֹא וָאֲבָרְכֵהוּ גַּם-בָּרוּךְ יִהְיֶה

]] ]] . . . .

And Isaac was struck with great alarm; and he said: 'Who then is the one who hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate of it before you came, and I blessed him? And he shall also be blessed.'

Bereshit 27:34

כִּשְׁמֹעַ עֵשָׂו אֶת-דִּבְרֵי אָבִיו וַיִּצְעַק צְעָקָה גְּדֹלָה וּמָרָה עַד-מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר לְאָבִיו בָּרְכֵנִי גַם-אָנִי אָבִי

. . ]] ]] . .

When Esau heard his father's words, he cried out a great and very bitter cry; and he said to him: 'Bless me — me also, O my father!'

Bereshit 27:35

וַיֹּאמֶר בָּא אָחִיךָ בְּמִרְמָה וַיִּקַּח בִּרְכָתֶךָ

. .

He said: 'Your brother came with cunning, and took your blessing.'

Bereshit 27:36

וַיֹּאמֶר הֲכִי קָרָא שְׁמוֹ יַעֲקֹב וַיַּעְקְבֵנִי זֶה פַעֲמַיִם--אֶת-בְּכֹרָתִי לָקָח וְהִנֵּה עַתָּה לָקַח בִּרְכָתִי וַיֹּאמַר הֲלֹא-אָצַלְתָּ לִּי בְּרָכָה

. . . . .

He said: 'Rightly was he named Jacob, for he has pursued me twice: the first time he took my birthright; and now he has taken my blessing.' Then he said: 'Have you not reserved a blessing for me?'

Bereshit 27:37

וַיַּעַן יִצְחָק וַיֹּאמֶר לְעֵשָׂו הֵן גְּבִיר שַׂמְתִּיו לָךְ וְאֶת-כָּל-אֶחָיו נָתַתִּי לוֹ לַעֲבָדִים וְדָגָן וְתִירֹשׁ סְמַכְתִּיו וּלְכָה אֵפוֹא מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה בְּנִי

. . . . .

And he answered, and said: 'Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given him as servants; and with grain and grape-juice I have supported him. And for you now — what shall I do, my son?'

Bereshit 27:38

וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו אֶל-אָבִיו הַבְרָכָה אַחַת הִוא-לְךָ אָבִי--בָּרְכֵנִי גַם-אָנִי אָבִי וַיִּשָּׂא עֵשָׂו קֹלוֹ וַיֵּבְךְּ

. . .

And Esau said to his father: 'Is it one blessing only that is yours, O my father? Bless me — me also, O my father!' And he lifted up his voice, and wept.

Bereshit 27:39

וַיַּעַן יִצְחָק אָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הִנֵּה מִשְׁמַנֵּי הָאָרֶץ יִהְיֶה מוֹשָׁבֶךָ וּמִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם מֵעָל

. .

And Isaac his father answered, and said to him: 'Behold — of the fat of the earth shall be your dwelling, and of the dew of the sky from above.

Bereshit 27:40

וְעַל-חַרְבְּךָ תִחְיֶה וְאֶת-אָחִיךָ תַּעֲבֹד וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר תָּרִיד וּפָרַקְתָּ עֻלּוֹ מֵעַל צַוָּארֶךָ

. . .

And by your sword shall you live, and your brother shall you serve; and when you grow strong, you shall break his bond from upon your neck.'

Bereshit 27:41

וַיִּשְׂטֹם עֵשָׂו אֶת-יַעֲקֹב עַל-הַבְּרָכָה אֲשֶׁר בֵּרְכוֹ אָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו בְּלִבּוֹ יִקְרְבוּ יְמֵי אֵבֶל אָבִי וְאַהַרְגָה אֶת-יַעֲקֹב אָחִי

. . . . .

And Esau harbored hatred against Jacob, on account of the blessing with which his father had blessed him. And Esau said in himself: 'The days of mourning for my father shall draw near, and I shall kill Jacob my brother.'

Bereshit 27:42

וַיֻּגַּד לְרִבְקָה אֶת-דִּבְרֵי עֵשָׂו בְּנָהּ הַגָּדֹל וַתִּשְׁלַח וַתִּקְרָא לְיַעֲקֹב בְּנָהּ הַקָּטָן וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הִנֵּה עֵשָׂו אָחִיךָ מִתְנַחֵם לְךָ לְהָרְגֶךָ

. . . . . .

And Rebekah was told the words of Esau her elder son; and she sent, and called for Jacob her younger son, and said to him: 'Behold, Esau your brother is threatening to kill you.

Bereshit 27:43

וְעַתָּה בְנִי שְׁמַע בְּקֹלִי וְקוּם בְּרַח-לְךָ אֶל-לָבָן אָחִי חָרָנָה

. .

Now, my son, accept from me — arise and flee to Laban my brother, to Haran.

Bereshit 27:44

וְיָשַׁבְתָּ עִמּוֹ יָמִים אֲחָדִים--עַד אֲשֶׁר-תָּשׁוּב חֲמַת אָחִיךָ

.

And dwell with him a few days, until the wrath of your brother turns away,

Bereshit 27:45

עַד-שׁוּב אַף-אָחִיךָ מִמְּךָ וְשָׁכַח אֵת אֲשֶׁר-עָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ וְשָׁלַחְתִּי וּלְקַחְתִּיךָ מִשָּׁם לָמָה אֶשְׁכַּל גַּם-שְׁנֵיכֶם יוֹם אֶחָד

. . .

until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I shall send and take you from there. Why should I lose the two of you in one day?'

Bereshit 27:46

וַתֹּאמֶר רִבְקָה אֶל-יִצְחָק קַצְתִּי בְחַיַּי מִפְּנֵי בְּנוֹת חֵת אִם-לֹקֵחַ יַעֲקֹב אִשָּׁה מִבְּנוֹת-חֵת כָּאֵלֶּה מִבְּנוֹת הָאָרֶץ--לָמָּה לִּי חַיִּים

. . . . .

And Rebekah said to Isaac: 'I have grown weary in my life on account of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth — or from the daughters of the dwellers of the land — what is life to me?'