Toldot - And these are the offspring of Yitzchak

Parashat Toldot
Bereishit 25:19 - 28:9
Haftarah Malachi 1:1-2:27


Bereishit 25:18 "Over all his brothers he dwelt."

This is juxtaposed with ve'eleh toldot Yitzchak -  "And these are the offspring of Yitzchak" (25:19).

This teaches that when Yishmael's [descendants] fall in the End of Days, then [Mashiach,] the descendant of King David, of the offspring of Yitzchak, will flourish (Bereishit Rabbah 62:5)

Holid - Begot.  The gematria of this word (55) is equal to that of the word domeh - he is like, for Yitzchak's countenance was like that of Avraham (Bava Metzia 87a; Tanchuma 1).

Vatahar Rivkah ishto - "And his wife Rivkah conceived."

The gematria of ishto, his wife (707), is equal to that of kash va-esh, straw and fire, and refers to [Esav and Yaakov about whom it is written], vehayah beit Yaakov esh, And the house of Yaakov shall be a fire... uveit Esav lekash, and the house of Esav for straw (Ovadyah 1:18).

*With this the Baal HaTurim explains the superfluous Rivkah ishto, Rivkah his wife, an identification already made in the preceding verse.  He explains that the verse may be understood as vatahar Rivkah, Rivkah conceived, ishto, straw [Esav] and fire [Yaakov].

Admoni - Red.

This word appears twice in the Tanach: The first one emerged red (25:25); and And he was red, with fair eyes (1Shmuel 16:12), regarding David.  When [the prophet] Shmuel saw that David was red, he said, "Perhaps he is a shedder of blood like Esav!"  Therefore, that verse goes on to say, with fair eyes, i.e., whatever he does is with the agreement of the members of the Sanhedrin (High Court) who are called "eyes" - as it is said, If from the eyes of the assembly ... (BaMidbar 15:24).   Which can be understood as, he is with the fair of eyes.

Esav - The name Esav can be divided into yud (=70) and shav (=shave worthless).  G-d said, "This worthless one completed the number of seventy gentile nations; he is the worthless one that I have created in the world."

*Various passages in the Talmud and Midrash speak of the 70 nations of the world.  The Midrash HaGadol (a contemporary of the Baal HaTurim) reckons 68 nations before the birth of Esav and Yaakov, with their birth completed the total 70.  According to that view, the 70 nations include 69 gentile nations and Yisrael, a view that is not in accord with either the Talmud (Sukkah 55b) or the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 66:4). According to Pesikta Zutresa, the 71 descendants of Noach's three sons enumerated in Chapter 10, with the exception of Pelishtim (Philistines and alternatively, Nimrod), were the progenitors of 70 gentile nations.  The Baal HaTurim apparently omitted both Nimrod and Pelishtim from the 71 descendants of Noach's sons.  Thus Esav was the 70th nation (VeChur LaZahav)

Ve-acharei chen yatza achiv - After that his brother emerged.

The gematria of chen is 70, i.e., Yaakov emerged after chen (=70) nations whose number was completed with Esav's birth.  For there are seventy nations aside from [the descendants of] Yaakov.

*The Talmud teaches that the 70 bulls offered during the festival of Sukkot (BaMidbar 29:12-34) represent the 70 nations of the world; while the lone bull offered on Shemini Atzeret (BaMidbar 29:35-36) represents Yisrael (Sukkah 55b).  Clearly, Yisrael is not included in the count of 70.  Similarly, the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 66:4) interprets, "People will serve you" (27:29) as a reference to the 70 nations, thus excluding Yisrael from the count.  See also Rashi to BaMidbar 26:36 and 29:11.

Veyado - with his hand.

The masoretic note indicates that this word appears three times in the Tanach:

1) here, Veyado ochezet ba'akev Esav, with his hand grasping the heel of Esav
2) Veyado hanetuyah umi yeshivenah His hand is outstretched, and who can turn it back? (Yeshayahu 14:27)
3) Veyado chilkatah lahem - and his hand has distributed it for them (Yeshayahu 34:17) regarding the downfall of the gentile nations. (Refers to both verses from Yeshayahu).

For at the time of their birth, he intimated to him that the nations would fall into his hand.

*(Bereishit Rabbah 63:9)  The antecedents of the pronouns "he" and "him" in this last sentence are not clear, so the comment may be understood in a variety of ways: By having Yitzchak grasp Esav's heel, He [G-d] intimated to him [Yitzchak or Yaakov or Esav] that the nations would fall into Yaakov's hands; or by grasping Esav's heel, he [Yaakov] intimated to him [Yitzchak or Esav] that the nations would fall into Yaakov's hands.

Yaakov  - The gematria of this name (182) is equal to that of malach haElo-him - angel of G-d, and to that of haGan Eden - the Garden of Eden, and that of {lo yeasef - He will not be brought in, as reflected in the verse,} virechech lo yeasef - and your moon shall not be brought in (Yeshayahu 60:20).

*The three gematriaot of this comment refer to various aspects of Yaakov's life: He continually had angelic visions and visitations (28:12, 31:11, 32:2, 32:4 [with Rashi], 32:25-26 [ with Baal HaTurim to v26] and 48:16); the aroma of the Garden of Eden accompanied him; and Yaakov did not die (VeChur LaZahav).

Ish tam - A wholesome man.

The final letters of these two words spell the name Shem.  Implied is that Yaakov dwelt in the tents of Shem to learn [Torah from him]. (Peirush HaRokeach)

For tam (=440) years he [i.e., the nations descended from Yaakov] was dwelling; from the time the Yisraelim (Israelites) entered the Land of Yisrael until the Temple was built.  This is an allusion that after 440 years, he would dwell in the tents of the Divine Presence.

Yoshev ohalim - Dwelling in tents.

The gematria of yoshev ohalim is 410.  For 410 years, the Divine Presence dwelt in the Tent.

*The First Temple stood for 410 years.  Combining this comment with the previous one yields: tam yoshev ohalim, [After a period of] 440 [years, the Divine Presence will dwell for] 410 [years].

Ekev asher-shama Avraham - Because Avraham obeyed.

This verse contains 10 words, corresponding to the Ten Commandments, in which there are ekev (=172) words.  Corresponding to these Ten Commandments, Avraham was tested with 10 trials, and thus maintained the world that was created with 10 utterances.

*The Baal HaTurim refers to the first Luchot (Tablets) of the Ten Commandments (Shemot 20:2-14); the second Luchot contain 189 words (Devarim 5:6-18).

For ekev (=172) years Avraham obeyed My voice, for at the age of three he recognized his Creator, and all his years were 175. (Nedarim 32a)

Thus, too, the letter heh (=5) was added to Avraham's name, corresponding to [the 5 matters listed in this verse]:

1) bekoli - to My voice
2) mishmarti - My safeguard
3) mitzvotai - My commandments
4) chukotai - My decrees
5) vetorotai - and My Torahs

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Resource:

- Baal HaTurim