"Now these are the generations of Esau"

Synopsis

This passage explains why Scripture does not enumerate the sons of Esau until after the death of Isaac, while Jacob's sons are enumerated long before he dies. This, we learn, is because Esau abandoned the true Faith completely, leaving Jacob with an enhanced portion, as well as the heritage of his father and his ancestors.

Relevance

Isaac, his son Jacob, and their succeeding generations, forged the spiritual path that led to the revelation of the Torah, and therefore, they represent its eternal, supernal Light. Esau, however, embodies the force of darkness and eternal death. This section connects us to Light of the Torah, expressed through the Patriarchs Isaac and Jacob.

Edom Esau Faith Holiness (Kedushah) Isaac Jacob Kedushah (Holiness)

233. "Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom" (Beresheet 36:1). Come and behold, Esau's sons were not counted while Isaac was alive, as were the sons of Jacob, who were counted before he died. Of Esau it is written, "And Isaac expired, and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days, and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him," followed by "Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom." Why WERE THEY NOT COUNTED IN HIS LIFETIME? Because only Jacob and his sons are the portion, inheritance, and lot OF ISAAC. For that reason, Jacob and his sons, who are the portion of the Holy One, blessed be He, were counted. Esau, however, had no portion in the side of the faith. Therefore, his accounts were settled only after Isaac died, when his portion was separated FROM HOLINESS into another place.

233. וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת עֵשָׂו הוּא אֱדוֹם. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּחַיֵּי יִצְחָק, לָא אִתְמַנּוּן בְּנוֹי דְעֵשָׂו, כְּמָה דְּאִתְמַנּוּן בְּנוֹי דְיַעֲקֹב, דְּהָא עַד לָא מִית יִצְחָק אִתְמַנּוּן, אֲבָל בְּעֵשָׂו מַה כְּתִיב, וַיִּגְוַע יִצְחָק וַיָּמָת וַיֵּאָסֶף אֶל עַמָּיו זָקֵן וּשְׂבַע יָמִים וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ עֵשָׂו וְיַעֲקֹב בָּנָיו, בַּתְרֵיהּ מַה כְּתִיב וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת עֵשָׂו הוּא אֱדוֹם. מַאי טַעְמָא, בְּגִין דְּהָא בְּחוּלָקֵיהּ וּבְאַחְסַנְתֵיהּ וְעַדְבֵיהּ, לָאו אִיהוּ, אֶלָּא יַעֲקֹב וּבְנוֹי. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, יַעֲקֹב וּבְנוֹי, אִינוּן חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְעָאלִין בְּחוּשְׁבְּנָא. אֲבָל עֵשָׂו, דְּלָאו אִיהוּ בְּחוּלָקָא דְּבִסְטַר דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, עָבֵיד חוּשְׁבְּנֵיהּ, לְבָתַר דְּמִית יִצְחָק, וְאִתְפְּרַשׁ חוּלָקֵיהּ דַּאֲתַר אָחֳרָא.

Caves Egypt Esau Faith Isaac Jacob Land of Yisrael Machpelah

234. Come and behold, after Isaac died and Esau went to his side, it is written, "And Esau took his wives ...away from his brother Jacob" (Beresheet 36:6). In doing this, he left both capital and profit to Jacob --HE RELINQUISHED the bondage of Egypt, WHICH IS THE CAPITAL AND THE PROFIT THEREFROM, THE HERITAGE OF the Land of Yisrael. He sold his share of the cave of the Machpelah and went away from the land, the faith, and his portion -- thus walking away from AND LEAVING everything.

234. תָּא חֲזֵי, לְבָתַר דְּמִית יִצְחָק, וְעֵשָׂו אִתְפָּרַשׁ לְסִטְרֵיהּ, מַה כְּתִיב וַיִקַּח עֵשָׂו אֶת נָשָׁיו וגו,' מִפְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב אָחִיו, דְּשָׁבַק לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב, קֶרֶן וְרֶיוַח, שִׁעְבּוּדָא דְמִצְרַיִם וְאַרְעָא, וְזַבֵּין לֵיהּ חוּלָקֵיהּ מִן מְעַרְתָּא דְכָפֶלְתָּא, וַאֲזַל לֵיהּ מִן אַרְעָא, וּמִן מְהֵימְנוּתָא, וּמֵחוּלָקֵיהּ, דַּאֲזַל לֵיהּ מִכֹּלָּא.

Esau Faith Jacob

235. Come and behold, how much Jacob's portion was increased in all respects when Esau left him and went to his own lot and portion. Jacob thus continued to hold the heritage of his father and his ancestors. And so it is written, "And went into another country away from his brother Jacob." HE ASKS, Why is it written, "away from his brother Jacob?" HE ANSWERS, Because he did not care for his inheritance or share JACOB'S lot of faith. Happy is the lot of Jacob, of whom the verse says, "For Hashem's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance" (Devarim 32:9).

235. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה הֲוָה חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב טָבָא בְּכֹלָּא, בְּגִין דְּלָא אִשְׁתָּאַר עֵשָׂו בַּהֲדֵיהּ, וְאִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנֵּיהּ, וַאֲזַל לֵיהּ לְחוּלָקֵיהּ וּלְעַדְבֵיהּ, וְאִשְׁתָּאַר יַעֲקֹב אָחִיד בְּאַחְסָנַת אֲבוֹי, וּבְאַחְסָנַת אַבְהָתוֹי, וְעַל דָּא וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל אֶרֶץ מִפְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב אָחִיו, מַאי מִפְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב אָחִיו. דְּלָא בָּעָא חוּלָקֵיהּ, וְאַחְסַנְתֵּיהּ וְעַדְבָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא דִילֵיהּ. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, עֲלֵיהּ כְּתִיב, כִּי חֵלֶק ה' עַמּוֹ יַעֲקֹב חֶבֶל נַחֲלָתוֹ.