Shabbos Parashas Vayishlach - 5777

Shabbos Parashas Vayishlach - 5777

Rabbi Hal Miller

Esau said, "I have plenty. My brother, let what you have remain yours." [Bereishis 33:9]

Sforno says that our verse is Esau saying, in effect, "I most certainly do not need this gift, seeing

that you are my brother, you certainly do not have to put yourself out so much in order for me to

make you welcome." We could read into this that Esau was genuinely glad to see Yaakov.

Most commentators take Yaakov's offer to Esau as a bribe, and discuss whether or not this

is appropriate or sinful. But in the midst of this, it is Esau who declines, who seems to do the

right thing. True, Yaakov insists over the course of the next few verses, and Esau seems to

then accept, but is there something to be learned here other than the validity of bribery?

In the verse before ours, Yaakov offers a gift. How can we attribute that to bribery? Esau

apparently did not, turning it down as he did here. But in the next verse, "Yaakov said, "No, I

beg of you. If I have now found favor in your eyes, then accept my tribute from me." He then

continues, "Please accept my blessing which was brought to you, inasmuch as G-d has been

gracious to me and inasmuch as I have everything." Yaakov seems to be offering the blessing

he received from their father! Yet here, Esau declines it. Bereishis Rabbah explains that

Yaakov's acquisition of Yitzchak's blessing was not complete at that time. It was only confirmed

here with our verse when Esau agrees to it.

Rabbeinu Bechaye notes that Yaakov's speech in this chapter is "peppered" with references to

G-d, and that Esau never mentions Him even once. Yaakov made lengthy speeches full of

politeness and respect, Esau was curt and commanding. Yaakov was humble, Esau was

arrogant. How do we see this in our verse?

Rav Moshe Feinstein says, "Esau said, 'I have plenty'. Yaakov responded, 'I have everything'."

He calls this "two different world-views." One who believes in G-d knows that he has everything

that he needs, even if it might not be everything he thinks he wants. One who does not believe

only judges his possessions by his own view of his needs. Someone who believes only in

himself will be rude while trying to acquire what he thinks he needs and deserves, and will be

much more calm and willing to share if he has already what he wants. Someone who believes

in G-d is grateful for whatever he has, willing to share, and humble in the presence of others.

He knows that he has whatever is required to accomplish the mission G-d has given him.

Yaakov may have been following the "gifts, prayer, battle" formula discussed by so many

commentators. He certainly was offering a gift to Esau, and offering prayer to G-d. His division

of the camp was part of his preparation for battle. Using this formula, we could see the "gift" as

bribery, but it isn't clear that a gift to a brother is necessarily bribery. Our verse points us to the

understanding that, as Rav Moshe said, Yaakov was complete in his belief in G-d, while Esau

believed only in himself.