Toldot

📜 The Story

This parsha tells the story of Isaac and Rebecca's family. For twenty years Rebecca could not have children, and Isaac prayed to God the whole time. God answered his prayer, and Rebecca was going to have twins. She felt them pushing and kicking inside her. When she asked God why, He told her that two nations were inside her, and that the older one would serve the younger one.

The first twin came out red and covered in hair, and they named him Esau. His brother came out right after him, holding on to Esau's heel, so they named him Jacob. As they grew up, Esau became a hunter who loved being outdoors. Jacob was quiet, loved to learn, and stayed close to the tents.

One day Esau came home from the field very hungry. Jacob was cooking a pot of red lentil stew. Esau asked for some, and Jacob offered to trade the stew for Esau's birthright, the special honor that belongs to the oldest son. Esau cared more about his empty stomach than about his future. He agreed, and he sold his birthright for bread and lentil stew.

Later there was a famine, and Isaac moved his family to Gerar. There he dug wells for water. He even dug out the old wells his father Abraham had dug, and called them by the same names. When Isaac grew old and could not see well, he wanted to give his special blessing to Esau. But Rebecca knew the blessing should go to Jacob. She dressed Jacob in Esau's clothes and covered his arms with goat skins, so he would feel hairy like his brother.

Isaac blessed Jacob, thinking he was Esau. He blessed him with rich land, plenty of grain and wine, and leadership over his brothers. When Esau found out, he was very angry. Rebecca sent Jacob away to her brother Laban's house, to keep him safe from Esau and to find a good wife. Before Jacob left, Isaac blessed him again, this time with the blessing of Abraham, that he would inherit the land of Canaan.