01-19-2022, 04:08 PM
Didn't HaShem reveal to Rebecca while she was pregnant that the twins represented two nations that would come to be separated with the elder serving the younger?
According to commentary she was not authorized to reveal the prophecy to Isaac while noting she understood the rise of one would result in the fall of the other - "so that any plan Isaac might have to enlist them in joint service of G-d could not succeed."
Jacob's blessing from Isaac may have been on his mind when many years later he gave the blessings to his grandsons, giving the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim. Why did he not choose the eldest son? I don't think we can ever know what is in another persons mind but I wonder if he was not thinking back to when he received his blessing and this may have influenced his later decision. With Esau there is a mention of a character fault but not so with Mannaseh, nor was he said to be envious of his brother receiving the greater blessing.
According to commentary she was not authorized to reveal the prophecy to Isaac while noting she understood the rise of one would result in the fall of the other - "so that any plan Isaac might have to enlist them in joint service of G-d could not succeed."
Jacob's blessing from Isaac may have been on his mind when many years later he gave the blessings to his grandsons, giving the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim. Why did he not choose the eldest son? I don't think we can ever know what is in another persons mind but I wonder if he was not thinking back to when he received his blessing and this may have influenced his later decision. With Esau there is a mention of a character fault but not so with Mannaseh, nor was he said to be envious of his brother receiving the greater blessing.