Parshas Toldos 5777

Whom Did Rebecca Ask for Advice?

The Torah writes (Genesis 25:22):

But the children struggled in her womb, and she said, “If so, why do I exist?" She went to inquire of the LORD

Rashi explains:

AND SHE WENT TO ENQUIRE at the school of Shem

Radak explains why:

Some of our sages (quoted by Rashi) say that she went to the academy of Shem in order to inquire from him about the meaning of such strange goings on inside her. The truth is that Shem was still alive at that time for he survived Avraham by 31 years. If Shem was identical with Malki Tzedek he would have resided in Jerusalem at that time. Why are we told all this? To draw our attention to the fact that she bypassed her father-in-law Avraham, who we would think, was better qualified than Shem to answer her question. Avraham remained alive until Esau and Yaakov were 15 years of age.

Ibn Ezra gives two other answers:

Through a prophet

(see also Chizkuni and Rashbam)

and

or through Abraham himself for he did not die until his grandsons were 15

Ralbag (ibid) explains slightly differently:

And she went to ask G-d from prophets - His servants - which were there in those days like Shem, Eber and their students ... and He answered her through prophecy

Ramban answers that she prayed:

We don't find [the language of] "inquiry" except in regards in regards to G-d that it is prayer

Shadal explains slightly differently:

She prayed to G-d and the word of G-d came to her either through a prophecy or a dream

The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 63 as quoted in LeMakesei Atik) explains:

through an angel

Who Gave Jacob His Name?

The Torah writes (Genesis 25:26):

Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of Esau; so they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

Rashi provides two answers:

The Holy One, blessed be He, thus named him

and:

Another explanation is: his father called him Jacob because he was grasping Esau’s heel

Rokeah (as quoted in LeMakesei Atik) says it was Abraham

(see also Josh Waxman's parshablog on this)

(see our earlier post about who named Esau with the name Edom)