(2019/5780)
In this week's Parashah, there are many riveting ideas, but in my mind none are more interesting than the story of the sale of the Bechorah, the rights of the firstborn. We see that Eisav comes back from the field and asks Ya’akov for the soup that he made, and Yaakov says that he would give him the soup, but only for the Bechorah: “VaYomer Ya’akov Michrah Chayom Et Bechoratecha Li,” “And Ya’akov said, ‘Sell, today, your birthright to me’” (BeReishit 25:31). Why does Yaakov ask for a payment from Eisav; is he not content to share with his brother and help him out? Is it not selfish on the part of Ya’akov to ask for a payment in exchange for sharing with his brother, and additionally, why is Yaakov asking specifically for the Bechorah, rather than money or any other good?
According to the Seforno (ibid. s.v. Michrah Chayom), Ya’akov saw how busy Eisav was doing the work in the field and reasoned that he would not have enough time to do the Avodat Hashem which accompanied the Bechorah. Seeing how busy Eisav was, he decided to take the burden of being the Bechor of off his hands, and instead take it for himself. This answer makes it seem as though Yaakov was doing a Chesed for Eisav by taking the Bechor. On the other hand, Rabbi Nissim of Gerona (Derashot HaRan 2) says that the reason that Ya’akov asked for the Bechorah was because that day was the memorial meal for Avraham and instead of crying and being present at the time of his death, Eisav had been out in the field hunting. In those days, the Bechor was considered the son who would honor his father's legacy, and Ya’akov was scared that Eisav would diminish his father's legacy. In this view, Ya’akov said to himself, “Eisav goes around talking about how Yitzchak’s name will be carried on with him, while he does actions that go against his legacy, but I follow his legacy and I try to emanate him, so I should be the one that represents him.” This answer makes it seem as though Yaakov was being exceedingly respectful to his father and doing the Mitzvah of Kibbud Av Va’Eim by making sure that Eisav did not diminish the honor of his father. From both of these answers, we can establish that everything Ya’akov did was for someone else’s benefit.
One thing we can learn from both these opinions and from this story in general is not to judge other people. If we were to read just the Peshat, it could look like Ya’akov is only asking for the Bechorah for his own personal gain; however when we think deeper and look at the Mefarshim, we see how everything Yaakov was doing was either to take a burden off of his brother or to honor his father and his own legacy. So too, we love to make judgements about others and what they are doing before we see the full picture and the whole situation, but need to remember to judge others favorably and believe in them. If we don’t, we can end up judging great people unfairly, just as we might render an unfair judgement if we read only the Peshat about Ya’akov.