Toldot

Two Peoples are in your womb. Two nations will segregate from you. One nation will grow mighty at the expense of the other. The greater shall serve the younger.

25:23 - 25

Rivka was being told that the struggle going on within her represented two opposing philosophies. The apparent attempt of one killing the other reflected the emergence of two kingdoms. It is the custom for power struggles to break out between kingdoms…in this case, both kingdoms would be engaged in an ongoing struggle for dominance. The divergence in their philosophies would be such that they could not live peacefully side by side, success of one automatically translating into defeat of the other…on the other hand, whenever the senior kingdom does have the upper hand, the junior one will not acquiesce, believing that the sacred must not submit to the profane.

Moshe Alshich (16^th Century)

The word “nation” is used instead of “people.” The difference has always been clear to me: “people” is indicative of population and masses, while “nation” indicates a unique culture and religion. Besides the immenseness of their populations, they will not be able to unite because of religious and cultural differences which will cause them to segregate…and this in itself is a cause for conflict, as it is contrary to human nature for the greater to serve the younger. The aforementioned final condition will, therefore, not come about without a great deal of strife and war.

Malbim (19^th Century)

The name Esau means “made” or “completed.” From day one, Esau was full of strength and energy. The name Jacob refers to the fact that he was holding on to Esau’s heel…Esau represents the raw, base forces in the world. His reddish complexion indicated the violent and brutal nature of his personality. Jacob did not prevent Esau from coming into the world; after all, the world needs Esau and his raw power. Rather, Jacob held on to Esau’s heel, holding him back. The name Jacob refers to this aspect of restraint, reining in the fierce forces.

Abraham Kook (20^th Century)

This can be interpreted in various directions. Either, literally, the older one will serve the younger one, or…the philosophies of Esau and Yaakov are mutually exclusive, and as long as both are alive and vibrant the other can not be content.

Yaakov ben Rabbeinu Asher (Tur) (14^th Century)

The differences between Jacob and Esau would extend beyond their generation…Jacob would become one of the patriarchs of the Jewish people, while Esau’s descendants, according to the Talmud, would be the future Roman Empire. The relationship between Jacob and Esau is thus seen in the context of the relations between Judea and Rome. Rome in all its glory would represent power, wealth, hedonism and paganism, while Judeans were sustained by their adherence to the Torah…It is Jacob whose existence is predicated upon his voice – beliefs, his strength, lies in the voice. Esau’s strength, however, is with his hands – physical prowess. Esau seeks to rise up in the world with physical strength…Jacob survives and prevails by virtue of his voice, the voice of study and teaching one’s children the laws of God. Thus, the voice is that of Jacob, but the hands are those of Esau.

Larry Domnitch (Contemporary)