Page 353 - BERESHIT

bereshit

Eisav spurned the birthright by his desire to amass wealth and derive as
12 much pleasure from this world as possible. He let Yaakov have his share

in the next world in order to increase his portion in this world. He belittled
the birthright and thus lost any claim to the berachot.

Yitzchak wanted to give the berachot to Eisav despite the fact that he had
already despised the birthright, in the hope that it would help him to do
teshuvah. He did not think that Yaakov needed the berachot, as his Torah
learning would protect and save him from harm.

Yitzchak requested Eisav to go hunting and bring back food. He asked
Eisav to refine his middot, by not stealing from others. This would have
given him the merit to receive the berachot. Yitzchak also asked Eisav not
to wear the special garments he had. As long as Eisav followed his
instructions and subjugated his will to his father’s, he could still have been
found worthy. Once Eisav showed his disinterest in Olam Haba, he
forfeited any right to the Heavenly blessings.

Yaakov came to his father wearing the garments of Eisav, and the scent
of Gan Eden wafted in with him. He wanted to hint to his father that the
berachot were not suitable for Eisav, despite any worthy progeny. Even