Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this final aliyah of Parshas Toldos, Yaakov Avinu sets out on his journey to Paddan-aram following the tzava'ah and brochos of his father Yitzchak. He departs to fulfill the rotson of his parents, both to escape the anger of Eisav and to find a choshover shidduch from the family of Lavan, keeping far away from the bnoth Kena'an.

Eisav observes these events and takes note of how much his father despises the daughters of Kena'an. Realizing that his own Canaanite wives are bad in the eyes of Yitzchak, Eisav attempts to patch things up by going to Yishmael and taking his daughter Mahalath as an additional wife.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיִּשְׁלַחAnd he sentיִצְחָקYitzchakאֶת—יַעֲקֹבYaakovוַיֵּלֶךְand he wentפַּדֶּנָהto PaddanאֲרָםAramאֶלtoלָבָןLavanבֶּןson ofבְּתוּאֵלBetuelהָאֲרַמִּיthe Arameanאֲחִיbrother ofרִבְקָהRivkahאֵםmother ofיַעֲקֹבYaakovוְעֵשָׂו׃and Esav

רַשִׁ״י

אםmother ofיעקבYaakovועשו.and EsavאֵינִיI do notיוֹדֵעַknowמַהwhatמְּלַמְּדֵנוּ:it teaches us

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַיַּרְאAnd sawעֵשָׂוEsavכִּיthatבֵרַךְblessedיִצְחָקYitzchakאֶת—יַעֲקֹבYaakovוְשִׁלַּחand sentאֹתוֹhimפַּדֶּנָהto PadanאֲרָםAramלָקַחַתto takeלוֹfor himselfמִשָּׁםfrom thereאִשָּׁהa wifeבְּבָרֲכוֹwhen blessingאֹתוֹhimוַיְצַוand commandedעָלָיוhimלֵאמֹרsayingלֹאnotתִקַּחyou shall takeאִשָּׁהa wifeמִבְּנוֹתfrom the daughters ofכְּנָעַן׃Canaan

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיִּשְׁמַעAnd listenedיַעֲקֹבYaakovאֶלtoאָבִיוhis fatherוְאֶלand toאִמּוֹhis motherוַיֵּלֶךְand wentפַּדֶּנָהto Paddanאֲרָם׃Aram

רַשִׁ״י

וישמעAnd that hearkenedיעקב.Yaakovמְחֻבָּרis connectedלָעִנְיָןto the subjectשֶׁלofמַעְלָה,aboveוַיַּרְאand sawעֵשָׂוEsavכִּיthatבֵרַךְblessedיִצְחָקYitzchakוְגוֹ'and so forthוְכִיand thatשִׁלַּחhe sentאוֹתוֹhimפַּדֶּנָהto Padanאֲרָם,Aramוְכִיand thatשָׁמַעhearkenedיַעֲקֹבYaakovאֶלtoאָבִיוhis fatherוְהָלַךְand wentפַּדֶּנָהto Padanאֲרָם,Aramוְכִיand thatרָעוֹתwere evilבְּנוֹתthe daughters ofכְּנַעַן,Kenaanוְהָלַךְand wentגַּםalsoהוּאheאֶלtoיִשְׁמָעֵאל:Yishmael

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיַּרְאAnd Esav sawעֵשָׂוEsavכִּיthatרָעוֹתwere evilבְּנוֹתthe daughters ofכְּנָעַןKenaanבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofיִצְחָקYitzchakאָבִיו׃his father

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיֵּלֶךְand wentעֵשָׂוEsavאֶלtoיִשְׁמָעֵאלYishmaelוַיִּקַּחand tookאֶת—מָחֲלַתMachalasבַּתdaughter ofיִשְׁמָעֵאלYishmaelבֶּןson ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamאֲחוֹתsister ofנְבָיוֹתNevayosעַלin addition toנָשָׁיוhis wivesלוֹto himלְאִשָּׁה׃for a wife

רַשִׁ״י

אחותthe sister ofנביות.Nebaiothמִמַּשְׁמָעfrom the implicationשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat it was saidבַּתdaughter ofיִשְׁמָעֵאלIshmaelאֵינִיdo I notיוֹדֵעַknowשֶׁהִיאthat she wasאֲחוֹתthe sister ofנְבָיוֹת?Nebaiothאֶלָּאratherלָמַדְנוּwe learnedשֶׁמֵּתthat diedיִשְׁמָעֵאלIshmaelמִשֶּׁיְּעָדָהּafter he betrothed herלְעֵשָׂוto Esauקֹדֶםbeforeנִשּׂוּאֶיהָher marriageוְהִשִּׂיאָהּand gave her awayנְבָיוֹתNebaiothאָחִיהָ,her brotherוְלָמַדְנוּand we learnedשֶׁהָיָהthat wasיַעֲקֹבYaakovבְּאוֹתוֹat thatהַפֶּרֶקperiodבֶּןa son ofס"ג63שָׁנִים,yearsשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdיִשְׁמָעֵאלIshmaelבֶּןa son ofע"ד74שָׁנִיםyearsהָיָהwasכְּשֶׁנּוֹלַדwhen was bornיַעֲקֹב,Yaakovי"ד14שָׁנָהyearsהָיָהwasגָדוֹלolderיִשְׁמָעֵאלIshmaelמִיִּצְחָק,than Yitzchakוְיִצְחָקand Yitzchakבֶּןa son ofס'60שָׁנָהyearsבְּלֶדֶתat the birth ofאוֹתָםthemהֲרֵיbeholdע"ד,74וּשְׁנוֹתָיוand his yearsהָיוּwereקל"ז,137שֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it was saidוְאֵלֶּהand these areשְׁנֵיthe years ofחַיֵּיthe life ofיִשְׁמָעֵאלIshmaelוְגוֹ',etc.נִמְצָאit turns outיַעֲקֹבYaakovכְּשֶׁמֵּתwhen diedיִשְׁמָעֵאלIshmaelבֶּןa son ofס"ג63שָׁנִיםyearsהָיָה,wasוְלָמַדְנוּand we learnedמִכָּאןfrom hereשֶׁנִּטְמַןthat he hidבְּבֵיתin the house ofעֵבֶרEverי"ד14שָׁנָהyearsוְאַחַרand afterכָּךְsoהָלַךְhe wentלְחָרָן,to Haranשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdלֹאnotשָׁהָהdid he stayבְּבֵיתin the house ofלָבָןLavanלִפְנֵיbeforeלֵדָתוֹthe birth ofשֶׁל·יוֹסֵףYosefאֶלָּאexceptי"ד14שָׁנָה,yearsשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it was saidעֲבַדְתִּיךָI served youאַרְבַּעfourעֶשְׂרֵהteenשָׁנָהyearsבִּשְׁתֵּיfor your twoבְנֹתֶיךָdaughtersוְשֵׁשׁand sixשָׁנִיםyearsבְּצֹאנֶךָ,for your flockוּשְׂכַרand the wage ofהַצֹּאןthe flockמִשֶּׁנּוֹלַדfrom when was bornיוֹסֵףYosefהָיָה,wasשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it was saidוַיְהִיand it wasכַּאֲשֶׁרwhenיָלְדָהboreרָחֵלRachelאֶת—יוֹסֵףYosefוְגוֹ';etc.וְיוֹסֵףand Yosefבֶּןa son ofל'30שָׁנָהyearsהָיָהwasכְּשֶׁמָּלַךְ,when he ruledוּמִשָּׁםand from thereעַדuntilשֶׁיָּרַדthat went downיַעֲקֹבYaakovלְמִצְרַיִםto Mitzrayimט'9שָׁנִים,yearsז'7שֶׁלofשָׂבָעplentyוּב'and 2שֶׁלofרָעָב,famineוְיַעֲקֹבand Yaakovאָמַרsaidלְפַרְעֹהto Pharaohיְמֵיthe days ofשְׁנֵיthe years ofמְגוּרַיmy sojourningשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyוּמְאַתand one hundredשָׁנָהyears–צֵאgoוַחֲשֹׁבand calculateי"ד14שֶׁלִּפְנֵיthat beforeלֵדַתthe birth ofיוֹסֵףYosefוּשְׁלֹשִׁיםand thirtyשֶׁלofיוֹסֵףYosefוְתֵשַׁעand nineמִשֶּׁמָּלַךְfrom when he ruledעַדuntilשֶׁבָּאthat cameיַעֲקֹב,Yaakovהֲרֵיbeholdנ"ג,53וּכְשֶׁפֵּרֵשׁand when he separatedמֵאָבִיוfrom his fatherהָיָהhe wasבֶּןa son ofס"ג,63הֲרֵיbeholdקי"ו,116וְהוּאand heאוֹמֵרsaysשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyוּמְאַתand one hundredשָׁנָה,yearsהֲרֵיbeholdחֲסֵרִיםmissingי"ד14שָׁנִים,yearsהָאthusלָמַדְתָּyou learnedשֶׁאַחַרthat afterשֶׁקִּבֵּלthat he receivedהַבְּרָכוֹתthe blessingsנִטְמַןhe hidבְּבֵיתin the house ofעֵבֶרEverי"ד14שָׁנִים,yearsאֲבָלbutלֹאnotנֶעֱנַשׁwas he punishedבִּזְכוּתby the merit ofהַתּוֹרָה;the Torahשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdלֹאnotפֵּרֵשׁwas separatedיוֹסֵףYosefמֵאָבִיוfrom his fatherאֶלָּאexceptכ"ב22שָׁנָה,yearsדְּהַיְנוּwhich isמִי"זfrom 17עַדuntilל"ט,39כְּנֶגֶדcorresponding toכ"ב22שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁthat was separatedיַעֲקֹבYaakovמֵאָבִיוfrom his fatherוְלֹאand notכִבְּדוֹ,did he honor himוְהֵםand they areכ'20שָׁנִיםyearsבְּבֵיתin the house ofלָבָןLavanוּשְׁתֵּיand twoשָׁנִיםyearsשֶׁשָּׁהָהthat he stayedבַדֶּרֶךְ,on the wayכְּדִכְתִיבas it is writtenוַיִּבֶןand he builtלוֹfor himselfבָּיִתa houseוּלְמִקְנֵהוּand for his livestockעָשָׂהhe madeסֻכֹּת,boothsוּפֵר'and explainedרַזִ"לִour Sages z"lמִזֶּהfrom thisהַפָּסוּקverseשֶׁשָּׁהָהthat he stayedי"ח18חֳדָשִׁיםmonthsבַּדֶּרֶךְon the way–דְּבַיִתfor a houseהֲוָהisבִּימוֹתin the days ofהַגְּשָׁמִיםthe rainsוְסֻכֹּתand boothsהֲווּareבִּימוֹתin the days ofהַחַמָּהthe sun–וּלְחֶשְׁבּוֹןand according to the calculation ofהַפְּסוּקִיםthe versesשֶׁחָשַׁבְנוּthat we calculatedלְעֵילaboveמִשֶּׁפֵּרֵשׁfrom when he separatedמֵאָבִיוfrom his fatherעַדuntilשֶׁיָּרַדthat he went downלְמִצְרַיִםto Mitzrayimשֶׁהָיָהthat he wasבֶּןa son ofק"ל130שָׁנִים,yearsשֶׁשָּׁםthat thereאָנוּweמוֹצְאִיםfindעוֹדanotherי"ד14שָׁנִיםyears–אֶלָּאratherוַדַּאיcertainlyנִטְמַןhe hidבְּבֵיתin the house ofעֵבֶרEverבַּהֲלִיכָתוֹin his goingלְבֵיתto the house ofלָבָןLavanלִלְמֹדto learnתּוֹרָהTorahמִמֶּנּוּ,from himוּבִשְׁבִילand for the sake ofזְכוּתthe merit ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahלֹאnotנֶעֱנַשׁwas he punishedעֲלֵיהֶםfor themוְלֹאand notפֵּרֵשׁwas separatedיוֹסֵףYosefמִמֶּנּוּfrom himאֶלָּאexceptכ"ב22שָׁנָהyears–מִדָּהmeasureכְּנֶגֶדagainstמִדָּהmeasure–עַ"כַּuntil hereבְּרַשִׁ"יin Rashiיָשָׁן:old

רַשִׁ״י

עלBesidesנשיו.his wivesהוֹסִיףhe addedרִשְׁעָהwickednessעַלuponרִשְׁעָתוֹ,his wickednessשֶׁלֹּאthat notגֵרֵשׁhe divorcedאֶת—הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת:the first wives

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

This aliyah recounts Yaakov's departure to Paddan-aram to the house of Lavan, obediently following the directives of Yitzchak and Rivka. Upon seeing Yaakov's kibbud av v'em and realizing how deeply Yitzchak disdained the local Canaanite women, Eisav goes to Yishmael and marries his daughter Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth, adding her to his existing wives in an effort to appease his father.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

Look at what happens here in the pesukim with Esav. He sees that Yitzchak blessed Yaakov and sent him away to find a shidduch, commanding him not to take a wife from the Bnos Knaan. Esav realizes that his father hates these Canaanite women. So what does Esav do? He goes to Yishmael and marries Machalas, the daughter of Yishmael. But look at the phrasing: "al nashav", on top of his existing wives. He did not get rid of the wicked Canaanite wives he already had! He just added another wife to the mix, thinking he was fixing the problem.

The Torah is coming to show us a profound sevara in human nature and avodas Hashem. Esav understood that something was wrong with his life, but his way of fixing it was totally external. Instead of doing real teshuvah, uprooting the bad, and removing the bad influences from his home, he just tried to paste a good deed on top of his rotten foundation. He thought, I will keep my bad habits, but I will add a frum-looking step on top, and that will make everything kadosh.

How often do we fall into this exact same mistake? A Yid feels a void or knows he is doing something he shouldn't be doing, and his yetzer hara convinces him to just add a extra chumra or do a nice segula, while leaving the bad habit untouched. Real avodah requires us to clean out the bad first. You cannot build a kadosh home or a pure neshama by just adding good things on top of lingering tumah.

Take one practical area in your life today where you know something is wrong, and instead of trying to cover it up with a good deed, take one real step to actually remove or stop the bad thing itself.