First reading — Genesis 25:19–26:5 In the first reading (עליה, aliyah), Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, and when she proved barren, Isaac pleaded with God on her behalf, and God allowed Rebekah to conceive.[2] As twins struggled in her womb, she inquired of God, who answered her that two separate nations were in her womb, one mightier than the other, and the older would serve the younger.[3] When Rebekah gave birth, the first twin emerged red and hairy, so they named him Esau, and his brother emerged holding Esau’s heel, so they named him Jacob.[4] Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.[5] Esau became a skillful hunter and outdoorsman, but Jacob remained a mild man and camp-bound.[6] Isaac favored Esau for his game, but Rebekah favored Jacob.[7] Once when Jacob was cooking, Esau returned to the camp famished and demanded some of Jacob’s red stew.[8] Jacob demanded that Esau first sell him his birthright, and Esau did so with an oath, spurning his birthright.[9] The first open portion (פתוחה, petuchah) ends here with the end of chapter 25.[10] As the reading continues in chapter 26, another famine struck the land, and Isaac went to the house of the Philistine King Abimelech in Gerar.[11] God told Isaac not to go down to Egypt, but to stay in the land that God would show him, for God would remain with him, bless him, and assign the land to him and his numerous heirs, as God had sworn to Abraham, who had obeyed God and kept God’s commandments.[12] The first reading (עליה, aliyah) ends here.[13]
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 15:56:11 +0000
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