The Pshat Heard 'Round the World

We interrupt this story of Yosef’s descent after descent until the depths of Egypt’s dungeons to catch up with his brother and the cause of his suffering, Yehudah. Not to be outdone by Yosef, Yehudah also goes down and down. He leaves his brothers and is the first (besides the rejected Esau) of whom it is told that he begins hanging out with the Canaanites – he becomes fast friends with the Adulamite, Chira, marries a daughter of Shua and starts a family. Bat-Shua, as his wife is termed, bears for him three sons in (seemingly) quick succession – Awake, Bereaved and Hers. Well, those are exactly their names. The Hebrew is ‘Er, Onan and Shelah, respectively. But that’s what they mean. And the first-born, Er, gets a double portion of meaning, for his name spelled backwards, is Ra – Evil. If you think I’m playing a little fast and loose by attributing meaning to that reversal, then take a look at the Torah’s reversal of Yehuda’s fortunes, beginning with 38:7: ...

“We came to Esav with your message, and he’s on his way – with four hundred men”! These words must have been enough to send shivers up Ya’akov’s …spine? So he prepares for the fateful encounter – gifts, prayer and a few rounds with Esav’s angelic sparring partner to toughen himself up in case he has to go mano a mano with his brother. I can understand all of Ya’akov’s anticipatory actions (especially after they have been explicated by our commentators” – except one – why did he bow to him? And not just bow – humiliate himself, kowtow, grovel!! Why did Ya’acov do this SEVEN TIMES! So much so that, in fact, Bechor Shor interprets Esav’s running toward Ya’akov as intended to prevent him from additional bowing! This behavior on Ya’akov’s part is not only disturbing from a perspective of Jewish pride, it would also seem to be problematic halachically. It is true that, as opposed to what many people believe, it is permitted to bow to another human being as...

So Ya’akov sets out for Padan Aram, ostensibly to find a wife, but everyone knows (except for Yitzchak) that’s he’s fleeing for his live. The quick, post-blessing departure was arranged by Rivka, who told “her son” (as he is repeatedly termed in last week’s parashah) that Esav was consoling himself for the lost blessing by plotting to kill his brother as soon as Yitzchak, their father, is no longer around. “Get up, go to Padan Aram”, says Rivka. She insists it will be but a brief sojourn by Lavan, her brother. Just until Esav’s anger passes. And so, after receiving yet another blessing from Yitzchak, as well as a charge to find a wife there (Rivkah has dissembled to her husband regarding why she wishes Ya’acov to “visit the family”) is sent out by his father and goes to Padan Aram. Esav also believes that his marriage to Canaanite women might indeed have upset Father and Mother, perhaps to the point of denying him blessings? Therefore he takes a “Jewish” wife – we...