Only one blessing? – Tol’dot

Isaac blessing Jacob, by Gustave Dore
When the parental blessing is awarded to Jacob, Esau asks whether there aren’t any blessings left for him (Gen. 27:36).

True, Esau was not a very nice character, but he was Isaac’s son after all and surely justice and logic should dictate that there should be a blessing reserved for him.

Rashi says that Esau had a conscience after all and deep down he realised that Jacob despite his defects – was really more entitled than he was to their father’s blessing.

Isaac was on the other hand a rather weak person, wracked with uncertainty as to whether he might have done the wrong thing in giving Jacob the blessing.

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