📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 39

יְרִידָה רְבִיעִית שֶׁיָּרַד לְמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָנֹכִי אֵרֵד עִמְּךָ מִצְרַיְמָה״. שָׁמַע יַעֲקֹב עַל יוֹסֵף שֶׁהוּא חַי וְהָיָה מְהַרְהֵר בְּלִבּוֹ וְאוֹמֵר: אֵיךְ אֶעֱזֹב אֶרֶץ אֲבוֹתַי וְאֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתִּי וְאֶת אֶרֶץ שֶׁשְּׁכִינָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּקִרְבָּהּ וְאֵלֵךְ אֶל אֶרֶץ טְמֵאָה, לְתוֹךְ הָעֲבָדִים בְּנֵי חָם, בְּאֶרֶץ שֶׁאֵין יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם בֵּינֵיהֶם? אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״יַעֲקֹב, אַל תִּירָא מֵרְדָה מִצְרַיְמָה, אָנֹכִי אֵרֵד עִמְּךָ״.

JOSEPH IN EGYPT THE fourth descent was (when) He descended into Egypt, (as it is said), "I will go down with thee into Egypt" (Gen 46:4). Jacob heard concerning Joseph that he was living, and he was thinking in his heart, saying: Can I forsake the land of my fathers, the land of my birth, the land of the sojournings of my fathers, the land where the Shekhinah of the Holy One, blessed be He, is in its midst, and shall I go to an unclean land in their midst, for there is no fear of Heaven therein? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Jacob, do not fear; "I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again" (ibid.).

וְשָׁמַע יַעֲקֹב אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, וְלָקַח אֶת נָשָׁיו וְאֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת בְּנוֹתָיו וּבְנוֹת בָּנָיו. וְכָתוּב אַחֵר אוֹמֵר: ״וְאֶת דִּינָה בִתּוֹ״. וְכָאן אוֹמֵר: ״בְּנוֹתָיו״. לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁבְּנוֹתָיו שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב הֵם נְשֵׁי בָנָיו, וְעַל זַרְעוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב לָקְחוּ אֲחִיּוֹתֵיהֶם וּשְׁאֵר בְּשָׂרָם כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְחַתְּנוּ בְּעַמֵּי הָאֲרָצוֹת. לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרְאוּ זֶרַע אֱמֶת, כֻּלּוֹ זֶרַע אֱמֶת.

Jacob heard this word, and he took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and the daughters of his sons. Another Scripture says, "With his daughter Dinah" (Gen 46:15). And all that he had, and he brought them to Egypt, as it is said, "His sons, and his sons' sons || with him," etc. (Gen 46:7). Another Scripture says, "With his daughter, Dinah" (Gen 46:15). Whereas another text says, "His daughters" (Gen 46:7), to teach thee that the daughters of Jacob were the wives of his sons. And all the seed of Jacob married their sisters and their blood-relations, so that they should not intermarry with the people of the lands, therefore they were called a true seed, as it is said, "Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a true seed" (Jer. 2:21).

וּכְשֶׁבָּאוּ לִגְבוּל מִצְרַיִם נִתְיַחֲסוּ כָּל הַזְּכָרִים שִׁשִּׁים וָשֵׁשׁ אִישׁ, וְיוֹסֵף וּשְׁנֵי בָנָיו בְּמִצְרַיִם הֲרֵי תִּשְׁעָה וְשִׁשִּׁים. וּכְתִיב ״בְּשִׁבְעִים נֶפֶשׁ״. מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? נִכְנַס בַּמִּנְיָן עִמָּהֶם וְעָלוּ בְּמִסְפַּר שִׁבְעִים נֶפֶשׁ, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אָנֹכִי אֵרֵד עִמְּךָ מִצְרַיְמָה״. וּכְשֶׁעָלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם נִתְיַחֲסוּ כָּל הַזְּכָרִים שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא חָסֵר אֶחָד, מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? נִכְנַס בַּמִּנְיָן עִמָּהֶם וְעָלָה בְּמִסְפַּר עִמָּהֶם, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְאָנֹכִי אַעַלְךָ גַם עָלֹה״.

When they came to the border of Egypt, all the males were enrolled (in genealogical lists to the number of) sixty-six, Joseph with his two sons in Egypt (made the total) sixty-nine. And it is written, "With seventy persons thy fathers went down into Egypt" (Deut. 10:22). What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He entered into the number with them, and the total became seventy, to fulfil that which is said, "I will go down with thee into Egypt" (Gen. 46:4). When Israel came up from Egypt all the mighty men were enrolled, (amounting to) 600,000, less one. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He entered into the number with them, and their total amounted to 600,000, to fulfil that which is said, "I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again" (ibid.).

רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: עֲשָׂרָה פְּעָמִים אָמְרוּ בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב לְיוֹסֵף ״עַבְדְּךָ אָבִינוּ״, וְשָׁמַע יוֹסֵף וְשָׁתַק, וּשְׁתִיקָה כְּהוֹדָאָה דָּמְיָיא. לְפִיכָךְ נִתְקַצְּרוּ מֵחַיָּיו עֲשָׂרָה שָׁנִים. וְשָׁמַע שֶׁבָּא אָבִיו לִגְבוּל מִצְרַיִם וְלָקַח אֶת כָּל הָאֲנָשִׁים עִמּוֹ וְיָצָא לִקְרַאת אָבִיו. וְכָל הָעָם יוֹצְאִים לִקְרַאת הַמֶּלֶךְ, וְכִי מֶלֶךְ הָיָה? אֶלָּא לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאַבָּא שֶׁל אָדָם כְּמַלְכּוֹ.

Rabbi Ishmael said: Ten times did the sons of Jacob say to Joseph, "thy servant, our father." Joseph heard the word, and was silent. Silence gives consent; therefore were ten years deducted from his life. Joseph heard that his father had come to the border of Egypt, and he took all the men who were with him, and he went to meet his father. All the people go forth to meet the king, but the king does not go forth to meet any man. But this teaches thee that the father of a man is like his king.

רַבִּי פִּינְחָס אוֹמֵר: שָׁרְתָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְרוּחַ חָכְמָה עַל יוֹסֵף מִנְּעוּרָיו וְעַד יוֹם מוֹתוֹ, וְהָיְתָה מַנְהֶגֶת אוֹתוֹ בְּכָל דְּבַר חָכְמָה, כְּרוֹעֶה שֶׁהוּא מַנְהִיג אֶת צֹאנוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״רֹעֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל הַאֲזִינָה נֹהֵג כַּצֹּאן יוֹסֵף״. וּבְכָל חָכְמָתוֹ הִטָּתוֹ אִשָּׁה, וּכְשֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לְהַרְגִּיל עֲבֵרָה רָאָה דְּיוֹקְנוֹ שֶׁל אָבִיו וְחָזַר לְאַחֲרָיו וְכָבַשׁ אֶת יִצְרוֹ.

Rabbi Phineas said: The Holy Spirit rested on Joseph from his youth; and it led him in all matters of wisdom like a shepherd who leads his flock, as it is said, "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock, thou that sittest upon the cherubim" (Ps. 80:1). In all his wisdom a certain woman enticed (him), and when he wished to accustom himself to sin, he saw the image of his father, and repented concerning it.

שְׁלֹשָׁה כָּבְשׁוּ יִצְרָן לִפְנֵי יוֹצְרָן, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: יוֹסֵף וּבֹעַז וּפַלְטִיאֵל בֶּן לַיִשׁ. וְהָיָה רָאוּי לַעֲמֹד מִיּוֹסֵף זֶרַע שֶׁל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, וְיָצְאוּ מֵרָאשֵׁי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו זֶרַע שֶׁל עֲשָׂרָה שְׁבָטִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיָּפֹזּוּ זְרֹעֵי יָדָיו״. וְנִשְׁתַּיְּרוּ שְׁנַיִם מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרַיִם, וְהֵבִיאָה עָלָיו הָאִשָּׁה עֲלִילוֹת דְּבָרִים לְהָרְגוֹ, וְנֶחְבַּשׁ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִים עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים, וְשָׁם פָּתַר אֶת הַחֲלוֹמוֹת שֶׁל עַבְדֵי פַרְעֹה כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר פָּתַר לָנוּ כֵּן הָיָה״.

Three people conquered their passion before their Creator, and they were Joseph, Boaz, and Paltê, son of Laish. It was fit that twelve tribes should have arisen from Joseph, as it is said, "And the seed of his hands was active" (Gen. 49:24), but there remained two (tribes), Manasseh and Ephraim. The woman brought grave charges against him to vex him, and he was confined in prison for ten years. There he interpreted the dreams of the servants of Pharaoh, (he interpreted for) each one according to his dream just as though the events were taking place before him, as it is said, "And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was" (Gen. 41:13).

וּפָתַר אֶת חֲלוֹם פַּרְעֹה כְּשֶׁשָּׁרְתָה עָלָיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הֲנִמְצָא כָזֶה״ וְכוּ'.

And he interpreted the dream of || Pharaoh when the Holy Spirit rested upon him, as it is said, "And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?" (Gen. 41:38).

וְכָל הַלְּשׁוֹנוֹת הָיוּ בָּאִים אֶל יוֹסֵף לִשְׁבֹּר אֹכֶל מִיּוֹסֵף, וְהָיָה יוֹסֵף מְדַבֵּר לְכָל עַם וָעַם כִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ, וְהָיָה יוֹדֵעַ מַה הֵם מְדַבְּרִים. לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יְהוֹסֵף, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יוֹסֵף כִּי הַמֵּלִיץ בֵּינוֹתָם״.

All the nations came to Joseph to purchase food from Joseph. And Joseph spoke to each people according to their different tongue. And he knew what they were speaking. Therefore his name was called Jehoseph, as it is said, "For Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them" (Gen. 42:23).

וְעוֹד, כְּשֶׁהָיָה יוֹצֵא לַשּׁוּק הָיָה רוֹאֶה אֶת הָעַמִּים עֲשׂוּיִים כִּתּוֹת כִּתּוֹת וַחֲבוּרוֹת חֲבוּרוֹת, וְהָיוּ מְדַבְּרִים אִישׁ כִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ וְהָיָה יוֹדֵעַ מַה הֵם מְדַבְּרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עֵדוּת בִּיהוֹסֵף שָׁמַע״ וְכוּ'. וְעוֹד שֶׁהָיָה רוֹכֵב בְּמֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ וְעוֹבֵר בְּכָל גְּבוּל מִצְרַיִם, וּמִצְרִיּוֹת מְצַעֲדוֹת לוֹ עַל הַחוֹמוֹת וּמַשְׁלִיכוֹת עָלָיו טַבְּעוֹת זָהָב, אוּלַי יִסְתַּכֵּל בָּהֶן לִרְאוֹת אֶת יֹפִי תֹּאֲרוֹ, וְלֹא שְׁזָפַתּוּ עֵין אָדָם. וְהָיָה פָּרֶה וְרָבֶה בְּכָל עַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בֵּן פֹּרָת יוֹסֵף בֵּן פֹּרָת עֲלֵי עָיִן״.

Moreover, when he went into the market-place he saw the people forming themselves into various companies and groups, and each one would speak in his own tongue, and he knew what they were saying, as it is said, "He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out over the land of Egypt, when I heard the speech of one that I knew not" (Ps. 81:5). Further, when he was riding in the chariot, and passed through all the borders of the land of Egypt, the Egyptian girls were climbing up the walls for his sake, and they threw to him rings of gold, so that perchance he might look at them, and (they could) see the beauty of his figure, but nobody's eye degraded him, for he was highly esteemed in the eyes of everyone, as it is said, "Joseph is a fruitful bough… his daughters run over the wall" (Gen. 49:22).

וְכָל הַלְּשׁוֹנוֹת הָיוּ בָּאִים אֶל יוֹסֵף לִשְׁבֹּר אֹכֶל, וְהָיוּ מְבִיאִין הַמַּס שֶׁלָּהֶם וּמִנְחָתָם לִשְׁבֹּר אֶל יוֹסֵף. וְהָיָה יוֹסֵף מְדַבֵּר לְכָל עַם וָעַם כִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ מְתוּרְגְּמָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי הַמֵּלִיץ בֵּינוֹתָם״, לְפִיכָךְ הָיָה מְדַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם.

All the nations came to purchase food. And they brought to Joseph their tribute (and) a present (and money) to purchase (food). And he spoke to each people according to their different tongue; || therefore was his name called Turgeman, as it is said, "For there was an interpreter between them" (Gen. 42:23), therefore was he speaking.

וְאֵלּוּ שׁוֹבְרִים רַעֲבוֹן בָּתֵּיהֶם, וְאֵלּוּ בָּאִין לִשְׁבֹּר אֹכֶל, וְהָיוּ שׁוֹאֲלִים אֵלּוּ אֶת אֵלּוּ בְּכַמָּה הוּא מַשְׁבִּיר בַּשּׁוּק, וּכְשֶׁהָיוּ בָּאִין אֶל יוֹסֵף הָיָה אוֹמֵר לָהֶם כְּשֵׁם שֶׁשְּׁמַעְתֶּם כֵּן הוּא, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא לְהוֹצִיא שַׁעַר הַמֶּכֶר פָּחוּת. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ, כָּל הַמּוֹצִיא שַׁעַר הַמֶּכֶר פָּחוּת אֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה סִימַן בְּרָכָה לְעוֹלָם.

Some of them were buying grain on account of the famine in their houses, and they went forth, and others came to buy food; and one asked his fellow as to the price in the market. From their reply they opened the price of the market. When they came to Joseph he said to them: Just as ye have heard, so it is; in order that the market should not be scarce (and prices dear). Hence (the sages) said: He who makes a corner in the market will never see a sign of blessing.

רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם אוֹמֵר: צִוָּה יוֹסֵף וּבָנוּ אֶת הָאוֹצָרוֹת בְּכָל עִיר וָעִיר, וְקִבֵּץ אֶת כָּל תְּבוּאוֹת הָאָרֶץ לָאוֹצָרוֹת. וְהָיוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים מַלְעִיגִין וְאוֹמְרִים: עַכְשָׁו הַתּוֹלָעִים אוֹכְלִים אֶת אוֹצְרוֹת יוֹסֵף! וְלֹא שָׁלְטָה בָּהֶם רִמָּה וְלֹא חָסְרוּ עַד יוֹם מוֹתוֹ. וְכִלְכֵּל אֶת הָאָרֶץ בְּרַעֲבוֹן לֶחֶם, לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ כַּלְכֹּל. וְעוֹד שֶׁכִּלְכֵּל אֶת אָבִיו לֶחֶם שֹׂבַע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְכַלְכֵּל יוֹסֵף״.

Rabbi Tanchum said: Joseph commanded and they built the treasure-houses in each city, and he gathered all the produce of the lands into the treasure-houses. The Egyptians were scoffing at him, saying: Now the worms will eat the stores of Joseph. But no worm had any power over them; neither did the (stores) diminish until the day of his death. And he supported the land in the famine of bread, therefore was his name called Kalkol. And Kalkol is Joseph, as it is said, "And Joseph nourished" (Gen. 47:12). Moreover, he nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's house, in the famine with bread to their satisfaction. "And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families" (ibid.) ||

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: בִּשְׁעַת אֲסִיפָתוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב קָרָא לְיוֹסֵף בְּנוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ, בְּנִי יוֹסֵף, הִשָּׁבְעָה לִי בִּבְרִית מִילָה שֶׁאַתָּה מַעֲלֶה אוֹתִי לִקְבּוֹר עִם אֲבוֹתַי לְאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לִמְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה. מִתְּחִלָּה הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הָיוּ נִשְׁבָּעִין בִּבְרִית מִילָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִתְּנָה הַתּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שִׂים נָא יָדְךָ תַּחַת יְרֵכִי״. וְנִשְׁבַּע לוֹ וְשָׁמַר וְעָשָׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָבִי הִשְׁבִּיעַנִי לֵאמֹר״ וְכוּ'. וְעָלוּ עִמּוֹ כָּל גִּבּוֹרֵי מַלְכוּת לְקָבְרוֹ לִגְמֹל חֶסֶד עִם אָבִינוּ יַעֲקֹב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּעַל יוֹסֵף לִקְבֹּר אֶת אָבִיו. וַיַּעֲלוּ עִמּוֹ כָּל עַבְדֵי פַרְעֹה זִקְנֵי בֵיתוֹ וְכֹל זִקְנֵי אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם״. נִמְצָא מַחֲנֶה שֶׁל יוֹסֵף. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אַתֶּם עוֹשִׂים חֶסֶד עִם יַעֲקֹב, אַף אֲנִי נוֹתֵן לָכֶם שְׂכַרְכֶם וְלִבְנֵיכֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וּכְשֶׁמֵּתוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים בְּיַם סוּף לֹא נִשְׁאֲרוּ בַמַּיִם אֶלָּא זָכוּ לִיקָּבֵר בָּאָרֶץ, וְאָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אַתֶּם צִדַּקְתֶּם עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת הַדִּין, אַף אֲנִי אֶתֵּן לָכֶם מָקוֹם לִקְבוּרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נָטִיתָ יְמִינְךָ תִּבְלָעֵמוֹ אָרֶץ״.

Rabbi Eliezer said: In the hour of the death of Jacob he called to his son Joseph, and said to him: O my son! Swear to me by the covenant of circumcision that thou wilt take me up to the burial-place of my fathers in the land of Canaan to the Cave of Machpelah. The ancients used to swear by the covenant of circumcision prior to the giving of the Torah, as it is said, "Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh" (Gen. 47:29), and "he sware unto him" (Gen. 47:31). He kept (the oath) and did (accordingly), as it is said, "And he said, Swear unto me" (ibid.). And all the mighty men of the kingdom went up with him to bury him, and to show loving-kindness to Jacob his father, as it is said, "And Joseph went up to bury his father" (Gen. 50:7). The camp of Israel numbered 5040 (people). All the (people of the) land were bringing food on account of the famine to the camp of Joseph. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Ye have shown loving-kindness to Jacob, My servant, I also will give you your reward, and also unto your children in this world. When the Egyptians died in the Reed Sea they did not die in the water, but they were deemed worthy to be buried in the earth. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Ye have submitted yourselves to the divine punishment; I also will give you a place of burial, as it is said, "Thou stretchedst forth thy right hand, the earth swallowed them" (Ex. 15:12).

וּכְשֶׁבָּאוּ לִמְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה, בָּא עֲלֵיהֶם עֵשָׂו מֵהַר חוֹרֵב לְחַרְחֵר רִיב, וְאָמַר: שֶׁלִּי הוּא מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה! מָה עָשָׂה יוֹסֵף? שָׁלַח לִכְבֹּשׁ בַּמַּזָּלוֹת וְלֵירֵד לְמִצְרַיִם, וְלַעֲלוֹת כְּתַב עוֹלָם שֶׁהָיָה בֵּינָם. לְכָךְ הָלַךְ נַפְתָּלִי שֶׁהוּא אַיָּלָה שְׁלוּחָה. חוּשִׁים בֶּן דָּן הָיָה פָּגוּם בְּאָזְנוֹ וּבִלְשׁוֹנוֹ, אָמַר לָהֶם: מִפְּנֵי מָה אֲנַחְנוּ יוֹשְׁבִין כָּאן? הֶרְאָהוּ בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ. אָמַר לוֹ: בִּשְׁבִיל הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַנִּיחַ אוֹתָנוּ לִקְבּוֹר אֶת יַעֲקֹב. שָׁלַף אֶת חַרְבּוֹ וְהִתִּיז אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל עֵשָׂו, וְנִכְנַס הָרֹאשׁ לְתוֹךְ מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה, וְאֶת גְּוִיָּתוֹ שָׁלַח לְאֶרֶץ אֲחֻזָּתוֹ בְּהַר שֵׂעִיר.

When they came to the Cave of Machpelah, Esau came against them || from Mount Horeb to stir up strife, saying: The Cave of Machpelah is mine. What did Joseph do? He sent Naphtali to subdue the constellations, and to go down to Egypt to bring up the perpetual deed which was between them, therefore it is said, "Naphtali is a hind let loose" (Gen. 49:21). Chushim, the son of Dan, had defective hearing and speech, and he said to them: Why are we sitting here? He was pointing (to Esau) with his finger. They said to him: Because this man will not let us bury our father Jacob. What did he do? He drew his sword and cut off Esau's head with the sword, and took the head into the Cave of Machpelah. And they sent his body to the land of his possession, to Mount Seir.

מָה עָשָׂה יִצְחָק? אָחַז בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל עֵשָׂו וְהָיָה מִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, ״יֻחַן רָשָׁע בַּל לָמַד צֶדֶק״ (ישעיהו כו, י). יֻחַן רָשָׁע זֶה שֶׁלֹּא לָמַד כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״בַּל לָמַד צֶדֶק״. וְעַל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה בְּעָוֶל הוּא מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״בְּאֶרֶץ נְכֹחוֹת יְעַוֵּל״.

What did Isaac do? He grasped the head of Esau and prayed before the Holy One, blessed be He, and said: Sovereign of all the universe ! Let mercy be shown to this wicked one, for he had not learnt all the precepts of the Torah, as it is said, "Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness" (Isa. 26:10). He was speaking in iniquity concerning the land of Israel and the Cave of Machpelah, as it is said, "In the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully" (ibid.).

הֱשִׁיבָתוֹ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְאוֹמֶרֶת: ״חַי אָנִי, לֹא יִרְאֶה גֵּאוּת ה'!״ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבַל יִרְאֶה גֵּאוּת ה'״.

The Holy Spirit answered him, saying: As I live! he shall not see the majesty of God.