Toledot

Yitzchak was 40 years old when he married Rivkah. Rivkah gave birth to twins, Esau and Yaakov. Yitzchak favored Esau and Rivkah favored Yaakov. Esau sold his birthright to Yaakov in exchange for lentil stew.

During a famine, Yitzchak and Rivkah went to Gerar, in the land of Abimelech, king of the Philistines. When any of the men asked about Rivkah, Yitzchak said she was his sister. But when Abimelech saw Yitzchak fondling Rivkah, he asked he why he did that. Yitzchak explained that he was fearful of his life. Abimelech then sent out the command to his people that anyone who touches Yitzchak or Rivkah would be put to death.

Yitzchak grew wealthy in Gerar, and the Philistines envied him, and stopped up all the wells dug in the days of Avraham. Abimelech sent him away. So Yitzchak went to the outskirts of Gerar and redug other wells from Avraham's time. Twice the herdsmen of Gerar disputed their claims to the wells. Finally, a well was dug that was left undisputed. Yitzchak then went to Beersheva, built an altar to God, and his servants began to dig a well. Abimelech came to him there and they swore an oath to each other, a pact of peace.

When Yitzchak was old, his sight failing, he called Esau and asked him to hunt down game and prepare his favorite dish. Yitzchak would then give Esau his blessing before he dies. Rivkah heard this and went to Yaakov. She told him to get two choice kids from the flock and she would prepare the delicacy for his father that Yaakov would then present to Yitzchak. After preparing the dish, Rivkah put Esau's clothes on Yaakov, and covered his hands and other hairless parts with the skins of the kids. Yaakov then went to his father, masquerading as Esau. Yitzchak gave this blessing to Yaakov, thinking he was Esau: "May God give you of the dew of heaven and the fat of the earth, Abundance of new grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, And nations bow to you; Be master over your brothers, And let your mother's sons bow to you. Cursed be they who curse you, Blessed they who bless you."

When Esau came to his father with his dish, Yitzchak realized he had been duped, but what was done was done. When Esau asked his father for a blessing, Yitzchak said he had given the blessing of mastery of all possessions to Yaakov. Esau pleaded with him, and Yitzchak gave him these words, "See, your abode shall enjoy the fat of the earth And the dew of heaven above. Yet by your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; But when you grow restive, You shall break his yoke from your neck."

Esau swore to himself that after Yitzchak dies he will kill Yaakov. This was reported to Rivkah, who told Yaakov to flee to Haran, where her brother Lavan lives. She then told Yitzchak that she did not want Yaakov to marry a Hittite woman, as Esau did. Yitzchak sent for Yaakov and told him to go to Paddanaram, the land of his mother, and take wife from the daughters of Lavan, Rivkah's brother. When Esau realized that his father was displeased with his choice of wives from the Canaanites, he married Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael.l