Feature Tidbit Truth or Consequences The meat and skin of a goat were used in the "deception" of Yitzchak as perpetrated by Rivka and Yaakov. The blood of a goat was used in the deception of Yaakov as perpetrated by the Brothers, following the sale of Yosef. It is such an obvious situation of MIDA K'NEGED MIDA - "punishment in kind", that it demands that weexamine it carefully, ask certain questions, and seek the answers. Rivka Imeinu, the Torah tells us, overheard Yitzchak giving instructions to Eisav, so that Eisav would be able to receive the Bracha from Yitzchak. When Eisav goes off to the field to hunt for his father's special meal, Rivka "commands" Yaakov to pose as Eisav and present to Yitzchak the food that she will prepare. (Apparently,the way she prepared the goat's meat was similar in taste to the dish that Eisav was to make.) Yaakov is a reluctant participant in the plot. He challenges his mother by speculating as to what might happen if Yitzchak were to feel his smooth skin and uncover the deception. The plot thickens when the deception goes beyond the food, and Yaakov dresses in Eisav's special garment and he disguises his arms and neck withrough goat skin to simulate Eisav's feel. Rivka accepts the "potential curse" upon herself, but insists that Yaakov does as she says. Onkeles even goes as far as saying that Rivka's actions were the fulfillment of Prophecy. In other words, it is as if G-d has commanded her to orchestrate the whole plot. According to this approach, we are not seeing a subjective mother whose great love for her son is guiding her to deceive her husbandin order to secure the Bracha for her Yaakov. We are dealing with the Desire of G-d, so to speak. If that's the case, then Yaakov operated on the level of Divine Command, and certainly should not be punished for what he did. But on the other hand, Yitzchak was deceived by Yaakov. That is a terrible thing. It might have been "necessary" under the circumstances, but it is still a terrible thing to do. A person does different things in his life and many of them have consequences that are not pleasant. Sometimes, "ya gotta do what ya gotta do". Treatment of serious diseases often involves unpleasant side-effects. The treatment is necessary. It is life saving. But negative consequences result, nonetheless. Perhaps, Yaakov had to suffer the "Yosef business" because that is the consequence of his act of deception, no matter how necessary or justified, or right, or approved of by G-d. Jumping... Maybe slavery in Egypt is a pre-requisite of Nationhood, and not just a "punishment" for the sale of Yosef. To put it all in a different way, the same Divine Plan that called for the Yaakov-Eisav switch, also called for the consequences thereof. Maybe. [The Toldot Homepage]
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