Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 35

12I will give you the land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac, and I will give the land to your descendants after you.”   יבוְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֛תִּי לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם וּלְיִצְחָ֖ק לְךָ֣ אֶתְּנֶ֑נָּה וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֥ אַֽחֲרֶ֖יךָ אֶתֵּ֥ן אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ:
13God ascended from above him, at the place where He had spoken with him.   יגוַיַּ֥עַל מֵֽעָלָ֖יו אֱלֹהִ֑ים בַּמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ:
בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ - At the place where He had spoken with him. I do not know what this teaches us.   בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ.  אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה מְּלַמְּדֵנוּ:
14Jacob erected a monument at the place where God spoke with him, a monument of stone. He poured a wine-libation upon it, and also poured oil upon it.   ידוַיַּצֵּ֨ב יַֽעֲקֹ֜ב מַצֵּבָ֗ה בַּמָּק֛וֹם אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ מַצֶּ֣בֶת אָ֑בֶן וַיַּסֵּ֤ךְ עָלֶ֨יהָ֙ נֶ֔סֶךְ וַיִּצֹ֥ק עָלֶ֖יהָ שָֽׁמֶן:
15Jacob again named the place where God had spoken with him Bethel [“the House of God”].   טווַיִּקְרָ֨א יַֽעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבֶּ֨ר אִתּ֥וֹ שָׁ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בֵּֽית־אֵֽל:
16Jacob and his company journeyed onward from Bethel toward Hebron, and when there was still some distance to Efrat, Rachel went into labor and had difficulty giving birth.   טזוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית אֵ֔ל וַֽיְהִי־ע֥וֹד כִּבְרַת־הָאָ֖רֶץ לָב֣וֹא אֶפְרָ֑תָה וַתֵּ֥לֶד רָחֵ֖ל וַתְּקַ֥שׁ בְּלִדְתָּֽהּ:
כִּבְרַת־הָאָרֶץ - Menachem ben Saruk explains the word כִּבְרַת in the sense of כַּבִּיר “much” – i.e., a great distance. And the aggadic explanation is: It was at the time of year when the ground is full of holes and riddled like a sieve (כְּבָרָה), i.e., when there is plenty of plowed ground, when winter has passed but the dry season has not yet come. But this is not the plain sense of the verse, for we find in connection with Na’aman: “he went away from him כִּבְרַת אָרֶץ,” 1 which cannot have this meaning. Rather, I am of the opinion that it is a name for a measure of land approximately the distance of a parsah (8000 cubits) or more, as you find similar types of expression referring to measures of land: “the distance worked by a pair of cattle (צֶמֶד) in a vineyard”; 2 and “the parcel (חֶלְקַת) of land”; 3 so too for a distance a person walks, it is described with the name of a measure: כִּבְרַת אָרֶץ.   כִּבְרַת־הָאָרֶץ.  מְנַחֵם פֵּרֵשׁ לְשׁוֹן כַּבִּיר, רִבּוּי, מַהֲלָךְ רַב. וְאַגָּדָה, בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָאָרֶץ חֲלוּלָה וּמְנֻקֶּבֶת כִּכְבָרָה (בראשית רבה), שֶׁהַנִּיר מָצוּי, הַסְּתָו עָבַר וְהַשָּׁרָב עֲדַיִן לֹא בָא (שם ז), וְאֵין זֶה פְּשׁוּטוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא, שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּנַעֲמָן מָצִינוּ וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאִתּוֹ כִּבְרַת אָרֶץ (מלכים ב ה'). וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי שֶׁהוּא שֵׁם מִדַּת קַרְקַע, כְּמוֹ מַהֲלַךְ פַּרְסָה אוֹ יוֹתֵר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאַתָּה אוֹמֵר צֶמֶד כֶּרֶם (ישעיהו ה'), חֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה (בראשית ל"ג), כָּךְ בְּמַהֲלַךְ אָדָם נוֹתֵן שֵׁם מִדָּה כִּבְרַת אֶרֶץ:
17When her labor became severe, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for besides Joseph, this one, too, is a son for you.”   יזוַיְהִ֥י בְהַקְשֹׁתָ֖הּ בְּלִדְתָּ֑הּ וַתֹּ֨אמֶר לָ֤הּ הַֽמְיַלֶּ֨דֶת֙ אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּֽי־גַם־זֶ֥ה לָ֖ךְ בֵּֽן:
כִּֽי־גַם־זֶה - For this one, too - i.e., in addition to Joseph. However, our rabbis explained that with the birth of each tribe a twin sister was born, but with Benjamin an additional twin sister was born.   כִּֽי־גַם־זֶה.  נוֹסַף לְךָ עַל יוֹסֵף; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָּרְשׁוּ: עִם כָּל שֵׁבֶט נוֹלְדָה תְּאוֹמָה, וְעִם בִּנְיָמִין נוֹלְדָה תְאוֹמָה יְתֵרָה:
18As she breathed her last, for she was dying, she named her newborn son Ben-Oni [“son of my sorrow”], but Jacob, his father, called him Benjamin [Binyamin, “son of the south”].   יחוַיְהִ֞י בְּצֵ֤את נַפְשָׁהּ֙ כִּ֣י מֵ֔תָה וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ בֶּן־אוֹנִ֑י וְאָבִ֖יו קָֽרָא־ל֥וֹ בִנְיָמִֽין:
בֶּן־אוֹנִי - Ben-Oni - means “the son of my pain.”   בֶּן־אוֹנִי.  בֶּן צַעֲרִי:
בִנְיָמִֽין - Benjamin. I am of the opinion that he was so called because he alone was born in Canaan, which is to the south when a person comes from Aram Naharayim, as it says: “in the south of Canaan,” 4 and “moving steadily toward the south.” 5   בִנְיָמִֽין.  נִרְאֶה בְעֵינַי, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא לְבַדּוֹ נוֹלַד בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן שֶׁהוּא בַּנֶּגֶב כְּשֶׁאָדָם בָּא מֵאֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּנֶּגֶב בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן (במדבר ל"ג), הָלוֹךְ וְנָסוֹעַ הַנֶּגְבָּה (בראשית י"ב):
בִנְיָמִֽין - Benjamin. The name means “son of (בֶּן) the south (יָמִין),” the word יָמִין having the same meaning as in: “The north and south (יָמִין) You created.” 6 Therefore, it is written here in full with a י after the מ. Another explanation: בִּנְיָמִין means “the son of days (יָמִים),” because he was born during Jacob’s old age. It is written here with a ן instead of the more usual ם, as we find: “at the end of days (הַיָּמִין).” 7   בִנְיָמִֽין.  בֶּן יָמִין, לְשׁוֹן צָפוֹן וְיָמִין אַתָּה בְרָאתָם (תהילים פ"ט), לְפִיכָךְ הוּא מָלֵא: (דָבָר אַחֵר: בִּנְיָמִין, בֶּן יָמִים, שֶׁנוֹלַד לְעֵת זִקְנָתוֹ, וְנִכְתֵּב בְּנוּ"ן, כּמוֹ: "לְקֵץ הַיָמִין" (דניאל יב):)
19Rachel died, and she was buried on the road leading to Efrat, which is also known as Bethlehem.   יטוַתָּ֖מָת רָחֵ֑ל וַתִּקָּבֵר֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֶפְרָ֔תָה הִ֖וא בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם:
20Jacob erected a tombstone on her grave; this is the tombstone that has remained on Rachel’s grave to this very day.   כוַיַּצֵּ֧ב יַֽעֲקֹ֛ב מַצֵּבָ֖ה עַל־קְבֻֽרָתָ֑הּ הִ֛וא מַצֶּ֥בֶת קְבֻֽרַת־רָחֵ֖ל עַד־הַיּֽוֹם:
21Israel traveled on; he pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder.   כאוַיִּסַּ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֣ט אָֽהֳלֹ֔ה מֵהָ֖לְאָה לְמִגְדַּל־עֵֽדֶר:
22While Israel resided in that region, Reuben went and moved his father’s bed from Bilhah’s tent to Leah’s. This severe breach of filial respect was as unconscionable as if he had had relations with Bilhah, his father’s concubine. Israel heard about it. Now that Benjamin had been born, the sons of Jacob were 12 in number.   כבוַיְהִ֗י בִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֔וא וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ רְאוּבֵ֔ן וַיִּשְׁכַּ֕ב֙ אֶת־בִּלְהָ֖ה֙ פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ אָבִ֑֔יו וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵֽ֑ל פ וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ בְנֵי־יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר:
בִּשְׁכֹּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּאָרֶץ ההיא - While Israel resided in that region - before he came to Isaac in Hebron, all these troubles befell him.   בִּשְׁכֹּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּאָרֶץ ההיא.  עַד שֶׁלֹּא בָא לְחֶבְרוֹן אֵצֶל יִצְחָק אֵרְעוּהוּ כָל אֵלֶּה:
וַיִּשְׁכַּב - And had relations. Because he disarranged the location of Jacob’s bed, the verse considers it as if he had lain with Bilhah. And why did he disarrange and profane his father’s couch? For when Rachel died, Jacob took his bed, which was usually kept in Rachel’s tent and not in the other tents, and put it in Bilhah’s tent. Reuben then came to object to this insult to his mother; he said, “Although my mother’s sister was my mother’s rival wife, is it proper that my mother’s sister’s bondwoman be her rival wife?” Therefore, he disarranged his father’s bed and moved it to his mother’s tent.   וַיִּשְׁכַּב.  מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁבִּלְבֵּל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ, מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ שְׁכָבָהּ; וְלָמָּה בִלְבֵּל וְחִלֵּל יְצוּעָיו? שֶׁכְּשֶׁמֵּתָה רָחֵל נָטַל יַעֲקֹב מִטָּתוֹ, שֶׁהָיְתָה נְתוּנָה תָּדִיר בְּאֹהֶל רָחֵל וְלֹא בִּשְׁאָר אֹהָלִים, וּנְתָנָהּ בְּאֹהֶל בִּלְהָה; בָּא רְאוּבֵן וְתָבַע עֶלְבּוֹן אִמּוֹ, אָמַר אִם אֲחוֹת אִמִּי הָיְתָה צָרָה לְאִמִּי, שִׁפְחַת אֲחוֹת אִמִּי תְּהֵא צָרָה לְאִמִּי? לְכָךְ בִּלְבֵּל (שבת נ"ה):
וַיִּֽהְיוּ בְנֵי־יַֽעֲקֹב שְׁנֵים עָשָֽׂר - The sons of Jacob were 12. It starts again with the previous subject: Once Benjamin was born, Jacob’s bed (i.e., family) became complete and his sons were now able to be counted, so Scripture counts them. And our rabbis explained: This count comes to teach us that they were all equal and all righteous, because Reuben did not really sin in the plain sense of the offense described.   וַיִּֽהְיוּ בְנֵי־יַֽעֲקֹב שְׁנֵים עָשָֽׂר.  מַתְחִיל לְעִנְיָן רִאשׁוֹן, מִשֶּׁנּוֹלַד בִּנְיָמִין נִשְׁלְמָה הַמִּטָּה וּמֵעַתָּה רְאוּיִים לְהִמָּנוֹת, וּמְנָאָן; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָּרְשׁוּ, לְלַמְּדֵנוּ בָא, שֶׁכֻּלָּן שָׁוִין וְכֻלָּן צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁלֹּא חָטָא רְאוּבֵן:
23The sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn; Simeon; Levi; Judah; Issachar; and Zebulun.   כגבְּנֵ֣י לֵאָ֔ה בְּכ֥וֹר יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב רְאוּבֵ֑ן וְשִׁמְעוֹן֙ וְלֵוִ֣י וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר וּזְבֻלֽוּן:
בְּכוֹר יַֽעֲקֹב - Jacob’s firstborn. Even at the time of his disgrace, Scripture called him the firstborn.   בְּכוֹר יַֽעֲקֹב.  אֲפִלּוּ בִּשְׁעַת הַקַּלְקָלָה קְרָאוֹ בְּכוֹר:
בְּכוֹר יַֽעֲקֹב - Jacob’s firstborn. The firstborn for inheritance, the firstborn for the Divine service, and the firstborn in enumerating the tribes. The birthright was given to Joseph only with regard to the number of tribes, in that he became two tribes.   בְּכוֹר יַֽעֲקֹב.  בְּכוֹר לַנַּחֲלָה, בְּכוֹר לָעֲבוֹדָה, בְּכוֹר לְמִנְיָן, וְלֹא נִתְּנָה בְכוֹרָה לְיוֹסֵף אֶלָּא לְעִנְיַן הַשְּׁבָטִים – שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה לִשְׁנֵי שְׁבָטִים:
24The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.   כדבְּנֵ֣י רָחֵ֔ל יוֹסֵ֖ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן:
25The sons of Rachel’s bondwoman Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.   כהוּבְנֵ֤י בִלְהָה֙ שִׁפְחַ֣ת רָחֵ֔ל דָּ֖ן וְנַפְתָּלִֽי:
26The sons of Leah’s bondwoman Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.   כווּבְנֵ֥י זִלְפָּ֛ה שִׁפְחַ֥ת לֵאָ֖ה גָּ֣ד וְאָשֵׁ֑ר אֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻלַּד־ל֖וֹ בְּפַדַּ֥ן אֲרָֽם:
27Jacob came to his father Isaac in Kiryat Arba in the plain of Mamre; this city is also known as Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.   כזוַיָּבֹ֤א יַֽעֲקֹב֙ אֶל־יִצְחָ֣ק אָבִ֔יו מַמְרֵ֖א קִרְיַ֣ת הָֽאַרְבַּ֑ע הִ֣וא חֶבְר֔וֹן אֲשֶׁר־גָּֽר־שָׁ֥ם אַבְרָהָ֖ם וְיִצְחָֽק:
מַמְרֵא - Mamre. This is the name of the plain.   מַמְרֵא.  שֵׁם הַמִּישׁוֹר:
קִרְיַת הָֽאַרְבַּע - Kiryat Arba. This is the name of the city. thus means “to Mamre, the plain of Kiryat Arba.” If you ask that it should have written: מַמְרֵא הַקִּרְיַת אַרְבַּע, I answer: so is the rule in Scripture with every name that consists of a double word, such as this case and such as בֵּית לֶחֶם, אֲבִי עֶזֶר, בֵּית אֵל – wherever a ה is prefixed, it is placed before the second word, as we find in: בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי “of Bethlehem”; 8 “In the town of Ofrah of Avi’ezer’s family (אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִי)”; 9 and “Chi’el of Bethel (בֵּית הָאֱלִי) built.” 10   קִרְיַת הָֽאַרְבַּע.  שֵׁם הָעִיר מַמְרֵא קִרְיַת הָֽאַרְבַּע אֶל מִישׁוֹר שֶׁל קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע. וְאִם תֹּאמַר הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתּוֹב מַמְרֵא הַקִּרְיַת אַרְבַּע? כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּקְרָא בְּכָל דָּבָר שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ כָּפוּל, כְּגוֹן זֶה, וּכְגוֹן בֵּית לֶחֶם, אֲבִי עֶזֶר, בֵּית אֵל, אִם הֻצְרַךְ לְהַטִּיל בּוֹ הֵ"א, נוֹתְנָהּ בְּרֹאשׁ הַתֵּבָה הַשְּׁנִיָּה – בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי (שמואל א ט"ז), בְּעָפְרָת אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִי (שופטים ו'), בָּנָה חִיאֵל בֵּית הָאֱלִי (מלכים א ט"ז):
28Isaac lived to be 180 years old.   כחוַיִּֽהְי֖וּ יְמֵ֣י יִצְחָ֑ק מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֖ה וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה:
29In the year 2228, Isaac expired, died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and with his days fulfilled; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him in the Machpelah Cave in Hebron.   כטוַיִּגְוַ֨ע יִצְחָ֤ק וַיָּ֨מָת֙ וַיֵּאָ֣סֶף אֶל־עַמָּ֔יו זָקֵ֖ן וּשְׂבַ֣ע יָמִ֑ים וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ עֵשָׂ֥ו וְיַֽעֲקֹ֖ב בָּנָֽיו:
וַיִּגְוַע יִצְחָק - Isaac breathed his last. 

The Torah is not necessarily written in chronological order. The sale of Joseph preceded Isaac’s death by 12 years – for when Jacob was born, Isaac was 60 years old, as it says: “Isaac was in his 60th year…,” 11 and Isaac died in the 120th year of Jacob’s life – for if you deduct 60 from 180 years, one is left with 120. And Joseph was sold in his 17th year, and that year was Jacob’s 108th year. How so? He received the blessings in his 63rd year and was hidden for 14 years in the study-house of Ever, making 77 years. He then worked 14 years for his wives, and Joseph was born at the end of those 14 years, as it says: “When Rachel gave birth to Joseph…,” 12 making altogether 91 years. Add 17 years before Joseph was sold and there are 108 years.

This is furthermore evident from Scripture: From the time Joseph was sold until Jacob came to Egypt was 22 years, as it says: “Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh,” 13 this being 13 years after he was sold; and seven years of plenty and two years of famine before Jacob came to Egypt total 22 years; and it is written when Jacob arrived in Egypt and came before Pharaoh: “the years of my sojourning have been 130.” 14 Thus, at the time Joseph was sold, Jacob was 108.

   וַיִּגְוַע יִצְחָק.  אֵין מֻקְדָּם וּמְאֻחָר בַּתּוֹרָה; מְכִירָתוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף קָדְמָה לְמִיתָתוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק י"ב שָׁנָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְּשֶׁנּוֹלַד יַעֲקֹב הָיָה יִצְחָק בֶּן שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְיִצְחָק בֶּן שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה וְגוֹ', וְיִצְחָק מֵת בִּשְׁנַת ק"כ לְיַעֲקֹב – אִם תּוֹצִיא שִׁשִּׁים מִמֵּאָה וּשְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה נִשְׁאֲרוּ ק"כ – וְיוֹסֵף נִמְכַּר בֶּן י"ז שָׁנָה, וְאוֹתָהּ שָׁנָה שְׁנַת מֵאָה וּשְׁמוֹנֶה לְיַעֲקֹב, כֵּיצַד? בֶּן שִׁשִּׁים וְשָׁלוֹשׁ נִתְבָּרֵךְ, אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה נִטְמַן בְּבֵית עֵבֶר, הֲרֵי שִׁבְעִים וְשֶׁבַע, וְאַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה עָבַד בְּאִשָּׁה, וּבְסוֹף אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה נוֹלַד יוֹסֵף, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה רָחֵל אֶת יוֹסֵף וְגוֹ', הֲרֵי תִּשְׁעִים וְאַחַת, וְי"ז עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִמְכַּר יוֹסֵף, הֲרֵי מֵאָה וּשְׁמוֹנֶה (עוֹד מְפֹרָשׁ מִן הַמִּקְרָא מִשֶּׁנִּמְכַּר יוֹסֵף עַד שֶׁבָּא יַעֲקֹב מִצְרַיִמָה כ"ב שָׁנָה שֶׁנֶּ', וְיוֹסֵף בֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וְגוֹ', וְז' שָׁנִים שָׂבָע וּשְׁנָתַיִם רָעָב, הֲרֵי כ"ב, וּכְתִיב יְמֵי שְׁנֵי מְגוּרַי שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה, נִמְצָא יַעֲקֹב בִּמְכִירָתוֹ ק"ח):

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 36

1The following are the descendants of Esau, who was nicknamed Edom.   אוְאֵ֛לֶּה תֹּֽלְד֥וֹת עֵשָׂ֖ו ה֥וּא אֱדֽוֹם:
2Esau took wives from among the daughters of the Canaanites: Adah daughter of Eilon the Hittite; Oholivamah daughter of Anah, the daughter of Tziv’on the Hivite;   בעֵשָׂ֛ו לָקַ֥ח אֶת־נָשָׁ֖יו מִבְּנ֣וֹת כְּנָ֑עַן אֶת־עָדָ֗ה בַּת־אֵילוֹן֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י וְאֶת־אָֽהֳלִֽיבָמָה֙ בַּת־עֲנָ֔ה בַּת־צִבְע֖וֹן הַֽחִוִּֽי:
עָדָה בַּת־אֵילוֹן - Adah daughter of Eilon. She was Basemat daughter of Eilon, 15 and she was nicknamed Basemat (בָּשְׂמַת) because she burned spices (בְּשָׂמִים) as incense to idols.   עָדָה בַּת־אֵילוֹן.  הִיא בָּשְׂמַת בַּת אֵילוֹן, וְנִקְרֵאת בָּשְׂמַת עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהָיְתָה מְקַטֶּרֶת בְּשָׂמִים לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה:
אָֽהֳלִֽיבָמָה - Oholivamah. She was Judith. Esau had nicknamed her Judith to intimate that she renounced idolatry, so as to deceive his father.   אָֽהֳלִֽיבָמָה.  הִיא יְהוּדִית, וְהוּא כִנָּה שְׁמָהּ יְהוּדִית לוֹמַר שֶׁהִיא כּוֹפֶרֶת בְּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְּדֵי לְהַטְעוֹת אֶת אָבִיו:
בַּת־עֲנָה בַּת־צִבְעוֹן - Daughter of Anah, the daughter of Tziv’on. If she was the daughter of Anah, she could not be the daughter of Tziv’on, for Anah was the son of Tziv’on, as it says: “These are the sons of Tziv’on: Ayah and Anah.” 16 However, the verse teaches us that Tziv’on had relations with his daughter-in-law, Anah’s wife, and from them Oholivamah was born. Scripture is thereby informing you that all of them were of illegitimate birth.   בַּת־עֲנָה בַּת־צִבְעוֹן.  אִם בַּת עֲנָה לֹא בַּת צִבְעוֹן? עֲנָה בְּנוֹ שֶׁל צִבְעוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְאֵלֶּה בְנֵי צִבְעוֹן וְאַיָּה וַעֲנָה? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁבָּא צִבְעוֹן עַל כַּלָּתוֹ אֵשֶׁת עֲנָה, וְיָצְאָה אָהֳלִיבָמָה מִבֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם, וְהוֹדִיעֲךָ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁכֻּלָּן בְּנֵי מַמְזֵרוּת הָיוּ:
3and Basemat daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nevayot.   גוְאֶת־בָּשְׂמַ֥ת בַּת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל אֲח֥וֹת נְבָיֽוֹת:
בָּשְׂמַת בַּת־יִשְׁמָעֵאל - Basemat daughter of Ishmael. But elsewhere 17 she is called Machalat! I have found in the aggadic Midrash of the Book of Samuel: 18 Three categories of people are pardoned for their sins: a convert who converts to Judaism, one who is appointed to a high position, and one who marries. The Midrash derives a proof for the last case from here: She was therefore called Machalat (מָחֲלַת), because upon Esau’s marriage to her his sins were pardoned (נִמְחֲלוּ).   בָּשְׂמַת בַּת־יִשְׁמָעֵאל.  וּלְהַלָּן קוֹרֵא לָהּ מָחֲלַת? מָצִינוּ בְּאַגָּדַת מִדְרַשׁ סֵפֶר שְׁמוּאֵל ג' מוֹחֲלִים לָהֶן עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן, גֵּר שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר, וְהָעוֹלֶה לִגְדֻלָּה, וְהַנּוֹשֵׂא אִשָּׁה. וְלָמַד הַטַּעַם מִכָּאן – לְכָךְ נִקְרֵאת מָחֲלַת, שֶׁנִּמְחֲלוּ עֲוֹנוֹתָיו:
אֲחוֹת נְבָיֽוֹת - Sister of Nevayot. Because he gave her in marriage to Esau after Ishmael died, she continued to be referred to by his name even later.   אֲחוֹת נְבָיֽוֹת.  עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהוּא הִשִּׂיאָהּ לוֹ מִשֶּׁמֵּת יִשְׁמָעֵאל נִקְרֵאת עַל שְׁמוֹ:
4Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz; Basemat bore him Re’u’el;   דוַתֵּ֧לֶד עָדָ֛ה לְעֵשָׂ֖ו אֶת־אֱלִיפָ֑ז וּבָ֣שְׂמַ֔ת יָלְדָ֖ה אֶת־רְעוּאֵֽל:
5and Oholivamah bore him Ye’ush, Ya’lam, and Korach. These are Esau’s sons who were born to him in Canaan.   הוְאָֽהֳלִֽיבָמָה֙ יָֽלְדָ֔ה אֶת־יְע֥וּשׁ (כתיב את־יעיש) וְאֶת־יַעְלָ֖ם וְאֶת־קֹ֑רַח אֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י עֵשָׂ֔ו אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻלְּדוּ־ל֖וֹ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:
וְאָֽהֳלִֽיבָמָה יָֽלְדָה וגו' - Oholivamah bore…[Korach]. This Korach was illegitimate and was the son of Eliphaz, who had had relations with his father’s wife, i.e., with Oholivamah, the wife of Esau – the proof being that Korach is enumerated among the chiefs of Eliphaz at the end of this section. 19   וְאָֽהֳלִֽיבָמָה יָֽלְדָה וגו'.  קֹרַח זֶה מַמְזֵר הָיָה, וּבֶן אֱלִיפַז הָיָה, שֶׁבָּא עַל אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו, אֶל אָהֳלִיבָמָה אֵשֶׁת עֵשָׂו, שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא מָנוּי עִם אַלּוּפֵי אֱלִיפַז בְּסוֹף הָעִנְיָן (בראשית רבה):
6Esau took his wives, his sons, and daughters, and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock, including all his cattle, and all his possessions that he had acquired in Canaan. He moved to another region, away from his brother Jacob,   ווַיִּקַּ֣ח עֵשָׂ֡ו אֶת־נָ֠שָׁ֠יו וְאֶת־בָּנָ֣יו וְאֶת־בְּנֹתָיו֘ וְאֶת־כָּל־נַפְשׁ֣וֹת בֵּיתוֹ֒ וְאֶת־מִקְנֵ֣הוּ וְאֶת־כָּל־בְּהֶמְתּ֗וֹ וְאֵת֙ כָּל־קִנְיָנ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָכַ֖שׁ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אֶל־אֶ֔רֶץ מִפְּנֵ֖י יַֽעֲקֹ֥ב אָחִֽיו:
וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־אֶרֶץ - And he went to (lit.) a land - to live wherever he could find a suitable place.   וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־אֶרֶץ.  לָגוּר בַּאֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא:
7for their property was too abundant to enable them to live together, and the land where they lived could not support them both because its pasturage was not sufficient for their livestock.   זכִּֽי־הָיָ֧ה רְכוּשָׁ֛ם רָ֖ב מִשֶּׁ֣בֶת יַחְדָּ֑ו וְלֹ֨א יָֽכְלָ֜ה אֶ֤רֶץ מְגֽוּרֵיהֶם֙ לָשֵׂ֣את אֹתָ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֖י מִקְנֵיהֶֽם:
וְלֹא יָֽכְלָה אֶרֶץ מְגֽוּרֵיהֶם - And the land where they lived could not - provide sufficient pasture for their animals. But the aggadic explanation is: Why did Esau move “away from his brother Jacob” rather than have Jacob leave instead? Because of the “bill of debt” of the decree “that your descendants will be foreigners in a land that is not theirs” 20 that was imposed upon Isaac’s descendants. Esau said, “I shall go away from here. I wish to have no part in this; not in the gift of this land that was given to him, nor in the payment of the ‘bill of debt’ (i.e., the realization of the decree).” And Esau was not concerned his leaving would cause him embarrassment, because he felt shame in any case for having sold his birthright.   וְלֹא יָֽכְלָה אֶרֶץ מְגֽוּרֵיהֶם.  לְהַסְפִּיק מִרְעֶה לַבְּהֵמוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶם (ב"ר). וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה מִפְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב אָחִיו מִפְּנֵי שְׁטַר חוֹב שֶׁל גְּזֵרַת "כִּי גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ" הַמֻּטָּל עַל זַרְעוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק, אָמַר אֵלֵךְ לִי מִכָּאן, אֵין לִי חֵלֶק לֹא בַּמַּתָּנָה, שֶׁנִּתְּנָה לוֹ הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, וְלֹא בְּפִרְעוֹן הַשְּׁטָר, וּמִפְּנֵי הַבּוּשָׁה שֶׁמָּכַר בְּכוֹרָתוֹ:
8Esau settled on Mount Se’ir. Esau is the progenitor of the nation of Edom.   חוַיֵּ֤שֶׁב עֵשָׂו֙ בְּהַ֣ר שֵׂעִ֔יר עֵשָׂ֖ו ה֥וּא אֱדֽוֹם:
9These are the descendants of Esau, the progenitor of the Edomites, who were born on Mount Se’ir:   טוְאֵ֛לֶּה תֹּֽלְד֥וֹת עֵשָׂ֖ו אֲבִ֣י אֱד֑וֹם בְּהַ֖ר שֵׂעִֽיר:
וְאֵלֶּה - These - are the descendants which his sons fathered after he went to Se’ir.   וְאֵלֶּה.  הַתּוֹלָדוֹת שֶׁהוֹלִידוּ בָנָיו עַכְשָׁו מִשֶּׁהָלַךְ לְשֵׂעִיר:
10These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, son of Esau’s wife Adah; Re’u’el, son of Esau’s wife Basemat.   יאֵ֖לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת בְּנֵֽי־עֵשָׂ֑ו אֱלִיפַ֗ז בֶּן־עָדָה֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת עֵשָׂ֔ו רְעוּאֵ֕ל בֶּן־בָּשְׂמַ֖ת אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו:
11The sons of Eliphaz were Teiman, Omar, Tzefo, Ga’tam, and Kenaz.   יאוַיִּֽהְי֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י אֱלִיפָ֑ז תֵּימָ֣ן אוֹמָ֔ר צְפ֥וֹ וְגַעְתָּ֖ם וּקְנַֽז:
12Timna became a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, and thus she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. All these are the descendants of Esau’s wife Adah.   יבוְתִמְנַ֣ע | הָֽיְתָ֣ה פִילֶ֗גֶשׁ לֶֽאֱלִיפַז֙ בֶּן־עֵשָׂ֔ו וַתֵּ֥לֶד לֶאֱלִיפַ֖ז אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֑ק אֵ֕לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י עָדָ֖ה אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו:
וְתִמְנַע הָֽיְתָה פִילֶגֶשׁ - Timna became a concubine. This is written to tell us of Abraham’s greatness, expressed by how much people wanted to attach themselves to his descendants. This Timna was a descendant of chieftains, as it says: “Lotan’s sister was Timna,” 21 and Lotan was one of the chieftains among Se’ir’s inhabitants, of the Horites who lived there previously. She said to Eliphaz, “I am not worthy to be your wife; if only I could be your concubine!” In 1 Chronicles 22 she is counted among the children of Eliphaz. This teaches us that Eliphaz had relations with Se’ir’s wife and Timna was born from them, and when she grew up she became his concubine. That is why it says: “Lotan’s sister was Timna,” yet she is not counted among Se’ir’s children, for she was Lotan’s maternal sister but not his paternal sister.   וְתִמְנַע הָֽיְתָה פִילֶגֶשׁ.  לְהוֹדִיעַ גְּדֻלָּתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם, כַּמָּה הָיוּ תְאֵבִים לִדַּבֵּק בְּזַרְעוֹ. תִּמְנַע זוֹ בַּת אַלּוּפִים הָיְתָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַאֲחוֹת לוֹטָן תִּמְנָע, וְלוֹטָן מֵאַלּוּפֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי שֵׂעִיר הָיָה מִן הַחוֹרִים שֶׁיָּשְׁבוּ בָהּ לְפָנִים, אָמְרָה אֵינִי זוֹכָה לְהִנָּשֵׂא לְךָ, הַלְוַאי וְאֶהְיֶה פִּילֶגֶשׁ. וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים מוֹנֶה אוֹתָהּ בְּבָנָיו שֶׁל אֱלִיפַז, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁבָּא עַל אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל שֵׂעִיר וְיָצְאָה תִּמְנָע מִבֵּינֵיהֶם, וּכְשֶׁגָּדְלָה נַעֲשֵׂית פִּילַגְשׁוֹ, וְזֶהוּ וַאֲחוֹת לוֹטָן תִּמְנָע, וְלֹא מְנָאָהּ עִם בְּנֵי שֵׂעִיר שֶׁהָיְתָה אֲחוֹתוֹ מִן הָאֵם וְלֹא מִן הָאָב:
13These are the sons of Re’u’el: Nachat, Zerach, Shamah, and Mizah; these were the descendants of Esau’s wife Basemat.   יגוְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ בְּנֵ֣י רְעוּאֵ֔ל נַ֥חַת וָזֶ֖רַח שַׁמָּ֣ה וּמִזָּ֑ה אֵ֣לֶּה הָי֔וּ בְּנֵ֥י בָשְׂמַ֖ת אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו:
14These were the sons of Esau’s wife Oholivamah daughter of Anah and daughter of Tziv’on: She bore to Esau Ye’ush, Ya’lam, and Korach.   ידוְאֵ֣לֶּה הָי֗וּ בְּנֵ֨י אָֽהֳלִֽיבָמָ֧ה בַת־עֲנָ֛ה בַּת־צִבְע֖וֹן אֵ֣שֶׁת עֵשָׂ֑ו וַתֵּ֣לֶד לְעֵשָׂ֔ו אֶת־יְע֥וּשׁ (כתיב את־יעיש) וְאֶת־יַעְלָ֖ם וְאֶת־קֹֽרַח:
15These are the tribal chiefs among the children of Esau: The sons of Esau’s firstborn, Eliphaz, were Chief Teiman, Chief Omar, Chief Tzefo, Chief Kenaz,   טואֵ֖לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עֵשָׂ֑ו בְּנֵ֤י אֱלִיפַז֙ בְּכ֣וֹר עֵשָׂ֔ו אַלּ֤וּף תֵּימָן֙ אַלּ֣וּף אוֹמָ֔ר אַלּ֥וּף צְפ֖וֹ אַלּ֥וּף קְנַֽז:
אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי בְנֵֽי־עֵשָׂו - These are the tribal chiefs among the children of Esau - i.e., heads of families.   אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי בְנֵֽי־עֵשָׂו.  רָאשֵׁי מִשְׁפָּחוֹת:
16Chief Korach, Chief Ga’tam, and Chief Amalek. These are the tribal chiefs of Eliphaz in Edom; these are the descendants of Esau’s wife Adah.   טזאַלּ֥וּף קֹ֛רַח אַלּ֥וּף גַּעְתָּ֖ם אַלּ֣וּף עֲמָלֵ֑ק אֵ֣לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֤י אֱלִיפַז֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֔וֹם אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י עָדָֽה:
17And these are the sons of Esau’s son Re’u’el: Chief Nachat, Chief Zerach, Chief Shamah, and Chief Mizah. These are the tribal chiefs of Re’u’el in Edom; these are the descendants of Esau’s wife Basemat.   יזוְאֵ֗לֶּה בְּנֵ֤י רְעוּאֵל֙ בֶּן־עֵשָׂ֔ו אַלּ֥וּף נַ֨חַת֙ אַלּ֣וּף זֶ֔רַח אַלּ֥וּף שַׁמָּ֖ה אַלּ֣וּף מִזָּ֑ה אֵ֣לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֤י רְעוּאֵל֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֔וֹם אֵ֕לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י בָֽשְׂמַ֖ת אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו:
18And these are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholivamah: Chief Ye’ush, Chief Ya’lam, Chief Korach. These are the tribal chiefs who were born from Esau’s wife Oholivamah, daughter of Anah.   יחוְאֵ֗לֶּה בְּנֵ֤י אָֽהֳלִֽיבָמָה֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת עֵשָׂ֔ו אַלּ֥וּף יְע֛וּשׁ אַלּ֥וּף יַעְלָ֖ם אַלּ֣וּף קֹ֑רַח אֵ֣לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֞י אָֽהֳלִֽיבָמָ֛ה בַּת־עֲנָ֖ה אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו:
19All these are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their tribal chiefs.   יטאֵ֧לֶּה בְנֵֽי־עֵשָׂ֛ו וְאֵ֥לֶּה אַלּֽוּפֵיהֶ֖ם ה֥וּא אֱדֽוֹם: