Sponsored by Mel Halickman in memory of his late mother,
Chaya Sara,
on the occasion of her yahrzeit
After
Yaakov passed away, Yosef went to the
in order to give him a proper burial. He was joined by Pharaoh’s servants, the
elders of his house, the elders of
brothers and his father’s household. Chariots and horsemen were also with him.
In
Parsha Vayechi, Breisheet 50:10-13 we read about Yaakov’s funeral: “They came
to the threshing place of Atad, which is on the other side of the
there they eulogized him and held a great and imposing funeral. Yosef made
seven days of mourning for his father. The Cnaanites who lived in the land saw
the mourning in the threshing place of Atad and they said ‘This is a heavy
mourning for
It was therefore named Evel Mitzrayim (
mourning) which is on the other side of the
commanded them. His sons carried him to the
and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpela, which Avraham purchased
along with the field for possession as a burial place from Ephron the Chhitie,
facing Mamre.”
When
studying Sefer HaAgada, the Talmud, Sotah 13a and Sefer HaYashar we learn what may
have happened behind the scenes during the funeral.
Sefer
HaAgadah 3:111 based on the Talmud, Sotah 13a explains: The sons of Esav,
Yishmael and Keturah came to wage war against the sons of Yaakov. However, when
they saw Yosef’s crown hung upon Yaakov’s coffin, they all took off their
crowns and hung them upon the coffin as well out of respect. When they came to
the
prevent Yaakov’s burial in it saying, “This cave has room for only four couples
(that is why the city is called Kiryat Arba). Since Yaakov buried Leah in his
place, the plot that remains is mine.” Yaakov’s sons replied, “But you sold
your portion to our father.” Esav retorted, “Even if I did sell my claim as
firstborn, did I sell also the original single portion due me as an heir?” They
said, “You sold that also.” Esav said, “Show me the bill of sale.” They said,
“The bill of sale is in
Who will go and bring it from there? Let Naphtali go- he is swift as a hind.”
Hushim,
the son of Dan, who was hard of hearing was standing there. When he asked why
it was taking so long to bury Yaakov, he was told that they were waiting for
Naphtali to return. Hushim asked, “And until Naphtali returns is my grandfather
to lie shamefully unburied?” He seized a club and struck Esav on the head so
hard that his eyes fell out. At that moment, Rivka’s prophecy (Breisheet 27:45)
“Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?” was fulfilled.
How do
we know that Yaakov actually bought his burial place in the cave?
In
Breishhet 50:5 Yosef tells Pharaoh: “My father made me swear an oath saying,
‘Behold I am dying. In my grave that I prepared (kariti) for myself in the
According
to Rashi, Yaakov had taken silver and gold that he brought from Lavan’s house
and made a piled heap of it and said to Esav: “Take this for your share in the
cave.”
Sefer
HaYashar (written in the 13th century, printed in the 16th
century) adds that there was a full war that took place between the children of
Esav and the children of Yaakov in Chevron while Esav was lying dead on the
ground. Eighty of Esav’s descendents were killed. Zepho, Esav’s grandson and
fifty of his men were taken captive. All who remained fled with Eliphaz, Esav’s
son. They carried Esav’s body to
but his head remained buried in Maarat HaMachpela where the battle took place.
Not one of Yaakov’s descendents was killed.
Rabbi
Aharon Kotler (1892-1962) said that although Esav was an evil person, his head
was full of the Torah that he was taught
by his father, Yitzchak and his grandfather, Avraham, therefore his head
merited to be buried in the cave.
If Esav
would have used his head and put his Torah knowledge into practice, imagine how
much he could have accomplished.
The
next time that you visit Maarat HaMachpela in Chevron, be sure to look for the
chamber of the head of Esav, a reminder that a signed contract denotes a final
sale.
