Bereshis 25:32

32 And Esav said, Hinei, I am at the point of death; and what profit shall this bechorah do to me?

Bereshis 25:32 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 25:32

And Esau said, behold, I [am] at the point to die
Or, "going to die" ^F25, going the way of all flesh; which he might say on account of the common frailty and mortality of man, and the brevity of life at most, or by reason of the danger of life he was always exposed to in hunting of wild beasts, as Aben Ezra suggests; or rather, because of his present hunger and faintness, which, unless immediately relieved, must issue in death. Dr. Lightfoot ^F26 thinks it was now the time of the famine spoken of in the following chapter, ( Genesis 26:1 ) : and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
a dying man, or when dead? In such a case, all the privileges of it in course would devolve on Jacob; and as for the promises of the Messiah, and of the land of Canaan, made to Abraham and his seed, these seemed to be at a great distance, and if he lived ever so long might never enjoy them; and therefore judged it most advisable to consult his present interest, and have something in hand, than to trust to futurity; and, by thus saying, he signified an entire willingness to part with his birthright on the terms proposed.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (twml Klwh) "vadens ad moriendum", Montanus.
F26 Works, vol. 1. p. 15, 696.

Bereshis 25:32 In-Context

30 And Esav said to Ya’akov, Let me eat now some of the adom (red stew); for I am famished; therefore was shmo called Edom.

31 And Ya’akov said, First sell me today thy bechorah (birthright, right of the firstborn).

32 And Esav said, Hinei, I am at the point of death; and what profit shall this bechorah do to me?

33 And Ya’akov said, Swear to me this day; and he swore unto him; and he sold his bechorah unto Ya’akov.

34 Then Ya’akov gave Esav lechem and adashim (lentils) stew; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way; thus Esav despised his bechorah.