1) Ch. 25, v. 21: "Vatahar Rivkoh ishto" – And Rivkoh his wife conceived – Earlier in this verse we have "l'nichach ishto" without Rivkoh's name mentioned, as it is obvious. If so, why is her name mentioned here?
2) Ch. 25, v. 24: "V'hi'nei somim b'vitnoh" – And behold twins in her uterus – "Hi'nei" is used where there is a surprise. Rivkoh was already advised that she was carrying twins, so what was the surprise?
3) Ch. 25, v. 26: "Vayikra shmo Yaakov" – Rashi offers two opinions, either that his father Yitzchok gave him this name, or that Hashem gave him this name. Rabbeinu Chaim ben Paltiel says that we can only accept the opinion that Hashem gave Yaakov his name, as we find in 27:36, "Va'yomer hachi KORO shmo Yaakov……" Eisov says to his father, "Has HE not called him Yaakov because he has tricked me twice." If Yitzchok gave Yaakov his name, Eisov would surely have said, "Hachi KOROSO shmo Yaakov," – haven't YOU called him Yaakov. This seems like a daunting question, especially with Rashi's keeping with the straightforward explanation of the verses (see Rashi Breishis 3:8).
4) Ch. 25, v. 33: "Hishovoh li" – Swear to me – Why didn't this transaction take place without an oath?
5) Ch. 26, v. 1: "Milvad horo'ov horishon asher hoyoh bi'mei Avrohom" – Besides the first famine that took place in the days of Avrohom – It is now eighty years after the famine that took place in Avrohom's days. If so, what need is there to tell us that this was not one and the same as the earlier one?
Important Numbers
