1) Ch. 25, v. 21: "Vatahar Rivkoh ishto" – And his wife Rivkoh conceived – The word "ishto" seems to be superfluous.
2) Ch. 25, v. 26: "Vayikra shmo Yaakov" – And he called his name 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).
3) 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?
4) Ch. 26, v. 7: "Va'yomer achosi hee ki yo’rei leimore ishti pen yaharguni" – And he said she is my sister because he was afraid to say my wife lest they kill me – There seems to be an inconsistency in the syntax of this phrase. The verse narrates that Yitzchok, 3rd person, said, "va'yomer." Then it quotes Yitzchok's actual words, "achosi hee." Since after this, the verse again narrates his thinking, that he was afraid to say ……, and is not quoting his words any more, it should have said "pen yaharguHU".
5) Ch. 26, v. 33: "Al kein shem ho'ir B'eir Sheva" – Therefore the name of the city is B’eir Sheva – In 21:31 by the incident of Avrohom and Avimelech we find, "Al kein koro lamokome hahu B'eir Shova," so it seems that it already had this name. For the answers, click here
Important Numbers
