Yaakov's Purchase of Ma'aras Hamachpelah: Esav's Price Gouging as Revenge

Rabbi Zweig analyzes a Midrash on Parshas Vayechi that sheds light on Yaakov's purchase of burial rights in Ma'aras Hamachpelah from Esav. The Midrash describes how Esav initially claimed he had no interest in being buried there—"What do I need burial for? Give me money and take the burial place." Yet despite Esav's professed indifference, he extracted an enormous price from Yaakov. The shiur asks: if Esav truly didn't want the burial rights, why did he demand such an exorbitant sum? Wouldn't a savvy negotiator have pretended to want it in order to justify a high price? The answer lies in understanding that this was not merely a business transaction but an act of revenge. Esav was retaliating for the sale of the birthright (bechorah). When Yaakov purchased the birthright, Esav had said "lamah zeh li bechorah"—what do I need the birthright for?—and because of his apparent indifference, Yaakov paid far less than what the birthright was objectively worth. Now, at Ma'aras Hamachpelah, Esav reverses the dynamic. He again claims indifference—"I don't need burial"—but this time, instead of accepting a low price based on his lack of interest, he forces Yaakov to pay based on Yaakov's intense desire for it. This is payback: "You took advantage of my indifference then; now I'll make you pay what it's worth to you, not to me."