Maaser, taking a tithe of our produce year-by-year, is a mitzvah which is not only an obligation, but its accompanying reward provides incredible bounty for the one who observes it. Chazal teach aseir ti’aseir, aseir bishvil she’tishasher; “Tithe so that you will become wealthy.” The reward for sharing our bounty with others is that our own general economic situation will be positively enhanced. Yalkut Shimoni (Re’eh 893) makes a striking comment. “If you merit (and properly tithe your produce), the result will be that you will go out to your field in tranquility. If you do not give maaser, however, the result will be that the ‘one who goes out to the field’ will be incited against you. Who is this? Eisav, who was ish ha’sadeh, a man of the field.” Chazal are teaching that the nation of Eisav’s descendants will be provoked to combat us, if we do not fulfill our maaser obligations. What does Eisav have to do with our maaser requisite? Zera Shimshon suggests that Eisav did show a propensity for the mitzvah of maaser, as indicated by his questioning his father, “How do we take maaser from salt? How do we take from straw?” Thus, since Eisav was so scrupulous in observing the mitzvah of maaser, he is greatly troubled and ostensibly provoked by our lack of observance of this mitzvah.
Zera Shimshon wonders why Eisav chose to deceive his father specifically with the mitzvah of maaser. He explains that our right to Eretz Yisrael is connected to the mitzvah of giving maaser.
The greatest gift Hashem bestowed upon Avraham Avinu and his descendants was Eretz Yisrael. At the time that Hashem informed Avraham of the gift, the Holy Land was inhabited by the Lavanim. Hashem ensured Avraham that there would occur a “transfer” of ownership. Now, the Canaanim would complain, accusing us of stealing their land. Thus, Rashi begins his commentary on the Torah by stating that Hashem created the world, including Eretz Yisrael, which He gave to His chosen people. Hashem commanded us to give maaser, which is a form of tax and indicates our conviction that the Land belongs to Hashem, Who gave it to whom He felt was worthy.
The Torah subtly alludes to Yaakov in terms of maasros when Yitzchak Avinu blessed him with ownership of Eretz Yisrael. Eisav was given Italia and Greece for his descendants to call home. Having said this, we understand the need for Klal Yisrael to give maaser. Otherwise, we are thieves. Eisav is called the ish ha’sadeh, man of the field, because of his unscrupulous ways. He had no problem stealing when he could not take something legally. When Yitzchak sent him out to capture an animal in preparation for the bestowal of the blessings, Eisav went to the field. Chazal teach that his intentions were clear: If he were to find an ownerless animal, he would use it. Otherwise, he would steal an animal. This is why he focused his halachic questions on the area of maaser. He wanted to show his father that he was scrupulous in observing the laws of maaser. We must be circumspect in our integrity and pay our “dues” appropriately. Otherwise, Eisav, who forfeited the blessing because of his thievery, would have justification to be incited against the Jewish People.
