This sheet on Genesis 32 was written by Avidan Freedman for 929 and can also be found here
Jacob's encounter with Esau is not forced upon him; he initiates it, even while knowing the great risk. His message is not an apology, it's even more extreme- a willing relinquishment of the blessing he stole. The sensitive reader will have noted that the difference between the blessing Jacob receives and the one that Esau receives is the issue of dominion. Who will rule? This was the question that defined their relationship from the womb as a zero-sum game of competition.
Jacob sneakily defeated Esau in the battle over the blessings, but now he seems to be handing back the victory. While Isaac had told him "you will be your brothers' master", Jacob repeatedly refers to himself as servant and Esau as master, offering him tribute as proof. While Isaac had promised that "your mother's sons will bow to you", Jacob and his family bow to Esau.
Is Jacob admitting defeat?
Just the opposite. After all, in the win-lose dynamic, any victory is always only temporary- along with the promise to Jacob that he will rule always lurks the promise to Esau, that he will overthrow Jacob's yoke. Every win is the preamble to the next loss. But Jacob has realized that, if he's willing to pay the price, he can redefine the game as win-win. He can prevent Esau from throwing off his yoke if he willingly removes it.
Jacob's mysterious night-long battle is the testing ground for this approach. His victory is gained not by defeating his adversary, but by reaching a deadlock which allows him to demand blessing, and to give it in return. He walks away limping, but victorious, no longer defined as Jacob, perpetually stuck in the struggle to come out on top, but as Yisrael, a prince who defines his own terms of victory.
Jacob sneakily defeated Esau in the battle over the blessings, but now he seems to be handing back the victory. While Isaac had told him "you will be your brothers' master", Jacob repeatedly refers to himself as servant and Esau as master, offering him tribute as proof. While Isaac had promised that "your mother's sons will bow to you", Jacob and his family bow to Esau.
Is Jacob admitting defeat?
Just the opposite. After all, in the win-lose dynamic, any victory is always only temporary- along with the promise to Jacob that he will rule always lurks the promise to Esau, that he will overthrow Jacob's yoke. Every win is the preamble to the next loss. But Jacob has realized that, if he's willing to pay the price, he can redefine the game as win-win. He can prevent Esau from throwing off his yoke if he willingly removes it.
Jacob's mysterious night-long battle is the testing ground for this approach. His victory is gained not by defeating his adversary, but by reaching a deadlock which allows him to demand blessing, and to give it in return. He walks away limping, but victorious, no longer defined as Jacob, perpetually stuck in the struggle to come out on top, but as Yisrael, a prince who defines his own terms of victory.
(ה) וַיְצַ֤ו אֹתָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֣ה תֹאמְר֔וּן לַֽאדֹנִ֖י לְעֵשָׂ֑ו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ עַבְדְּךָ֣ יַעֲקֹ֔ב עִם־לָבָ֣ן גַּ֔רְתִּי וָאֵחַ֖ר עַד־עָֽתָּה׃
(5) and instructed them as follows, “Thus shall you say, ‘To my lord Esau, thus says your servant Jacob: I stayed with Laban and remained until now;
Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school.
929 is the number of chapters in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, the formative text of the Jewish heritage. It is also the name of a cutting-edge project dedicated to creating a global Jewish conversation anchored in the Hebrew Bible. 929 English invites Jews everywhere to read and study Tanakh, one chapter a day, Sunday through Thursday together with a website with creative readings and pluralistic interpretations, including audio and video, by a wide range of writers, artists, rabbis, educators, scholars, students and more. As an outgrowth of the web-based platform, 929 English also offers classes, pop-up lectures, events and across North America. We invite you to learn along with us and be part of our dynamic community.
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
