Vayishlach:Jacob and Esau

(ד) וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֤ב מַלְאָכִים֙ לְפָנָ֔יו אֶל־עֵשָׂ֖ו אָחִ֑יו אַ֥רְצָה שֵׂעִ֖יר שְׂדֵ֥ה אֱדֽוֹם׃ (ה) וַיְצַ֤ו אֹתָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֣ה תֹאמְר֔וּן לַֽאדֹנִ֖י לְעֵשָׂ֑ו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ עַבְדְּךָ֣ יַעֲקֹ֔ב עִם־לָבָ֣ן גַּ֔רְתִּי וָאֵחַ֖ר עַד־עָֽתָּה׃ (ו) וַֽיְהִי־לִי֙ שׁ֣וֹר וַחֲמ֔וֹר צֹ֖אן וְעֶ֣בֶד וְשִׁפְחָ֑ה וָֽאֶשְׁלְחָה֙ לְהַגִּ֣יד לַֽאדֹנִ֔י לִמְצֹא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃ (ז) וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב לֵאמֹ֑ר בָּ֤אנוּ אֶל־אָחִ֙יךָ֙ אֶל־עֵשָׂ֔ו וְגַם֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ לִקְרָֽאתְךָ֔ וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת אִ֖ישׁ עִמּֽוֹ׃ (ח) וַיִּירָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב מְאֹ֖ד וַיֵּ֣צֶר ל֑וֹ וַיַּ֜חַץ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ וְאֶת־הַצֹּ֧אן וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֛ר וְהַגְּמַלִּ֖ים לִשְׁנֵ֥י מַחֲנֽוֹת׃ (ט) וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אִם־יָב֥וֹא עֵשָׂ֛ו אֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶ֥ה הָאַחַ֖ת וְהִכָּ֑הוּ וְהָיָ֛ה הַמַּחֲנֶ֥ה הַנִּשְׁאָ֖ר לִפְלֵיטָֽה׃

Genesis 32:4-9

(4) Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, (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; (6) I have acquired cattle, asses, sheep, and male and female slaves; and I send this message to my lord in the hope of gaining your favor.’” (7) The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau; he himself is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” (8) Jacob was greatly frightened; in his anxiety, he divided the people with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, (9) thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, the other camp may yet escape.”

בראשית רבה ע״ה:ג׳

(ג) וישלח יעקב - ר' הונא פתח: (שם כו): מחזיק באזני כלב עובר מתעבר על ריב לא לו. שמואל בר נחמן אמר: משל לארכי לסטים, שהיה ישן בפרשת דרכים, עבר חד ושרי מעיר ליה. אמר לו: קום לך! דבישא שכיח הכא קם ושרי מקפח ביה. אמר לו: ניער בישא! אמר לו: דמיך הוה, ועוררתניה! כך, אמר לו הקב"ה: לדרכו היה מהלך ואתה משלח אצלו ואומר לו: כה אמר עבדך יעקב?

Bereshit Rabbah 75:3

R. Huna began:"one who passes by and meddles with strife not their own is like one who takes a dog by the ears. (Prov 26:17) Nachman b.Shmuel said "This maybe compared to a robber who was sleeping on a path, one passed by and woke him up saying "get out there is danger here" and he arose and began beating him at which [the victim] cried out "God, rebuke this wicked man". "I was asleep and you woke me up" he replied. Even so did the Holy One Blessed be God say to Jacob "Esau was going his own way, yet you sent to him saying "thus says your servant Jacob"

Why does Jacob send messengers to Esau? Was it to appease his anger? Was it a gesture of peace? Was it to display his power to so as to intimidate him? Does the way that he does it signify he wants to apologise? Is this the beginnings of a diplomatic resolution?

Perché Giacobbe inviare messaggeri a Esaù? Era per placare la sua ira? È stato un gesto di pace? Era per mostrare la sua potenza per in modo da intimidire lui? Il modo in cui egli non significano che egli vuole scusarsi? È questo l'inizio di una risoluzione diplomatica?

בראשית ל״ב:י׳-ט״ו

(י) וַיֹּאמֶר֮ יַעֲקֹב֒ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אָבִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם וֵאלֹהֵ֖י אָבִ֣י יִצְחָ֑ק יְהוָ֞ה הָאֹמֵ֣ר אֵלַ֗י שׁ֧וּב לְאַרְצְךָ֛ וּלְמוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ וְאֵיטִ֥יבָה עִמָּֽךְ׃ (יא) קָטֹ֜נְתִּי מִכֹּ֤ל הַחֲסָדִים֙ וּמִכָּל־הָ֣אֱמֶ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֣י בְמַקְלִ֗י עָבַ֙רְתִּי֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֔ה וְעַתָּ֥ה הָיִ֖יתִי לִשְׁנֵ֥י מַחֲנֽוֹת׃ (יב) הַצִּילֵ֥נִי נָ֛א מִיַּ֥ד אָחִ֖י מִיַּ֣ד עֵשָׂ֑ו כִּֽי־יָרֵ֤א אָנֹכִי֙ אֹת֔וֹ פֶּן־יָב֣וֹא וְהִכַּ֔נִי אֵ֖ם עַל־בָּנִֽים׃ (יג) וְאַתָּ֣ה אָמַ֔רְתָּ הֵיטֵ֥ב אֵיטִ֖יב עִמָּ֑ךְ וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ כְּח֣וֹל הַיָּ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יִסָּפֵ֖ר מֵרֹֽב׃ (יד) וַיָּ֥לֶן שָׁ֖ם בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֑וּא וַיִּקַּ֞ח מִן־הַבָּ֧א בְיָד֛וֹ מִנְחָ֖ה לְעֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִֽיו׃ (טו) עִזִּ֣ים מָאתַ֔יִם וּתְיָשִׁ֖ים עֶשְׂרִ֑ים רְחֵלִ֥ים מָאתַ֖יִם וְאֵילִ֥ים עֶשְׂרִֽים׃

Genesis 32:10-15

(10) Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, ‘Return to your native land and I will deal bountifully with you’! (11) I am unworthy of all the kindness that You have so steadfastly shown Your servant: with my staff alone I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. (12) Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; else, I fear, he may come and strike me down, mothers and children alike. (13) Yet You have said, ‘I will deal bountifully with you and make your offspring as the sands of the sea, which are too numerous to count.’” (14) After spending the night there, he selected from what was at hand these presents for his brother Esau: (15) 15 200 she-goats and 20 he-goats; 200 ewes and 20 rams;

First Jacob divides the group and only then he prays. What do we notice about the prayer? The text tells us he spends the night there - why?

Prima Giacobbe divide il gruppo e solo allora egli prega. Cosa facciamo notare circa la preghiera? Il testo ci dice che egli vi trascorre la notte - perché?

Jacob takes control once more of his destiny. But is he sending gifts to Esau or is he trying to smuggle at least some of his wealth past Esau? What is the purpose of this act?

Giacobbe prende il controllo una volta di più del suo destino. Ma egli è inviare regali a Esaù o sta cercando di contrabbandare almeno alcune delle sue ricchezze passato Esaù? Qual è lo scopo di questo atto?

בראשית ל״ב:י״ז-י״ט

(יז) וַיִּתֵּן֙ בְּיַד־עֲבָדָ֔יו עֵ֥דֶר עֵ֖דֶר לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַ֤יֹּאמֶר אֶל־עֲבָדָיו֙ עִבְר֣וּ לְפָנַ֔י וְרֶ֣וַח תָּשִׂ֔ימוּ בֵּ֥ין עֵ֖דֶר וּבֵ֥ין עֵֽדֶר׃ (יח) וַיְצַ֥ו אֶת־הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן לֵאמֹ֑ר כִּ֣י יִֽפְגָּשְׁךָ֞ עֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֗י וִשְׁאֵֽלְךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְמִי־אַ֙תָּה֙ וְאָ֣נָה תֵלֵ֔ךְ וּלְמִ֖י אֵ֥לֶּה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (יט) וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב מִנְחָ֥ה הִוא֙ שְׁלוּחָ֔ה לַֽאדֹנִ֖י לְעֵשָׂ֑ו וְהִנֵּ֥ה גַם־ה֖וּא אַחֲרֵֽינוּ׃

Genesis 32:17-19

(17) These he put in the charge of his servants, drove by drove, and he told his servants, “Go on ahead, and keep a distance between droves.” (18) He instructed the one in front as follows, “When / If my brother Esau meets you and asks you, ‘Whose man are you? Where are you going? And whose [animals] are these ahead of you?’ (19) you shall answer, ‘Your servant Jacob’s; they are a gift sent to my lord Esau; and [Jacob] himself is right behind us.’”

בראשית ל״ב:כ״א-כ״ג

(כא) וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם גַּ֗ם הִנֵּ֛ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ יַעֲקֹ֖ב אַחֲרֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־אָמַ֞ר אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה פָנָ֗יו בַּמִּנְחָה֙ הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת לְפָנָ֔י וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֙ אֶרְאֶ֣ה פָנָ֔יו אוּלַ֖י יִשָּׂ֥א פָנָֽי׃ (כב) וַתַּעֲבֹ֥ר הַמִּנְחָ֖ה עַל־פָּנָ֑יו וְה֛וּא לָ֥ן בַּלַּֽיְלָה־הַה֖וּא בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (כג) וַיָּ֣קָם ׀ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה ה֗וּא וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֤י נָשָׁיו֙ וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י שִׁפְחֹתָ֔יו וְאֶת־אַחַ֥ד עָשָׂ֖ר יְלָדָ֑יו וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֔ר אֵ֖ת מַעֲבַ֥ר יַבֹּֽק׃

Genesis 32:21-23

(21) And you shall add, ‘And your servant Jacob himself is right behind us.’” For he reasoned, “If I propitiate him with presents in advance, and then face him, perhaps he will show me favor.” (22) And so the gift went on ahead, while he remained in camp that night. (23) That same night he arose, and taking his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven children, he crossed the ford of the Jabbok.

Twice we are told “Jacob is right behind us” Why? Is he coming at all? He spends the night at the ford rather than follow on the groups of “gift bearers”. What is Jacob’s plan at this point?

Due volte ci è stato detto "Giacobbe è proprio dietro di noi" Perché? Egli è venuta a tutti? Trascorre la notte al ford piuttosto che seguire sui gruppi di "portatori di regalo". Che cosa è Jacob's piano a questo punto?

בראשית ל״ב:כ״ה

(כה) וַיִּוָּתֵ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַיֵּאָבֵ֥ק אִישׁ֙ עִמּ֔וֹ עַ֖ד עֲל֥וֹת הַשָּֽׁחַר׃

Genesis 32:25

(25) Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.

If Jacob is alone who is the ‘ish’ the man with him? Se Giacobbe è solo chi è il "ish" l'uomo con lui?

The 12th century rabbi and grandson of Rashi, Shmuel ben Meir, the Rashbam wrote: “Jacob was left alone ... in order to flee a different route where he intended to avoid Esau. And a man (ish) wrestled with him so that he would not be able to flee

Il XII secolo il rabbino e nipote di Rashi Shmuel ben Meir, la Rashbam ha scritto: "Giacobbe rimase solo ... in ordine a fuggire un diverso percorso dove egli ha inteso evitare di Esaù. E un uomo (ish) lottò con lui in modo che egli non sarebbe in grado di fuggire ..."

Biblical names describe the essence of the person. Jacob means “he will evade.”
Jacob manoeuvres to avoid confrontations, often by running away or staying silent. But he quietly manipulates the world around him to acquire status and wealth.
This night, as he believes Esau is coming to destroy him he tries gifts, prayers, dividing his property and household into different groups – but this may not be enough. His family are now the other side of the Jabok River, they are between him and Esau who is coming from the south. He is north – he can run back! This is when the ‘ish’ appears and wrestles with him.

Nomi biblici descrivono l'essenza della persona. Giacobbe significa "egli potrà eludere".
Giacobbe manovre per evitare scontri, spesso mediante esecuzione di distanza o a rimanere in silenzio. Ma ha tranquillamente manipola il mondo attorno a lui per acquisire la ricchezza e lo status sociale.
Questa notte, come egli crede Esaù è venuta a distruggere lui cerca doni, preghiere, dividendo i beni di sua proprietà e per la famiglia in diversi gruppi - ma questo potrebbe non essere sufficiente. La sua famiglia sono ora l'altro lato del fiume Jabok, sono tra lui ed Esaù che proviene da sud. Egli è il nord - può correre indietro! Questo è quando il "ish' viene visualizzato e combatte con lui.

בראשית ל״ב:כ״ז-כ״ט

(כז) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י עָלָ֖ה הַשָּׁ֑חַר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֲשַֽׁלֵּחֲךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־בֵּרַכְתָּֽנִי׃ (כח) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו מַה־שְּׁמֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (כט) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל׃

Genesis 32:27-29

(27) Then he said, “Let me go, for dawn is breaking.” But he answered, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” (28) Said the other, “What is your name?” He replied, “Jacob.” (29) Said he, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with beings divine and human, and have prevailed.”

Va’tuchal – and you are able to do this

Va' tuchal - e voi siete in grado di farlo

What has Jacob learned in this evening of wrestling?

Jacob whose name means curved/circumvent/ evade has his name changed to Israel, one who struggles with God/ one whom God made straight

But his name change is not consistent in the future – he will be BOTH Jacob AND Israel – why?

Che cosa ha imparato di Giacobbe in questa sera del wrestling?
Giacobbe il cui nome significa curvata/eludere/ eludere ha il suo nome cambiato in Israele, uno che lotta con Dio/ colui che Dio ha fatto dritto
ma il suo cambiamento di nome non è coerente in futuro - egli sarà sia Giacobbe e Israele - perché?