Illustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
Commentary פַּרְשָׁנוּת
וַיָּשֻׁבוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים אֶל יַעֲקֹב לֵאמֹר בָּאנוּ אֶל אָחִיךָ אֶל עֵשָׂו וְגַם הֹלֵךְ לִקְרָאתְךָ וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ עִמּוֹ׃
The messengers returned to Yaakov and told him: “We came to your brother Esav. He is coming to meet you with 400 people.”
What did the messengers mean, when they told Yaakov that Esav had 400 people with him? Our פַּרְשָׁנִים (parshanim, commentators) give different explanations.
וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ עִמּוֹ – מוּכָנִים לְמִלְחָמָה.
With 400 people – ready for war.
הֹלֵךְ לִקְרָאתְךָ וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ עִמּוֹ – לִכְבוֹדְךָ, זֶהוּ עִקַּר פְּשׁוּטוֹ.
וְכֵן: "גַּם הִנֵּה הוּא יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתֶךָ וְרָאֲךָ וְשָׂמַח בְּלִבּוֹ" (שמות ד:יד).
He is coming to meet you with 400 people – to show you respect. This is the meaning according to the peshat (most simple or straightforward understanding).
The same language is used to describe Aharon coming to meet Moshe: “He is coming to meet you, and when he sees you he’ll be happy in his heart” (Shemot 4:14).
- Can you find evidence in the story for each parshan’s interpretation? Consider Yaakov’s reaction to the messengers, and also consider what actually happens when Yaakov and Esav finally meet. Do these events give support to Rabbeinu Bahaye or to Rashbam?
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