Torah Portion Vayishlach - Beresheit 32:4-36:43

This week expands on a topic we discussed briefly in our last Torah portion, taking action. If you are hungry for Torah and ready to dig into a discussion, join me as we talk about portion Vayishlach, "And sent.".

Yakov took his wives, children, flocks and herds and left Lavan’s land. He has a covenant of peace with his in-laws, and now he is returning to Canaan, the Promised Land. When he left Canaan, some twenty years ago, he took with him only his clothing, his staff, and his brother Esav’s firstborn birthright.

The Return announcement

Now it’s time to face the music. Esav is still around. The primary reason Yakov left in the first place was that Esav was waiting for Yitzhak their father to die before exacting revenge on Yakov for stealing his inheritance.

Will the murderous intention still be on Esav’s mind?

The first thing Yakov does is send messengers to Esav to tell him that Yakov is returning. But he is not returning empty handed as he left. The messenger explains to Esav that during Yakov’s absence he has amassed flocks, herds, and family. The messengers also express Yakov’s subservience to Esav, in the terms, “to Esav my lord” from “Yakov your servant.”

A Disturbing Response

The messengers return to Yakov with disturbing news. Esav is indeed coming to meet Yakov, but he’s bringing four hundred men with him.

Perhaps the troops Esav brings has something to do with the news he received from Yakov’s messengers. They said that Yakov had prospered and was returning with his increase. In Yakov’s mind, this was an innocuous way of telling Esav that he was self-sufficient and was not coming to mooch off Esav. After all, Yakov is a man of the tents, and through his experience with Lavan, he is now also a business person.

But Esav is a man of violence, a hunter, a man of the field. As we discussed last week, a hunter has a different mentality than someone who hunts. When Esav hears of Yakov’s prosperity, more than likely he thought in terms of what he considered prosperous, manpower. A body of men able to wield sword and shield and wage war. Because that is who Esav is.

On the way to meet Yakov and his horde, Esav gathers his troops. The upstart Yakov may have tricked him out of his inheritance, but he would defend his property. I suspect he thought “if Yakov thinks he can waltz in and take over with his army, I’ll show him.” So Esav assembles a troop of men to meet Yakov’s advance.

Softening the News

On the way, Yakov’s messengers bring offerings of goats, donkeys and cattle, lots of them, along with words of grace, “From your servant Yakov, a tribute sent to my lord Esav.” This is not the typical invasion technique of the day. I think three things possibly happened to Esav on the way to meet Yakov.

The first thing that happened is that Esav’s pride is assailed. His thinking might have gone along these lines. Here is my thieving brother, who stole my birthright in broad daylight, and now I thought he was coming back into the land to claim the inheritance he stole, but he is sending me gifts and calling me his lord. Perhaps he has changed from the conniving young man who ripped me off and left before I could get my hands on him. Maybe twenty years has taught him some propriety and respect for his elders.

The second thing that happened is that Esav saw the gifts and heard the greetings and some brotherly love seethed to the surface. There were probably some fond memories of their childhood, and the tribute gifts rekindled some of those memories. Esav might have begun thinking about pleasant times, and the familial relationship the two of them shared during younger happier days. He could have recalled that Yakov was a momma’s boy, but they had a good relationship for much of their lives.

Saving Face

The third thing that happened was perhaps the most life changing. Here were four hundred men ready for battle. They are warriors. How would it look to them if Esav ignored the obvious overtures of peace and started a war with his own brother when all indications are that Yakov is admitting his inferior position to Esav? Where would the honor be in massacring a family who made all the right moves to establish a peaceful relationship? Esav’s honor and dignity in the presence of his army was at stake.

I can imagine the joking that went on among the troops as they watched these droves of animals approach on the road. They were probably vigilant for a trap or ambush when the first drove arrived. Maybe the second even. But after that, they probably burst out laughing as the successive droves came into view. They might have jostled Esav, joking with him about what a fearsome foe this Yakov must be to send such a mighty force of goats and donkeys to scope out the opposition.

The Meeting

By the time Esav actually reached Yakov, the four hundred soldiers were probably only slightly wary of a trap, and mostly anticipating meeting the brother who had such an unusual way of entering a new land.

In verse 33:4, we see that Esav kissed Yakov when they met. In the Hebrew scroll, there is a dot over every letter of the word for kissed. The rabbis have a few explanations for the dots, but I would like to offer an additional one. I think Esav was confused. He dearly wanted a war with Yakov, he had promised to kill him. But here Yakov was humble, and he had softened the hearts of Esav’s army to the point that they had no animosity toward Yakov. The pleasant memories of their youth that the tribute offerings had kindled were as strong as his anger for what Yakov had done in stealing his birthright. 

All of the emotions seethed in Esav. He wasn’t sure what to do. But overall, the manner in which Yakov prepared the situation compelled Esav to act with honor toward his brother. The dots over the letters are not so much that Esav wanted to tear out Yakov’s throat, but more that there was mental conflict within Esav as to what he should do. Kiss, kill, forgive, revenge. Haven’t you been in a situation where you know what you want to do, or should do, but there are other factors that make it confusing and difficult to do what you think you should do? I think Esav was in just such a conundrum here in portion Vayishlach.

The Plan

Sending the tribute offerings was only part of Yakov’s plan. Have you ever heard someone say that you shouldn’t do anything, just rely on God and He will do it for you? Yakov’s plan in this Torah portion is the antithesis of the sit back and have faith paradigm.

Not only did Yakov send the droves of animals as tribute to Esav, he also sent messengers with calming words. He also set up a survival plan for his family, he divided the group so if one half was attacked, the other half might escape. He laid out an escape and evade plan. Since he had an inferior military force, including women and children, he made an informed decision and set a strategy in motion. But that’s not all.

After the plans were laid out, and he had placed everyone where they were supposed to be, he went to Elohim for help. He prayed, and what a response he received.

I want to emphasize that Yakov didn’t sit back and make no preparations and pray. He did everything he could to insure a survivable outcome and then he prayed. I suspect that even though it is not recorded, he probably did some serious praying before and during the time he was putting all his plans into operation as well. But the point here is that he actively worked at making preparations to the best of his ability.

Perhaps a line of action we view in Yakov’s situation could be described, Plan for survival – Prepare for battle – Try for a peaceful resolution – Pray for success or peace – Take advantage of your strengths – Strengthen your weaknesses.

The Terror of Elohim

Later in the portion, we see another side to protection. When Levi and Simeon exact revenge on Shechem for defiling their sister Dinah, Yakov is afraid that the other tribes in the area will band together and wipe out the family. But we are told that “a terror of Elohim” came upon the cities and they did not pursue.

Giving Names with their Meaning

Because of the incident at Shechem, Yakov returns to Luz, Beth-El, and receives another visitation and promises from Elohim and He reiterates that Yakov shall be named, Israel.

It is convenient that in the Torah a name is often followed by the definition of the name. In Yakov’s case, he is given the name Israel, and we are told what it means, “For you have struggled with Elohim and with men and have overcome.” (Beresheit 32:29)

As a brief aside, we are also given the same key at Messiah’s birth. “You shall call his name Yeshua, for he will save his people from their sins.” Notice that the messenger didn’t say “Yah will save his people,” but “he.” Had the messenger foretold that “Yah will save...” then the name given would have been Yahoshua, “Yah will save.” But since the messenger said he will save, I think the name given was, Yeshua, “salvation,” or, “he will save.”

So much more in Torah Portion Vayishlach, but we’re out of space. As you read and study the portion, please share your thoughts through the comment section below. Join me next week as we discuss portion Vayeshev, Beresheit 37:1-40:23. Until then, Shalom, stay hungry for Torah, and pray Elohim will open your eyes to see wonderful things from His word.