Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 37

״כַּאֲשֶׁר יָנוּס אִישׁ מִפְּנֵי הָאֲרִי וּפְגָעוֹ הַדֹּב וּבָא הַבַּיִת וְסָמַךְ יָדוֹ עַל הַקִּיר וּנְשָׁכוֹ הַנָּחָשׁ״ (עמוס ה, יט). ״הָאֲרִי״ זֶה לָבָן שֶׁרָדַף אַחֲרָיו כְּאַרְיֵה לַחֲטֹף אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ, וְ״הַדֹּב״ זֶה עֵשָׂו שֶׁעָמַד לוֹ עַל דֶּרֶךְ כְּדֹב לְהָמִית הָאֵם עַל הַבָּנִים, וַאֲרִי יֵשׁ בּוֹ בֹּשֶׁת פָּנִים וְהַדֹּב אֵין בּוֹ בֹּשֶׁת פָּנִים. עָמַד יַעֲקֹב וְהָיָה מִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאָמַר: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים לֹא כָּךְ אָמַרְתָּ לִי ״שׁוּב אֶל אֶרֶץ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ וְאֶל אֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתְּךָ וְאֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ״?

JACOB AND THE ANGEL "As if a man did flee from a lion and a bear met him" (Amos 5:19). The "lion" means Laban, who pursued (Jacob) like a lion to destroy his life. The "bear" refers to Esau, who stood by the way like a bear bereaved by man, to slay the mother with the children. The lion is shamefaced, the bear is not shamefaced. Jacob arose and prayed before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: Sovereign of all the Universe ! Hast Thou not spoken thus unto me, "Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred, and I will be with thee"? (Gen. 31:3).

וַהֲלֹא עֵשָׂו הָרָשָׁע בָּא לְהָרְגֵנִי, וְאֵינוֹ מִתְיָרֵא מִמְּךָ וַאֲנִי מִתְיָרֵא מִמֶּנּוּ. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: אַל תִּתְיָרֵא מִפְּנֵי אִישׁ שׁוֹטֵר וּמוֹשֵׁל אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי אִישׁ שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם. וְעָמַד לוֹ עַל הַדֶּרֶךְ כְּדֹב שַׁכּוּל לְהָמִית אֵם עַל הַבָּנִים.

And behold, Esau, the evil one, has now come to slay me; but I fear him and he does not fear Thee. Hence (the sages) say: Do not fear an executive officer or a ruler, but (fear) a man who has no fear of Heaven. (Esau) stood by the way like a bear bereaved by man, to slay mother and child.

מָה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? שָׁלַח לוֹ מַלְאָךְ לְהוֹשִׁיעוֹ, לְהַצִּילוֹ מִיַּד עֵשָׂו, וְנִרְאָה לוֹ כְּאִישׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ עַד עֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר״. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁעָלָה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר, אָמַר לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ: ״שַׁלְּחֵנִי, שֶׁהִגִּיעַ עֵת עֲמִידָתִי לְשָׁרֵת לוֹמַר לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שִׁירָה״, וְלֹא רָצָה לְשַׁלְּחוֹ. מָה עָשָׂה הַמַּלְאָךְ? הִתְחִיל לְשׁוֹרֵר מִן הָאָרֶץ. וּכְשֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ הָעֶלְיוֹנִים אֶת קוֹל הַמַּלְאָךְ שֶׁהוּא מְשׁוֹרֵר וּמְזַמֵּר מִן הָאָרֶץ, אָמְרוּ: ״בִּשְׁבִיל כְּבוֹד הַצַּדִּיק אָנוּ שׁוֹמְעִין הַמַּלְאָךְ״. וְעָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (ישעיהו כד, טז): ״מִכְּנַף הָאָרֶץ זְמִרֹת שָׁמַעְנוּ צְבִי לַצַּדִּיק״.

What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He sent an angel to him to deliver him, and to save him from the hand of Esau; and he appeared unto him like a man, as it is said, "And there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day" (Gen. 32:24). As soon as the dawn appeared, the angel said to him: Let me go, for the time has arrived when I must stand to sing and to chant praises before the Holy One, blessed be He. But Jacob did not wish to let him go. What did the angel do? He began to sing and to chant praises from the earth, and when the angels (on high) heard the voice of the angel who was singing and praising from the earth, they said: Because of the honour of the righteous (one) do we hear the voice of the angel who is singing and praising from the earth; and concerning him the verse says, "From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, glory to the righteous" (Isa. 24:16).

וְעוֹד אָמַר לוֹ: ״שַׁלְּחֵנִי״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֵינִי מְשַׁלֵּחֲךָ עַד שֶׁתְּבָרְכֵנִי״, הָדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב ״וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתוֹ שָׁם״. וְעוֹד אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֵינִי מְשַׁלֵּחֲךָ עַד שֶׁתֹּאמַר לִי מַה שְּׁמֶךָ״, וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּשְׁמוֹ שֶׁנִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל. רָצָה לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עִם הַמַּלְאָךְ וְהִפִּילוֹ לָאָרֶץ. מֶה עָשָׂה הַמַּלְאָךְ? אָחַז בְּגִיד הַנָּשֶׁה וְעָשָׂה כְּחֵלֶב הַמֵּת. לְפִיכָךְ אָסוּר לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֶאֱכֹל גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה שֶׁעַל כַּף הַיָּרֵךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״עַל כֵּן לֹא יֹאכְלוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה״.

Again the angel said to him: "Let me go" (Gen. 32:26). Jacob answered him: I will not let thee go until thou hast blessed me; and he blessed him, as it is said, "And he blessed him there" (Gen. 32:29). Again he said to him: "Let me go" (Gen. 32:26). He answered him: I will not let thee go until thou tellest me what thy name is. And (the angel) called his name Israel like his own name, for his own name was called Israel. Jacob wished to prevail over the angel, and to throw him down upon the earth. What did the angel do? He took hold of the sinew of the hip, which was upon the hollow of Jacob's thigh, and he lifted the sinew of his hip (out of its place), and it became like the fat of the dead. Therefore the children of Israel are forbidden to eat of the sinew of the hip which is upon the hollow of the animal's thigh, as it is said, "Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew of the hip which is upon the hollow of the thigh" (Gen. 32:82).

רָצָה לַעֲבוֹר יַעֲקֹב אֶת מַעֲבַר יַבֹּק וּלְהִתְעַכֵּב שָׁם, אָמַר לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ: לֹא כָּךְ אָמַרְתָּ לִי ״וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר תִּתֶּן לִי עַשֵּׂר אֲעַשְּׂרֶנּוּ לָךְ״? מֶה עָשָׂה יַעֲקֹב? לָקַח אֶת מִקְנֵה קִנְיָנוֹ שֶׁהֵבִיא מִפַּדַּן אֲרָם מֵחֲמִשָּׁה אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת. וְעוֹד אָמַר הַמַּלְאָךְ לְיַעֲקֹב: ״יַעֲקֹב, לֹא נָתַתָּ מַעֲשֵׂר מִכֹּל, וַהֲלֹא יֵשׁ לְךָ בָּנִים וְלֹא עִשַּׂרְתָּ אוֹתָם לִי!״ מֶה עָשָׂה יַעֲקֹב? הִפְרִישׁ אַרְבָּעָה בְּכוֹרוֹת לְאַרְבַּע אִמָּהוֹת, וְנִשְׁתַּיְּרוּ שְׁמוֹנָה בָּנִים. הִתְחִיל מִשִּׁמְעוֹן וְגָמַר בְּבִנְיָמִין שֶׁבִּמְעֵי אִמּוֹ. וְעוֹד הִתְחִיל מִשִּׁמְעוֹן וְעָלָה לֵוִי מַעֲשֵׂר קֹדֶשׁ לַה', שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״הָעֲשִׂירִי יִהְיֶה קֹדֶשׁ לַה'״.

Jacob wished to cross the ford of the Jabbok, and he was detained there. The angel said to him: Didst thou not speak thus—"Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give a tenth unto thee" (Gen. 28:22)? What did our father Jacob do? He took all the cattle in his possession which he had brought from Paddan-Aram, and he gave a tithe of them amounting to 550 (animals). Hence thou mayest learn that all the cattle in the possession of our father Jacob, which he had brought from Paddan-Aram, amounted to 5500 (animals). Again Jacob wished to cross the ford of the Jabbok, but he was hindered here. The angel said: Didst thou not speak thus—"Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give a tenth unto thee" (ibid.)? Behold, thou hast sons. Thou hast not given a tithe of them. What did Jacob do? He put apart the four firstborn children of the four mothers, and eight children remained. He began (to count) from Simeon, and finished with Benjamin, who was still in his mother's womb. Again he began (to count) from Simeon, and he included Benjamin, and Levi was reckoned as the tithe, holy to God, as it is said, "The tenth shall be holy unto the Lord" (Lev. 27:82).

רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: כָּל הַבְּכוֹרוֹת כְּשֶׁהֵן שְׁמִירַת הָעַיִן חַיָּבִין לְהִתְעַשֵּׂר מַעֲשֵׂר, וְלֹא עִשֵּׂר יַעֲקֹב אֶלָּא לְמַפְרֵעַ. הִתְחִיל מִבִּנְיָמִין שֶׁבִּמְעֵי אִמּוֹ, וְעָלָה לֵוִי קֹדֶשׁ לַה'.

Rabbi Ishmael said: All firstborns are required to have a tithe taken (only) when they fall under the observation of the eye. Only Jacob observed the law of tithe in advance; he began with Benjamin, who was in his mother's womb, and Levi was reckoned as holy to the Lord, and concerning him the Scripture says, "The tenth shall be holy unto the Lord" (ibid.).

יָרַד מִיכָאֵל הַמַּלְאָךְ וְנָטַל לֵוִי וְהֶעֱלָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, זֶה הוּא גּוֹרָלְךָ וְחֶלְקְךָ מִמַּעֲשֵׂר״. וּפָשַׁט הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יַד יְמִינוֹ וְאָמַר שֶׁיִּהְיוּ לֵוִי וּבָנָיו מְשָׁרְתִים לְפָנָיו בָּאָרֶץ כְּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת בַּשָּׁמַיִם. אָמַר מִיכָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, הַמְּשָׁרְתִים לַמֶּלֶךְ אֵינוֹ נוֹתֵן לָהֶם טֶרֶף מְזוֹנָם?״ לְפִיכָךְ נָתַן לָהֶם לִבְנֵי לֵוִי כָּל קֹדֶשׁ שֶׁעָלָה לִשְׁמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אִשֵּׁי ה' וְנַחֲלָתוֹ יֹאכֵלוּן״.

Michael, the angel, descended and took Levi, and brought him up before the Throne of Glory, and he spake before Him: Sovereign of all the universe ! This is Thy lot, and the portion of Thy works. And He put forth His right hand and blessed him, that the sons of Levi should minister on earth before Him, like the ministering angels in heaven. Michael spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all worlds ! Do not such who serve the king have provision of their food given to them? Therefore He gave to the sons of Levi all holy things which accrue to His Name, as it is said, "They shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his inheritance" (Deut. 18:1).

כְּשֶׁעָבַר לָבֹא בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, בָּא עָלָיו עֵשָׂו מֵהַר שֵׂעִיר בְּזַעַף אַף זוֹמֵם לְהָרְגוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״זֹמֵם רָשָׁע לַצַּדִּיק״. אָמַר עֵשָׂו: ״אֵינִי הוֹרֵג אֶת יַעֲקֹב בְּחִצִּים וּבְקֶשֶׁת אֶלָּא בְּפִי אֲנִי הוֹרְגוֹ וּמוֹצֵץ אֶת דָּמוֹ״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּרָץ עֵשָׂו לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיִּשָּׁקֵהוּ״. אַל תְּהִי קוֹרֵא ״וַיִּשָּׁקֵהוּ״ אֶלָּא ״וַיִּשָּׁכֵהוּ״. וְנַעֲשָׂה צַוָּארוֹ עַמּוּד ״כְּמִגְדַּל הַשֵּׁן צַוָּארֵךְ״, וְקָהוּ שִׁנָּיו שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁלֹּא עָלְתָה בְיָדוֹ תַּאֲוָתוֹ, הִתְחִיל כּוֹעֵס וְחוֹרֵק בְּשִׁנָּיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״רָשָׁע יִרְאֶה וְכָעָס שִׁנָּיו יַחֲרֹק וְנָמָס״.

When Jacob passed to come into the land of Canaan, Esau came to him from Mount Seir in violent anger, contriving to slay him, as it is said, "The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth" (Ps. 37:12). Esau said: I will not slay Jacob with bow and arrows, but with my mouth and with my teeth will I slay him, and suck his blood, as it is said, "And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept" (Gen. 33:4). Do not read vayishakêhu (and he kissed him), but (read) vayishkêhu (and he bit him). But Jacob's neck became like ivory, and concerning him the Scripture says, "Thy neck is like the tower of ivory" (Cant. 7:5). The wicked (Esau's) teeth became blunt, and when the wicked one saw that the desire of his heart was not realized he began to be angry, and to gnash with his teeth, as it is said, "The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away" (Ps. 112:10).

וְלָקַח יַעֲקֹב אֶת כָּל מַעְשַׂר קִנְיָנוֹ שֶׁהֵבִיא מִפַּדַּן אֲרָם וְשָׁלַח בְּיַד עֲבָדָיו וְנָתַן לְעֵשָׂו. אָמַר לָהֶם: ״אִמְרוּ לוֹ: 'כֹּה אָמַר עַבְדְּךָ יַעֲקֹב'״. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״יַעֲקֹב, עָשִׂיתָ הַקֹּדֶשׁ חוֹל!״ אָמַר לְפָנָיו: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, אֲנִי מַחֲנִיף לָרָשָׁע בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא יַהַרְגֵנִי!״ מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: מַחֲנִיפִין אֶת הָרְשָׁעִים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה מִפְּנֵי דַרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״לֹא דַּיֶּךָ שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ אֶת עַצְמְךָ הַקֹּדֶשׁ חוֹל, אֶלָּא שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי 'וְרַב יַעֲבֹד צָעִיר', וְאַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ 'עַבְדְּךָ יַעֲקֹב'? חַיֶּיךָ, כִּדְבָרֶיךָ יִהְיֶה. הוּא יִמְשֹׁל עָלֶיךָ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְאַתָּה תִּהְיֶה מוֹשֵׁל עָלָיו בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא״. לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר לוֹ יַעֲקֹב: ״יַעֲבָר נָא אֲדֹנִי לִפְנֵי עַבְדּוֹ״. מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁאֵין בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו נוֹפְלִים עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא שָׂרִיד מִיַּעֲקֹב וִיקַבֵּץ רַגְלֵיהֶם שֶׁל בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו מֵהַר שֵׂעִיר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְיֵרְדְּ מִיַּעֲקֹב״ (במדבר כד, יט), וְאוֹמֵר: ״וְלֹא יִהְיֶה שָׂרִיד לְבֵית עֵשָׂו כִּי ה' דִּבֵּר״ (עובדיה א, יח).

Jacob took all the tithe of his possessions and sent it by the hand of his servants, and gave it to Esau, saying to them: Say ye to him, "Thus saith thy servant Jacob" (Gen. 32:4). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Jacob ! That which was holy hast thou made profane? He replied to Him: Sovereign of all worlds ! I flatter the wicked, so that he should not slay me. Hence the (wise men) say, we may flatter the wicked in this world for the sake of the ways of peace. Esau said to him: O my brother, I have enough; as it is said, "And Esau said, I have enough" (Gen. 33:9). And because he gave honour to Jacob, therefore the sons of Jacob paid honour to the sons of Esau with the same expression; as it is said, "Ye have compassed this mountain long enough" (Deut. 2:8). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Jacob ! Is it not enough for thee that thou hast made profane that which is holy? Nay, but I have said, "And the elder shall serve the younger" (Gen. 25:23); and yet thou hast said, "Thy servant Jacob" (Gen. 32:4). By thy life ! it shall be according to thy words; he shall rule over thee in this world, and thou shalt rule over him in the world to come. Therefore Jacob said to him (Esau): "Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant" (Gen. 33:14). Hence thou mayest learn that the sons of Esau will not fall until a remnant from Jacob shall come, and cut off the feet of the children of Esau from Mount Seir, and the Holy One, blessed be He, will descend. "And there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it" (Obad. 18).