Parashat 8 VaYishlach - “and he sent”.
Beresheet/Gen 32:3(4) – 36:43
“Our sages saw in this Torah portion the textbook of Jewish behavior in exile, and accordingly they knew that they should follow this example of Yakov’s by making a threefold preparation in their struggles with Esav’s descendants: prayer and gifts which bring appeasement, and battle. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabba 78:15) records that in Talmudic times the rabbis who had to intervene with their Romans to counteract oppressive decrees would study this Torah portion before they went. Once Rabbi Yannai failed to do so, and his trip was a dismal failure. Obviously he remembered the narrative, but just as obviously, when men of his caliber study it to find guidance regarding specific situations, they see messages and nuances that escape others.” (Stones Chumash p 170)
We see a profound example of this truth in the events that preceded Britain granting Zionist settlers permission to return to Israel after the second world war, due to a request from a Jewish scientist - Chaim Azriel Weizmann who discovered acetone which helped Britain win the war.
“Weizmann lectured in chemistry at the University of Geneva between 1901 and 1903, and later taught at the University of Manchester. He became a British subject in 1910, and while a lecturer at Manchester he became famous for discovering how to use bacterial fermentation to produce large quantities of desired substances. He is considered to be the father of industrial fermentation. He used the bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum (the Weizmann organism) to produce acetone. Acetone was used in the manufacture of cordite explosive propellants critical to the Allied war effort.” Wikipedia.
May we who seek YHVH through His Moshiach in these latter days not miss the finer nuances and opportunities that escape others, found in this Torah portion, regarding our return to the land of Yisrael.
Blessing for the Torah:
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,
v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe, you have selected us from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah. Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe, you have selected us from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah. Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
Torah Readings:
- 32:3 (4 Heb.) – 32:12 (13 Heb.)
- 32:13 (14) – 29 (30)
- 32:30 (31) – 33:5
- 33:6-20
- 34:1 – 35:11 (Ash.) 13 (Sef.)
- 35:12 (A), 14 (S) – 36:19
- 36:20-43
- Maftir: 36:40-43
Haftarah: Hosea 11:7 – 12:12 (Ashken.) Obadiah 1-21 (Sephard.)
Aliyah Rishon 32:3-12
Gen 32:3 And Ya’aqov sent messengers before him to Ěsaw his brother in the land of Sĕʽir, the field of Eḏom
Once again the essence of the Torah portion is captured by its title “va yishlach” “and he sent.”
The word “messenger” is “malachim” in Hebrew and can refer to both angelic as well as human messengers. The sages seem to imply that they were both. We find a reference to these events in the book of Yasher.
Yasher – 32 (Book of Yasher can be downloaded from the Internet)
1 “And at that time Jacob sent messengers to his brother Esau toward the land of Seir, and he spoke to him words of supplication.
2 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say to my master, to Esau, Thus saith thy servant Jacob, Let not my master imagine that my father's blessing with which he did bless me has proved beneficial to me.
3 For I have been these twenty years with Laban, and he deceived me and changed my wages ten times, as it has all been already told unto my master.
4 And I served him in his house very laboriously, and Elohim afterward saw my affliction, my labor and the work of my hands, and he caused me to find favour and kindness in his sight.
5 And I afterward through Elohim's great mercy and kindness acquired oxen and asses and cattle, and men servants and maid servants.
6 And now I am coming to my land and my home to my father and mother, who are in the land of Canaan; and I have sent to let my master know all this in order to find favor in the sight of my master, so that he may not imagine that I have of myself obtained wealth, or that the blessing with which my father blessed me has benefited me.
7 And those messengers went to Esau, and found him on the borders of the land of Edom going toward Jacob, and four hundred men of the children of Seir the Horite were standing with drawn swords.
8 And the messengers of Jacob told Esau all the words that Jacob had spoken to them concerning Esau.
9 And Esau answered them with pride and contempt, and said unto them, Surely I have heard and truly it has been told unto me what Jacob has done to Laban, who exalted him in his house and gave him his daughters for wives, and he begat sons and daughters, and abundantly increased in wealth and riches in Laban's house through his means.
10 And when he saw that his wealth was abundant and his riches great he fled with all belonging to him, from Laban's house, and he led Laban's daughters away from the face of their father, as captives taken by the sword without telling him of it.
11 And not only to Laban has Jacob done thus but also unto me has he done so and has twice supplanted me, and shall I be silent?
12 Now therefore I have this day come with my camps to meet him, and I will do unto him according to the desire of my heart.
13 And the messengers returned and came to Jacob and said unto him, We came to thy brother, to Esau, and we told him all thy words, and thus has he answered us, and behold he cometh to meet thee with four hundred men.
14 Now then know and see what thou shalt do, and pray before YHVH to deliver thee from him.
15 And when he heard the words of his brother which he had spoken to the messengers of Jacob, Jacob was greatly afraid and he was distressed.
16 And Jacob prayed to YHVH, and he said, O YHVH Elohim of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, thou didst say unto me when I went away from my father's house, saying,
17 I am the Elohim of thy father Abraham and the Elohim of Isaac, unto thee do I give this land and thy seed after thee, and I will make thy seed as the stars of heaven, and thou shalt spread forth to the four sides of heaven, and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
18 And thou didst establish thy words, and didst give unto me riches and children and cattle, as the utmost wishes of my heart didst thou give unto thy servant; thou didst give unto me all that I asked from thee, so that I lacked nothing.
19 And thou didst afterward say unto me, Return to thy parents and to thy birth place and I will still do well with thee.
20 And now that I have come, and thou didst deliver me from Laban, I shall fall in the hands of Esau who will slay me, yea, together with the mothers of my children.
21 Now therefore, YHVH, deliver me, I pray thee, also from the hands of my brother Esau, for I am greatly afraid of him.
22 And if there is no righteousness in me, do it for the sake of Abraham and my father Isaac.
23 For I know that through kindness and mercy have I acquired this wealth; now therefore I beseech thee to deliver me this day with thy kindness and to answer me.
24 And Jacob ceased praying to YHVH, and he divided the people that were with him with the flocks and cattle into two camps, and he gave the half to the care of Damesek, the son of Eliezer, Abraham's servant, for a camp, with his children, and the other half he gave to the care of his brother Elianus the son of Eliezer, to be for a camp with his children.
25 And he commanded them, saying, Keep yourselves at a distance with your camps, and do not come too near each other, and if Esau come to one camp and slay it, the other camp at a distance from it will escape him.
26 And Jacob tarried there that night, and during the whole night he gave his servants instructions concerning the forces and his children.
27 And YHVH heard the prayer of Jacob on that day, and YHVH then delivered Jacob from the hands of his brother Esau.
28 And YHVH sent three angels of the angels of heaven, and they went before Esau and came to him.
29 And these angels appeared unto Esau and his people as two thousand men, riding upon horses furnished with all sorts of war instruments, and they appeared in the sight of Esau and all his men to be divided into four camps, with four chiefs to them.
30 And one camp went on and they found Esau coming with four hundred men toward his brother Jacob, and this camp ran toward Esau and his people and terrified them, and Esau fell off the horse in alarm, and all his men separated from him in that place, for they were greatly afraid.
31 And the whole of the camp shouted after them when they fled from Esau, and all the warlike men answered, saying,
32 Surely we are the servants of Jacob, who is the servant of YHVH, and who then can stand against us? And Esau said unto them, O then, my master and brother Jacob is your master, whom I have not seen for these twenty years, and now that I have this day come to see him, do you treat me in this manner?
33 And the angels answered him saying, As the YHVH liveth, were not Jacob of whom thou speaketh thy brother, we had not let one remaining from thee and thy people, but only on account of Jacob we will do nothing to them.
34 And this camp passed from Esau and his men and it went away, and Esau and his men had gone from them about a league when the second camp came toward him with all sorts of weapons, and they also did unto Esau and his men as the first camp had done to them.
35 And when they had left it to go on, behold the third camp came toward him and they were all terrified, and Esau fell off the horse, and the whole camp cried out, and said, Surely we are the servants of Jacob, who is the servant of YHVH, and who can stand against us?
36 And Esau again answered them saying, O then, Jacob my master and your master is my brother, and for twenty years I have not seen his countenance and hearing this day that he was coming, I went this day to meet him, and do you treat me in this manner?
37 And they answered him, and said unto him, As the YHVH liveth, were not Jacob thy brother as thou didst say, we had not left a remnant from thee and thy men, but on account of Jacob of whom thou speakest being thy brother, we will not meddle with thee or thy men.
38 And the third camp also passed from them, and he still continued his road with his men toward Jacob, when the fourth camp came toward him, and they also did unto him and his men as the others had done.
39 And when Esau beheld the evil which the four angels had done to him and to his men, he became greatly afraid of his brother Jacob, and he went to meet him in peace”
Is it not possible that once again in the latter days when it is time to return to the land, that YHVH will once again send human as well as heavenly messengers to prepare the way for our return.
Gen 32:4 and he commanded them, saying, “Say this to my master Ěsaw, ‘Your servant Ya’aqov said this, “I have sojourned with Laḇan and stayed there until now.
Gen 32:5 “And I have bulls, and donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. And I have sent to inform my master, to find favour in your eyes.” ’ ”
Gen 32:6 So the messengers returned to Ya’aqov, saying, “We came to your brother Ěsaw, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men with him.”
Gen 32:7 And Ya’aqov was greatly afraid and distressed. So he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups,
Gen 32:8 and he said, “If Ěsaw comes to the one group and attacks it, then the other group which is left shall escape.”
Gen 32:9 And Ya’aqov said, “O Elohim of my father Aḇraham and Elohim of my father Yitsḥaq, יהוה who said to me, ‘Return to your land and to your relatives, and I do good to you,’
Gen 32:10 “I do not deserve the least of all the kind acts and all the truth which You have shown Your servant, for I passed over this Yardĕn with my staff, and now I have become two groups.
“I am unworthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant (32:11)
The meaning of this is that every kindness bestowed by YHVH upon a person should cause him to be exceedingly humble. For the kindness of Elohim is an expression of "His right hand does embrace me" (Song of Songs 2:6) YHVH is literally bringing the person closer to Himself. And the closer a person is to YHVH, the greater the humility this should evoke in him, for since "all before Him is as naught,"(Is 40:17) the more "before Him" a person is, the more "as naught" does he perceive himself to be.
This is the manner of Jacob/Yakov. The very opposite is the case in the contrasting realm of “kelipah” (evil). There, the greater the kindness shown a person, the more he grows in arrogance and self-satisfaction.”
(Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi)
Gen 32:11 “Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Ěsaw, for I fear him, lest he come and shall smite me and the mother with the children.
Gen 32:12 “For You said, ‘I shall certainly do good to you, and shall make your seed as the sand of the sea, which are too numerous to count.’ ”
Aliyah Sheni 32:13-29
Gen 32:13 And he spent the night there, and took what came to his hand as a present for Ěsaw his brother –
Gen 32:14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,
Gen 32:15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.
Gen 32:16 And he gave into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between drove and drove.”
Gen 32:17 And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Ěsaw my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? And whose are these in front of you?’
Gen 32:18 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Ya’aqov’s. It is a present sent to my master Ěsaw. And see, he also is behind us.’ ”
Gen 32:19 So he commanded the second, and the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “Speak to Ěsaw this same word when you find him,
Gen 32:20 and you shall say, ‘Also look, your servant Ya’aqov is behind us.’ ” For he said, “Let me appease him with the present that goes before me, and after that see his face. He might accept me.”
Gen 32:21 And the present passed over before him, but he himself spent the night in the camp.
Gen 32:22 And he rose up that night and took his two wives, and his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of Yabboq.
Gen 32:23 And he took them and sent them over the stream, and sent over what he had.
We must remember that at this time Yakov was not yet aware that his brother Esav was confronted by an army of heavenly messengers/angels who could have killed him if he was not related to Yakov.
Gen 32:24 And Ya’aqov was left alone. And a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
Gen 32:25 And when He saw that He did not overcome him, He touched the socket of his hip. And the socket of Ya’aqov’s hip was dislocated as He wrestled with him.
The sages say this represents the physical suffering of Yakov’s descendants in the “Galut” dispersion. How can we know the right “halacha” walk in Torah outside the land. We must also be willing to wrestle with YHVH regarding the call to return to the land.
Gen 32:26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I am not letting You go until You have blessed me!”
Gen 32:27 So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Ya’aqov.”
Gen 32:28 And He said, “Your name is no longer called Ya’aqov, but Yisra’ĕl1, because you have striven with Elohim and with men, and have overcome.” Footnote: 1Yisra’ĕl means “to strive with Ěl, to overcome with Ěl, (then) to rule with Ěl”
Gen 32:29 And Ya’aqov asked Him, saying, “Please let me know Your Name.” And He said, “Why do you ask about My Name?” And He blessed him there.
This may be a prophetic reference to the latter days for those who return to the land to prepare for a major battle within themselves as well as the forces of darkness that come against those who have been called to return. The question is how serious do we really want to return and how serious are we to believe that we cannot return unless like Yakov the messenger not only blesses us but gives us new a name. The new name is the evidence of a radical change that needs to take place within ourselves before we can enter into the land.
Rev 3:12 “He who overcomes, I shall make him a supporting post in the Dwelling Place of My Elohim, and he shall by no means go out. And I shall write on him the Name of My Elohim and the name of the city of My Elohim, the renewed Yerushalayim, which comes down out of the heaven from My Elohim, and My renewed Name.”
Strap yourself in and get ready for a bumpy ride!
See website written by Orthodox Jewish Rabbi concerning return of the 10 lost tribes.
http://www.kolhator.org.il/return_lost_10_tribes.php
Aliyah Shlishi 32:30-33:5
Gen 32:30 And Ya’aqov called the name of the place Peni’ĕl, “For I have seen Elohim face to face, and my life is preserved.”
Gen 32:31 And the sun rose on him as he passed over Penu’ĕl, and he limped on his hip.
Gen 32:32 That is why the children of Yisra’ĕl to this day do not eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the socket of the thigh, because He touched the socket of the thigh of Ya’aqov, in the sinew of the hip.
This reminds of the Messianic significance of our fathers – Avraham reminds us that in the flesh of man a Messiah cannot be produced. Messiah was conceived by the Word of YHVH. He is not like a normal human being. He is a perfect human being.
Yitzchak reminds us that our Messiah will not have weak vision, he will know who are called to
receive the promise of YHVH.
receive the promise of YHVH.
Yakov reminds us that our Messiah will not limp because his “halacha” walk is perfect according
to the will of YHVH.
to the will of YHVH.
However when Moshiach returns he will perfect all of these qualities in the descendants of the fathers.
Gen 33:1 And Ya’aqov lifted his eyes and looked and saw Ěsaw coming, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children among Lĕ’ah, and Raḥĕl, and the two female servants.
Gen 33:2 And he put the female servants and their children in front, and Lĕ’ah and her children behind, and Raḥĕl and Yosĕph last.
Gen 33:3 And he himself passed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Gen 33:4 And Ěsaw ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. The sages are not sure why there are dots over all the letters of the Hebrew word “yishaku” meaning “and he kissed him” Some say it was like the kiss of Judas - a betrayal, others say that for a short moment in time Esav was genuine in his affection towards his brother.
If we look at the similar event which takes place in the Apostolic writings where Yehudah/Judas kisses Yahshua, some commentators believe that this was possibly Yehudah/Judas trying to force Yahshua to enforce his authority and power as king. Judas had seen the power of Yahshua and Judas thought he could force YHVH’ Hand in setting up His Messianic kingdom before its time.
These 6 dots could represent the six thousand years we have to kiss the son before he comes to rule. Maybe the six dots represent the six millennia we have to make peace with the Son of YHVH.Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be enraged, And you perish in the way, For soon His wrath is to be kindled. Blessed are all those taking refuge in Him.
Gen 33:5 And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” And he said, “The children with whom Elohim has favoured your servant.”
Aliyah Reviee 33:6-20
Gen 33:6 Then the female servants came near, they and their children, and bowed themselves.
Gen 33:7 And Lĕ’ah also came near with her children, and they bowed themselves. And Yosĕph and Raḥĕl came near, and they bowed themselves.
Gen 33:8 Then Ěsaw said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “To find favour in the eyes of my master.”
Gen 33:9 But Ěsaw said, “I have enough, my brother, let what you have remain yours.”
Gen 33:10 And Ya’aqov said, “No, please, if I have now found favour in your eyes, then receive my present from my hand, because I have seen your face like seeing the face of Elohim, and you were pleased with me.
Gen 33:11 “Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because Elohim has favoured me, and because I have all I need.” And he urged him, and he took it.
Gen 33:12 And he said, “Let us depart and go, and let me go before you.”
Gen 33:13 But he said to him, “My master knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flocks shall die.
Gen 33:14 “Please let my master go before his servant, and let me lead on slowly according to the pace of the livestock that go before me, and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my master in Sĕ’ir.”
Said Rabbi Abbahu: We have searched the whole of Scriptures and do not find that Jacob ever went to Esau to the mountain of Se'ir. Is it then possible that Jacob, the truthful one, should deceive him? But when would he come to him? In the Messianic Era, when "the saviors shall ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau" (Obadiah 1:21). (Midrash Rabbah) (Petra is the same place as mount Seir)
Gen 33:15 And Ěsaw said, “Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “Why this? Let me find favour in the eyes of my master.”
Gen 33:16 And Ěsaw returned that day on his way to Sĕ’ir.
Gen 33:17 And Ya’aqov set out to Sukkoth, and built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. That is why the name of the place is called Sukkoth.
Note the place where Yakov first stops over – Sukkoth (booth/temporal dwelling)– also the first feast of the millennial kingdom (Feast of Sukkot/booths/Feast of Tabernacles). Also note how Yakov first takes care of his family before he takes care of his livelihood.
Gen 33:18 And Ya’aqov came safely to the city of Sheḵem, which is in the land of Kena’an, when he came from Paddan Aram. And he pitched his tent before the city.
Gen 33:19 And he bought the portion of the field where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Ḥamor, Sheḵem’s father, for one hundred qesitah.
This is one of the three places which the nations of the world cannot accuse Israel and say, "You have stolen them." The three places are: the Cave of Machpelah, the site of the Set Apart Temple, and the tomb of Yosef/Joseph at Shechem. The cave of Machpelah, as it is written (Genesis 23:16): "And Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver." The Temple: "So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold" (I Chronicles 21:25). And Joseph's tomb: "And [Jacob] bought the piece of land for a hundred kesitah."
(Midrash Rabbah)
It is rather significant that today the much disputed so called occupied territories are found in the area of the abovementioned three examples of where the Israelites purchased a deed to the land.
Gen 33:20 And he set up an altar there and called it Ěl Elohĕ Yisra’ĕl. (This is Ya’akov’s first altar. The name means “the Mighty One is Israel’s Eloha”.)
Aliyah Chamishi 34:1-35:11
Gen 34:1 And Dinah, the daughter of Lĕ’ah, whom she had borne to Ya’aqov, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Maybe she was mixing with the wrong crowd. She could have looking for trouble and as we know she found it.
Gen 34:2 And Sheḵem, son of Ḥamor the Ḥiwwite, prince of the land, saw her and took her and lay with her, and humbled her.
Gen 34:3 And his being clung to Dinah the daughter of Ya’aqov, and he loved the girl and spoke kindly to the girl.
Gen 34:4 And Sheḵem spoke to his father Ḥamor, saying, “Take this girl for me for a wife.”
Gen 34:5 And Ya’aqov heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Ya’aqov kept silent until they came.
Pro 11:12 He who lacks heart despises his neighbour, But a man of understanding keeps silence.
Gen 34:6 And Ḥamor, the father of Sheḵem, went out to Ya’aqov to speak with him.
Gen 34:7 And the sons of Ya’aqov came in from the field when they heard it. And the men were grieved and very wroth, because he had done a senseless deed in Yisra’ĕl by lying with Ya’aqov’s daughter, which should not be done.
Gen 34:8 But Ḥamor spoke with them, saying, “My son Sheḵem’s being longs for your daughter. Please give her to him for a wife.
Gen 34:9 “And intermarry with us, give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves,
Gen 34:10 and dwell with us, and let the land be before you. Dwell and move about in it, and have possessions in it.”
Gen 34:11 And Sheḵem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find favour in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I give.
Gen 34:12 “Ask of me a bride price and gift ever so high, and I give according to what you say to me, but give me the girl for a wife.”
Gen 34:13 But the sons of Ya’aqov answered Sheḵem and Ḥamor his father, and spoke with deceit, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
Gen 34:14 And they said to them, “We are not able to do this matter, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us.
Gen 34:15 “Only on this condition would we agree to you: If you become as we are, to have every male of you circumcised,
Gen 34:16 then we shall give our daughters to you, and take your daughters to us. And we shall dwell with you, and shall become one people.
Gen 34:17 “But if you do not listen to us and be circumcised, we shall take our daughter and go.”
Gen 34:18 And their words pleased Ḥamor and Sheḵem, Ḥamor’s son.
Gen 34:19 And the young man did not delay to do this because he delighted in Ya’aqov’s daughter. Now he was more respected than all the household of his father.
Gen 34:20 And Ḥamor and Sheḵem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying,
Gen 34:21 “These men are at peace with us, so let them dwell in the land and move about in it. And see, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters for us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.
Gen 34:22 “Only on this condition would the men agree to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised.
Gen 34:23 “Their herds and their possessions, and all their beasts, should they not be ours? Only let us agree with them, and let them dwell with us.”
Gen 34:24 And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Ḥamor and Sheḵem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.
Gen 34:25 And it came to be on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Ya’aqov, Shim’on and Lĕwi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.
Gen 34:26 And they killed Ḥamor and Sheḵem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Sheḵem’s house, and went out.
The sages say they took her contrary to her will.
Gen 34:27 The sons of Ya’aqov came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Gen 34:28 They took their flocks and their herds, and their donkeys, and that which was in the city and that which was in the field,
Gen 34:29 and all their wealth. And all their little ones and their wives they took captive, and they plundered all that was in the houses.
Gen 34:30 And Ya’aqov said to Shim’on and Lĕwi, “You have troubled me by making me a stench among the inhabitants of the land, among the Kena’anites and the Perizzites. And I am few in number, they shall gather themselves against me and shall smite me, and I shall be destroyed, my household and I.”
Gen 34:31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a whore?”
Gen 35:1 And Elohim said to Ya’aqov, “Arise, go up to Bĕyth Ěl and dwell there. And make an altar there to Ěl who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Ěsaw your brother.”
Gen 35:2 And Ya’aqov said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign mighty ones that are among you, and cleanse yourselves, and change your garments.
Gen 35:3 “And let us arise and go up to Bĕyth Ěl, and let me make there an altar to Ěl, who answered me in the day of my distress, and has been with me in the way which I have gone.”
Gen 35:4 So they gave Ya’aqov all the foreign mighty ones which were in their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears. And Ya’aqov hid them under the terebinth tree which was near Sheḵem.
Gen 35:5 And they departed, and the fear of Elohim was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Ya’aqov.
Gen 35:6 And Ya’aqov came to Luz, that is Bĕyth Ěl, which is in the land of Kena’an, he and all the people who were with him.
Gen 35:7 And he built there an altar and called the place El Bĕyth Ěl, because there Elohim appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother. (“El-Beit-El” means “Beit-El’s Mighty One”, or, as Rashi says, “the Consecrated One is in Beit-El”).
Gen 35:8 And Deḇorah, Riḇqah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bĕyth Ěl under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Baḵuth.
Gen 35:9 And Elohim appeared to Ya’aqov again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him.
Gen 35:10 And Elohim said to him, “Your name is Ya’aqov, your name is no longer called Ya’aqov, but Yisra’ĕl is your name.” So He called his name Yisra’ĕl.
Gen 35:11 And Elohim said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai. Bear fruit and increase, a nation and a company of nations shall be from you, and sovereigns come from your body.
Aliyah Shishi 35:12-36:19
Gen 35:12 “And the land which I gave Aḇraham and Yitsḥaq I give to you. And to your seed after you I give this land.”
Gen 35:13 And Elohim went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him.
Gen 35:14 And Ya’aqov set up a standing column in the place where He had spoken with him, a monument of stone. And he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.
Gen 35:15 And Ya’aqov called the name of the place where Elohim spoke with him, Bĕyth Ěl.
Gen 35:16 Then they set out from Bĕyth Ěl. And it came to be, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, that Raḥĕl began to give birth, and had great difficulty giving birth.
Gen 35:17 And it came to be, as she was having great difficulty giving birth, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for it is another son for you.”
Gen 35:18 And it came to be, as her life was going out – for she died – that she called his name Ben-Oni. But his father called him Binyamin.
Gen 35:19 So Raḥĕl died and was buried on the way to Ephrath, that is Bĕyth Leḥem.
Gen 35:20 And Ya’aqov set a standing column on her grave, which is the monument of Raḥĕl’s grave to this day.
Gen 35:21 And Yisra’ĕl set out and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Ěḏer.
Tower of the flock – the shepherds watchtower and place where that sheep for the offering of the temple were raised and kept.
Gen 35:22 And it came to be, when Yisra’ĕl dwelt in that land, that Re’uvĕn went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Yisra’ĕl heard about it. Now the sons of Ya’aqov were twelve:
Gen 35:23 the sons of Lĕ’ah were Re’uvĕn, Ya’aqov’s first-born, and Shim’on, and Lĕwi, and Yehuḏah, and Yissasḵar, and Zevulun;
Gen 35:24 the sons of Raḥĕl were Yosĕph and Binyamin;
Gen 35:25 the sons of Bilhah, Raḥĕl’s female servant, were Dan and Naphtali;
Gen 35:26 and the sons of Zilpah, Lĕ’ah’s female servant, were Gad and Ashĕr. These were the sons of Ya’aqov who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
Gen 35:27 And Ya’aqov came to his father Yitsḥaq at Mamrĕ, or Qiryath Arba, that is Ḥeḇron, where Aḇraham and Yitsḥaq had dwelt.
Gen 35:28 And the days of Yitsḥaq were one hundred and eighty years.
Gen 35:29 So Yitsḥaq breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, aged and satisfied of days. And his sons Ěsaw and Ya’aqov buried him.
Gen 36:1 And this is the genealogy of Ěsaw, who is Eḏom.
Gen 36:2 Ěsaw took his wives from the daughters of Kenaʽan: Aḏah the daughter of Ělon the Ḥittite, and Oholiḇamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Tsiḇ’on the Ḥiwwite;
Gen 36:3 and Basemath, Yishmaʽĕl’s daughter, sister of Neḇayoth.
Gen 36:4 And Aḏah bore Eliphaz to Ěsaw, and Basemath bore Re’uw’ĕl.
Gen 36:5 And Oholiḇamah bore Ye’ush, and Yaʽlam, and Qoraḥ. These were the sons of Ěsaw who were born to him in the land of Kena’an.
Gen 36:6 And Ěsaw took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the beings of his household, and his herds and all his beasts, and all his possessions which he had gained in the land of Kenaʽan, and went to a land away from the presence of his brother Ya’aqov.
Gen 36:7 For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their sojournings could not support them because of their herds.
Gen 36:8 So Ěsaw dwelt in Mount Sĕʽir. Ěsaw is Eḏom.
Gen 36:9 And this is the genealogy of Ěsaw the father of the Eḏomites in Mount Sĕ’ir.
Gen 36:10 These were the names of Ěsaw’s sons: Eliphaz son of Aḏah, wife of Ěsaw, and Reʽuw’ĕl son of Basemath, wife of Ěsaw.
Gen 36:11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Tĕman, Omar, Tsepho, and Gatam, and Qenaz.
Gen 36:12 And Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Ěsaw’s son, and she bore Amalĕq to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Aḏah, Ěsaw’s wife.
Haman was a descendant of Amalek. Herod was a descendant of Amalek. Rabbi Akivah was a descendant of Amalek. According to the word in Shemot/Exodus, there is an Amalek in every generation who is an archenemy of Israel. One of them died not long ago, Yasser Arafat. Who will be the next Amalek?
Gen 36:13 These were the sons of Reʽuw’ĕl: Naḥath and Zeraḥ, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Ěsaw’s wife.
Gen 36:14 These were the sons of Oholiḇamah, Ěsaw’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Tsiḇ’on. And she bore to Ěsaw: Yeʽush, and Yaʽlam, and Qoraḥ.
Gen 36:15 These were the chiefs of the sons of Ěsaw. The sons of Eliphaz, the first-born son of Ěsaw, were Chief Tĕman, Chief Omar, Chief Tsepho, Chief Qenaz,
Gen 36:16 Chief Qoraḥ, Chief Gatam, Chief Amalĕq. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Eḏom. They were the sons of Aḏah.
Gen 36:17 And these were the sons of Re’uw’ĕl, Ěsaw’s son: Chief Naḥath, Chief Zeraḥ, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Re’uw’ĕl in the land of Eḏom. These were the sons of Basemath, Ěsaw’s wife.
Gen 36:18 And these were the sons of Oholiḇamah, Ěsaw’s wife: Chief Ye’ush, Chief Yaʽlam, and Chief Qoraḥ. These were the chiefs descending from Oholiḇamah, Ěsaw’s wife, the daughter of Anah.
Gen 36:19 These were the sons of Ěsaw, who is Eḏom, and these were their chiefs.
Aliyah Sheviee 36:20-43
Gen 36:20 These were the sons of Sĕ’ir the Ḥorite who inhabited the land: Lotan, and Shoḇal, and Tsiḇ’on, and Anah,
Gen 36:21 and Dishon, and Ětser, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Ḥorites, the sons of Sĕʽir, in the land of Eḏom.
Gen 36:22 And the sons of Lotan were Ḥori and Hĕmam. Lotan’s sister was Timna.
Gen 36:23 And these were the sons of Shoḇal: Alwan, and Manaḥath, and Ěyḇal, Shepho, and Onam.
Gen 36:24 And these were the sons of Tsiḇ’on: both Ayah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the water in the wilderness as he fed the donkeys of his father Tsiḇ’on.
Gen 36:25 And these were the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholiḇamah the daughter of Anah.
Gen 36:26 And these were the sons of Dishon: Ḥemdan, and Eshban, and Yithran, and Keran.
Gen 36:27 These were the sons of Ětser: Bilhan, and Za’awan, and Aqan.
Gen 36:28 These were the sons of Dishan: Uts and Aran.
Gen 36:29 These were the chiefs of the Ḥorites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shoḇal, Chief Tsiḇ’on, Chief Anah,
Gen 36:30 Chief Dishon, Chief Ětser, and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Ḥorites, according to their chiefs in the land of Sĕ’ir.
Gen 36:31 And these were the sovereigns who reigned in the land of Eḏom before any sovereign reigned over the children of Yisra’ĕl.
When one had the upper hand, the other was under his rule, and vice versa. Here we see that Edom began having kings before Israel did. But when Israel had kings, Edom had only rulers, as we can see in verses 40-43. The eight Edomite kings were followed by eight Israelite kings; from Shaul to Yoram, as it is written in 2 Kings 8:20-22a, “In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Yehudah, and made a king over themselves. Then Yoram passed over to Tza`ir, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edom who surrounded him, and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents. So Edom revolted from under the hand of Yehudah to this day.”
Gen 36:32 And Bela the son of Be’or reigned in Eḏom, and the name of his city was Dinhaḇah.
Gen 36:33 And Bela died, and Yoḇaḇ son of Zeraḥ of Botsrah reigned in his place.
Gen 36:34 And Yoḇaḇ died, and Ḥusham of the land of the Tĕmanites reigned in his place.
Gen 36:35 And Ḥusham died, and Haḏaḏ son of Beḏaḏ, who smote Miḏyan in the field of Mo’aḇ, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Awith.
Gen 36:36 And Haḏaḏ died, and Samlah of Masrĕqah reigned in his place.
Gen 36:37 And Samlah died, and Sha’ul of Reḥoḇoth by the River reigned in his place.
Gen 36:38 And Sha’ul died, and Baʽal-Ḥanan son of Aḵbor reigned in his place.
Gen 36:39 And Baʽal-Ḥanan son of Aḵbor died, and Haḏar reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Paʽu. And his wife’s name was Mehĕtab’ĕl, the daughter of Matrĕḏ, the daughter of Mĕyzahaḇ.
Gen 36:40 And these were the names of the chiefs of Ěsaw, according to their clans and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alwah, Chief Yethĕth,
According to Rashi, each of these names corresponds with geographical places, as it says “their places”. The place Magdi’el is the same as Rome
The name Magdi’el is interpreted as “Eloha increased”, alluding to the fact that Eloha gave the Roman civilization more power and greatness than the other nations (Gur Ariyeh). Esav had two important merits. He honored his father and he respected his brother Ya’akov’s territory. Therefore his civilization would conquer and grow to become a great empire, the Roman Empire .
In the end his kingdom will be replaced by the kingdom of the descendants of Ya’akov, as the Messiah Yahshua said in Matthew 19:30, “But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.” See also Matthew 25:34
Gen 36:41 Chief Oholiḇamah, Chief Ělah, Chief Pinon,
Gen 36:42 Chief Qenaz, Chief Tĕman, Chief Miḇtsar,
Gen 36:43 Chief Maḡdi’ĕl, Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Eḏom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Ěsaw was the father of the Eḏomites.
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-‘Olam,asher natan lanu Toraht-emet,
v’chay-yeh o’lam nata-b’tochenu.
Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe,
you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting life within our midst.
Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
Please note these notes are under construction and are subject to correction and are in no way a final authority on any subject.