Another matter, “Jacob sent messengers” (Genesis 32:4) – come and see what is written before this matter: “Jacob said, when he saw them: [This is the camp of God]” (Genesis 32:3). How many were in a camp of God? Two thousand myriads of ministering angels, as it is stated: “The chariots of God are myriad, thousands upon thousands of companies. My Lord is among them, at Sinai, in holiness” (Psalms 68:18).
“He called the name of that place Maḥanayim” (Genesis 32:3). Why were there two camps? It teaches that they gave Jacob four thousand myriads of ministering angels and they appeared to him like a king’s armies, some of whom were clad in iron, some of whom were on horseback, and some of whom were sitting in chariots. He [Esau] encountered those clad in iron.
He said to them: ‘With whom are you affiliated?’ They said to him: ‘With Jacob.’ He encountered those on horseback. He said to them: ‘With whom are you affiliated?’
They said to him: ‘With Jacob.’ He encountered those in chariots. He said to them: ‘With whom are you affiliated?’ They said to him: ‘With Jacob,’ as it is stated: “He said: For whom do you intend this entire camp that I met?” (Genesis 33:8).
Jacob, too, would mention to Esau the name of the Holy One blessed be He, to scare him and to frighten him, as it is stated: “As I have seen your face, as the sight of the face of angels [elohim]” (Genesis 33:10). To what is this matter analogous? It is to one who invited another to a meal, and he20The guest. ascertained that he sought to kill him. He [the guest] said: ‘The taste of this dish is like the taste of a dish that I tasted in the king’s palace.’
He said: ‘He knows the king?’ He was afraid and did not kill him. The same is true of Jacob. When he said to Esau: “As I have seen your face, as the sight of the face of angels [elohim]” wicked Esau said: ‘The Holy One blessed be He brought him to all this glory? I will no longer be able to overcome him.’