“Jacob sent” – Rav Huna began: “Like one who grasps the ears of a dog, so is a passerby who is angered over a quarrel not his” (Proverbs 26:17). Shmuel bar Naḥman said: This is analogous to the head of the robbers, who was sleeping at a crossroads. One person passed and began waking him. He said to him: ‘Wake up, because evil is rampant here.’
He woke up and began beating him. He said: ‘Evil has awakened.’ He said to him: ‘I was asleep and you woke me.’ So, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘He was going on his way, and then you are sending to him and saying to him submissively: “So said your servant, Jacob.”’
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon began: “What will you say when He will reckon with you, and you trained them as chieftains and heads over you?” (Jeremiah 13:21). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘He was going on his way, and then you are sending to him and saying: “So said your servant, Jacob.”’