“He divided the people” – the Torah taught you proper conduct; that a person should not place all his property in one corner. From whom do you learn this? It is from Jacob, as it is stated: “He divided the people…” Likewise it says: “And hid them, fifty men to a cave” (I Kings 18:4).13Ovadya hid one hundred prophets from Jezebel, fifty in each of two caves, rather than all together in one cave. “He said: If Esau will come upon the one camp, and smite it, the remaining camp will survive” (Genesis 32:9).
“He said: If Esau will come upon the one camp, and smite it” – these are our brethren in the south;14The Land of Israel. “the remaining camp will survive” – these are our brethren in the Diaspora. Rabbi Hoshaya said: Even though they survived, they fast on our behalf on Monday and Thursday.15Even though they are not being threatened, they fast and pray on their behalf.