“Jacob traveled to Sukot, and built him a house, and established booths [sukot] for his livestock. Therefore, he called the name of the place Sukot” Genesis 33:17). “Jacob traveled to Sukot” – how many years did our patriarch Jacob remain in Sukot? Rabbi Abba said: Eighteen months – Sukot, house, Sukot, and in Beit El six months.
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Levi: All those months that he remained in Beit El, he would give Esau that same gift. Rabbi Avin says in the name of Rabbi Ḥuneya: For nine years he would give Esau that same gift. Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Abba: All those years34Some commentaries suggest that the correct reading is “months.” Others explain that Jacob returned to pour libations in Beit El for many years after he left Beit El. that Jacob remained in Beit El, he did not refrain from pouring libations.
Rabbi Ḥanan said: Anyone who knows how many libations Jacob our patriarch poured in Beit El would know how to calculate the waters of Tiberias.