“Jacob lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children among Leah, and Rachel, and the two maidservants” (Genesis 33:1). “Jacob lifted his eyes and saw…” Rabbi Levi said: A lion was angry at the animals and beasts. They said: Who will go and placate it?
This fox said to them: ‘Come here, as I know three hundred parables, and I will placate him.’ They said to it: ‘Let us go.’ It walked a bit and stopped. They said: ‘What is this?’
It said to them: ‘I forgot one hundred.’ They said to it: ‘We will suffice even with two hundred.’ It walked a bit and stopped. They said: ‘What is this?’
It said to them: ‘I forgot one hundred more.’ They said to it: ‘We will suffice even with one hundred.’ When they reached there, it said: ‘I forgot them all. Instead, let each and every one placate for itself.’
So, Jacob our patriarch; Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said: [Initially Jacob said] I have the ability to pray. Rabbi Levi said: [Initially Jacob said] I have the ability to organize a war. But when he arrived: “He divided the children…” – he said: Let the merit of each and every person stand on his behalf.