“He placed the maidservants and their children first, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last” (Genesis 33:2). “He placed the maidservants and their children first” – this is to say: The farther back one is, the more he is beloved. “He passed before them and prostrated himself earthward seven times, until he reached his brother” (Genesis 33:3). “He passed before them” – that is what is written: “As a father has mercy upon his son” (Psalms 103:13).
Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: Like the most merciful of the patriarchs. Which is the most merciful of the patriarchs? Rabbi Yehuda said: This is Abraham. Abraham said: “Far be it from You to do a thing like this” (Genesis 18:25).16Abraham prayed to avert the destruction of Sodom.
Rabbi Levi said: Jacob – “he passed before them.” He said: It is preferable that he harm me and not them. “And prostrated himself earthward seven times” – why seven? It is based on: “The righteous man falls seven times and rises” (Proverbs 24:16).
Another matter: Why seven? He [Jacob] said to him [Esau]: ‘May you consider yourself as though you are situated behind seven partitions and sitting and judging, and I am being judged before you, and you are filled with mercy upon me.’ Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: He did not cease prostrating and progressing, prostrating and progressing, until he introduced the attribute of justice into the attribute of mercy.17So that the attribute of justice would be subjected to the attribute of mercy.