Jacob's Prayer and the Bribe That Blinds Esau's Wise Men

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 32:9

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"If Esau comes," etc. (Genesis 32:9). At that hour Jacob stood in prayer before the Holy One, blessed be He, and he said to his sons: Masters of the worlds, it is written in Your Torah, "ye shall not kill it and its young both in one day" (Leviticus 22:28); and if this wicked one comes and kills me and my children, what shall I do? What did he do? He sent him a gift to stop up his eyes, as it is said, "for the bribe blinds the eyes of the wise" (Deuteronomy 16:19); and "the wise" means none other than the Edomites, as it is said, "and I will destroy the wise out of Edom" (Obadiah 1:8).

Themes

PrayerPatriarchsJacobWisdomAdam Eve

Biblical References

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