Esau's Men Scattered by Jacob's Guardian Angels

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 33:16

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"So [Esau] returned that day on his way [to Seir]" (Genesis 33:16), and so forth. Where did they go? This teaches that when the angels saw that [Esau] was saying to them, "Who are you?" and the angels answered, "We are messengers in the name of Jacob," they would strike them, and each one went on his way. They said that there was none who would not be scorched by the coal of Jacob.

Themes

PatriarchsJacobAngelsProtectionBabel

Biblical References

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Midrash TanchumaThe Angels of God Ascending and Descending on ItHe dreamed, and behold, a ladder set upon the earth; and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it (Gen. 28:Book of JubileesJacob — Shechem Among the FathersThe Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text not included in the Hebrew Bible but considered scripture by some, certainly thinks so. It gives us a slightly diffBook of JubileesJacob's Transgression of RebeccaTwo brothers, locked in a struggle for inheritance and blessing, but also, according to some traditions, watched over by celestial guardians of immense power. WLegends of the JewsJacob Prayed for His Descendants' Survival Against EsauJacob wasn't just praying for himself. According to Legends of the Jews, he was also pleading for the future of his descendants, that they wouldn't be wiped outLegends of the JewsGod Rebuked Jacob for Calling Esau My LordJacob sent messengers ahead, bearing gifts, with instructions to address Esau as "my lord.. from his slave Jacob." It sounds deferential, doesn’t it? But accordLegends of the JewsBirth of MichaelLegends of the Jews turns to Birth of Michael. So, what did Michael do? The text doesn't explicitly tell us. What it does tell us is Michael's defense: "I did i