The Angel in the Narrow Place and the Righteous Seed of Jacob

Midrash Aggadah, Numbers 22:26

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And he stood in a narrow place" (Numbers 22:26) — corresponding to Jacob, of whom it is said, "And Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed" (Genesis 32:8). "Where there is no way to turn right or left" — this teaches you that since he comes to curse the seed of Jacob, who are all righteous, he could not prevail against them, for he has no permission to curse them.

Themes

JacobPatriarchsRighteousnessAngelsWisdom

Biblical References

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Book of JubileesIsaac Blesses Jacob with an Eternal PromiseThat feeling, that yearning for a brighter future, it’s ancient. And it echoes beautifully in the Book of Jubilees, specifically in Chapter 31, a moment of pureBook of JubileesAccount of JacobIt seems like it's been around for millennia! We find a great example of this generational tension in the Book of Jubilees. Now, if you're not familiar, the BooBook of JubileesEsau's Declaration of War Against Jacob in JubileesThe Book of Jubilees, for those who aren't familiar, is an ancient Jewish text, considered part of the biblical apocrypha or pseudepigrapha – writings that hoveLegends 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