Why Jacob Blessed His Sons With El Shaddai After His Sorrows

"[And may El Shaddai grant you mercy]" (Genesis 43:14). What did Jacob see that he should bless them with El Shaddai? To teach you that many afflictions had come upon him. While he was yet in his mother's womb, Esau quarreled with him, as it is said, "And the children struggled together within her" (Genesis 25:22). And so it says, "Because he pursued his brother with the sword and destroyed his womb" (Amos 1:11)—"his womb" is written. He fled from Esau to Laban; see how many troubles: "Thus I was: in the day the drought consumed me," etc. (Genesis 31:40). When he departed, Laban pursued after him to kill him, [as it is said,] "And he pursued after him a journey of {three} [seven] days" (Genesis 31:23). He escaped from him. Esau came and sought to kill him; on his account he lost all that gift, "two hundred she-goats," etc. (Genesis 32:15). He went out from Esau, and the trouble of Dinah came upon him; and afterward the trouble of Rachel; and afterward these troubles. He sought to rest a little, until the trouble of Joseph came; and afterward the trouble of his father Isaac, who died ten years after the selling of Joseph. And the Scripture cries out, "I was not at ease, neither was I quiet, neither had I rest; yet trouble came" (Job 3:26). Afterward there came upon him the trouble of Simeon, and afterward the trouble of Benjamin. Therefore he prayed "And may El Shaddai," and said: The One who said to the heavens and to the earth "Enough" (dai) shall say to my afflictions "Enough" (dai). For when the Holy One, blessed be He, created the heavens and the earth, they kept stretching forth until the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them "Enough" (dai). Therefore it is written "And El Shaddai."