The Angels of the Land Who Came Out to Meet Jacob

[NOW JACOB DWELT in the land (Genesis 37:1).] This is what Scripture says (Isaiah 57:13): "When you cry out, let your gathered ones save you." What are these? These are the angels who were given to guard him at the hour he set out to go to Aram-Naharaim, for the angels who serve in the Land of Israel do not serve outside the Land, nor do those of outside the Land serve in the Land of Israel. So too Jacob saw some ascending and others descending, to go with him outside the Land. And when he came to return, the Holy One, blessed be He, called to those angels who had been serving him in the Land. He said to them: "Behold, Jacob is returning. Go out, and let us go out to meet him at his border (that is, his territory)." To what is the matter comparable? To a king whose son went out to a province by the sea to take a wife. After some days he came to return to his father's house. The king said to his troop (that is, his army): "Come, and let us go out to meet my son." So too, when Jacob came to return to his father's house, the Holy One, blessed be He, called to the ministering angels. He said to them: "Come, and let us go out to meet Jacob." As soon as Jacob lifted up his eyes, he saw them, as it is said (Genesis 32:2): "And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him." When Jacob saw them — how do we know that they were serving him in the Land of Israel? As it is said (Genesis 32:3): "And Jacob said when he saw them: This is God's camp." Therefore it is said (Isaiah 57:13): "When you cry out, let your gathered ones save you" — these are the angels. "But the wind shall carry them all away" (Isaiah 57:13) — these are Esau and his chiefs, as it is said (Genesis 36:7): "And he went into a land away from Jacob his brother." "But he who takes refuge in Me shall inherit the land" (Isaiah 57:13) — this is Jacob, as it is said: "Now Jacob dwelt."