Why Jacob's Guardian Angels Ascend and Descend at the Border

"And Jacob sent angels" (Genesis 32:4). This is what Scripture says: "For He will charge His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways" (Psalms 91:11). When? At the time when a person is in the Land of Israel, the angels who are in the Land of Israel guard him. And from whom do you learn this? From Jacob. For at the time when he sought to go outside the Land, what is written? "And he dreamed, and behold a ladder," etc., "and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it" (Genesis 28:12). It should only have said "descending and ascending," for once a person descends, he ascends. Yet it says "ascending and descending." This tells you: those angels who had been guarding him in the Land of Israel ascended, and others descended to guard him outside the Land. He did not do otherwise: when he came from Paddan-aram, those angels who had been guarding him in the Land of Israel descended, as it is said, "And Jacob said when he saw them," etc., "and he called the name of that place Mahanaim" (Genesis 32:3). "Camp" (mahaneh) is not written here, but "Mahanaim"—two camps: those first ones and those latter ones. What did Jacob do? When he wished to send to Esau, he took from these and from those and sent, and as it is said, "And Jacob sent angels." And do not be astonished, for behold, the youngest of his household spoke with the angel. Who is this? This is Joseph. For when he said to him, "Go now and see," etc. (Genesis 37:14), what is written? "And a man found him," etc. (Genesis 37:15). What did he say to him? "And the man said: They have journeyed from here," etc. (Genesis 37:17). What is "Dothan"? That this angel was guarding the religion of Yah (dat Yah). And you, do not be astonished about Jacob that he sent angels, nor about Joseph—rather, even with Hagar the angels spoke. What is written? "And an angel of God called to Hagar" (Genesis 21:17). How many angels spoke with her? Rabbi Levi said, and our Rabbis said: three. And if the maidservant converses with the angels, do not be astonished about Jacob who sent the angels. Therefore it is written, "And Jacob sent angels."