Why Jacob Trembled and How God Sent Michael and Gabriel

Another interpretation of "And Jacob was afraid" (Genesis 32:8): Our Rabbis said: His body became like this wax, and the Holy Spirit cries out, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small" (Proverbs 24:10). In that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I strengthen you, indeed I help you" (Isaiah 41:10). "I strengthen you" — through Michael; "I help you" — through Gabriel; "indeed I uphold you with My righteous right hand" (ibid.); "Behold, I am with you" (Genesis 28:15). In that hour, "And he divided the people who were with him" (Genesis 32:8). What did he do? He armed them on the inside and clothed them in white on the outside, and he prepared himself for three things: for prayer, for a gift, and for war. For a gift — from where? "And the gift passed on before him" (Genesis 32:22). For war — from where? "And he said, If Esau comes" (Genesis 32:9). For prayer — from where? "And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac" (Genesis 32:10). What is written after it? "I am unworthy of all the kindnesses and of all the truth... Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau" (Genesis 32:11-12). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: You have called upon Me; by your life, I will deliver you, as it is said, "He shall call to Me, You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation" (Psalms 89:27).