Jacob Came Whole to Shechem Healed by the Torah

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayishlach 9:1

"And Jacob came whole <to the city of Shechem>" (Genesis 33:18). Let our master teach us: what is the law concerning speaking a superfluous word on the Sabbath? Thus our Rabbis taught: vows may be inquired into for annulment when they are for the needs of the Sabbath. Behold, a matter that is not for the needs of the Sabbath may not be inquired into, and it need not be said that it is forbidden to multiply words on the Sabbath. Rabbi Huna said: if a person is corrupted through a transgression, immediately the angels of destruction denounce him, as it is said, "And his soul draws near to the pit" (Job 33:22). What shall a person do? Let him occupy himself with Torah and he will endure. And if he does not know how to study Mishnah, let him read Scripture. And if he does not know how to read, let him take hold of the Torah and live, as it is said, "It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it" (Proverbs 3:18) — for if he is not a master of Torah, let him take hold of a Scripture-teacher and a Mishnah-teacher, who teach Torah, and he merits to live, as it is said, "It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it." But if he was a master of Torah, the Torah heals him from every evil thing and from every pain, as it is said, "A healing tongue is a tree of life" (Proverbs 15:4) — this is the Torah. You have no person who labored in Torah like our father Jacob, as it is said, "And Jacob was a wholehearted man, dwelling in tents" (Genesis 25:27). It is not written here "dwelling in a tent," but "dwelling in tents" — going forth from the house of study of Shem, and going to the house of study of Eber, and from the house of study of Eber to the house of study of Abraham. Therefore, when he wrestled with the angel, he was limping upon his thigh, as it is said, "And the sun rose for him <...> and he was limping upon his thigh" (Genesis 32:32 [31]). Immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself to him and healed him and brought him whole to the city of Shechem. From where? From what is read in this matter: "And Jacob came whole <to the city of Shechem>" (Genesis 33:18).

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