The Sun That Set Early and Rose Again as a Sign for Jacob's Children

Rabbi Chanan said in the name of Rabbi Chanan of Sepphoris: he heard the voice of the ministering angels saying "the sun has come, the sun has arrived" at the moment when Joseph said "and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing to me" (Genesis 37:9). They said: who revealed to this one that my name is "sun"? Those two hours when the Holy One, blessed be He, caused the sun to set as Jacob left his father's house. When did He return them to him? Upon his return to his father's house, as it is written, "and the sun rose for him as he passed Penuel" (Genesis 32:31). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: you are a sign for your children. Just as at your leaving your father's house I caused the disc of the sun to set for you, and at your return I restored the disc of the sun to you, so too your children: at their going forth, "she who bore seven languishes, she breathes out her life, her sun has set" (Jeremiah 15:9); and at their return, what does it say? "And the sun of righteousness shall rise for you who fear My name, with healing in its wings" (Malachi 3:20). Rabbi Akiva said: I asked Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Yehoshua in the market of Emmaus, when they went to buy an animal for the wedding feast of Rabban Gamliel's son: it is written, "and the sun rose for him as he passed Penuel"; did the sun rise for him alone? Surely it rose for the whole world! Rabbi Yitzchak said: the sun that had set on his account rose on his account, as it is written, "and Jacob went out and traveled" and it is written "and he came upon the place" (Genesis 28:10-11). When he reached Haran, he reflected and said: is it possible that I passed through a place where my fathers prayed and did not pray there? He set his mind to return, and the earth contracted for him; immediately, "and he came upon the place." After he prayed he set his mind to return, but the Holy One, blessed be He, said: this righteous man has come to My lodging place, and shall he depart without staying the night? Immediately the sun set. It is written, "and he took of the stones of the place and put them at his head" (Genesis 28:11). Rabbi Yitzchak said: this teaches that all the stones gathered together, and each and every one said, "upon me let this righteous man rest his head." It was taught: and they all merged into one.