Jacob Grows Vastly Rich and Is Summoned Back to the Land

"And when the flock were feeble, he did not set them" (Genesis 30:42). Rabbi Yohanan said: these were the early-born of Laban; Resh Lakish said: the late-born of Laban. "And the man increased exceedingly, exceedingly" (Genesis 30:43): a breach of abundance was opened for him resembling a foretaste of the World to Come. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: our father Jacob had two million and seven thousand two hundred herds. Rabbi Levi said: six hundred thousand dogs. Our rabbis say: one million two hundred thousand. And they do not really disagree: the one who says six hundred thousand reckons one dog for each flock; the one who says one million two hundred thousand reckons two dogs for each flock. "And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying" (Genesis 31:1). Hezekiah said: until Jacob our father went down there, they were not blessed with male offspring. This is what is written, "and he heard the words of Laban's sons," [implying sons were now born to Laban]. "And from what was our father's he has gained all this wealth" (ibid.): "wealth" [kavod] means nothing other than silver and gold, as it is said, "Plunder the silver, plunder the gold, for there is no end to the store, the wealth of every precious vessel" (Nahum 2:10). "And Jacob saw the face of Laban" (Genesis 31:2): "a man's heart changes his face, whether for good or for evil." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jacob: your father-in-law does not show you a pleasant face, yet you sit beside him? "Return to the land of your fathers... and I will be with you." "And the LORD said to Jacob, Return to the land of your fathers" (Genesis 31:3). "I cried to You, O LORD; I said, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Now, is not "the land of the living" only Tyre and her neighbors, where there is plenty and where there is cheap food? Yet you say "in the land of the living"? Rather, it is the land whose dead will live first in the days of the Messiah. Resh Lakish in the name of Bar Kappara derives it from here: "who gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to those who walk on it" (Isaiah 42:5). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: you said "my portion is in the land of the living" — "return to the land of your fathers and I will be with you." Your father awaits you, your mother awaits you, I Myself await you. Possessions outside the land are not included in blessing; only once you return to the land of your fathers will I be with you. Here you say "and I will be with you," and elsewhere it says, "and I have been with you wherever you went" (II Samuel 7:9). Rather, David, because he sustained all Israel, is told "wherever you went"; Jacob, because he sustained only his own household, is told "return to the land of your fathers and I will be with you."