Jacob's Wealth and the Travelers Who Named Their Father

Rabbi Levi said: Even if you searched through all the tents of Kedar, you would not find thirty nursing camels with their young. See the wealth of Jacob! "And he took of what came to hand" (Genesis 32:14) - precious stones and pearls. And why does he place the camels in the middle? He said to him [to God], as it were: Picture Yourself as though seated on the tribunal judging me; I am judged before You, and You are filled with mercy toward me. "And he commanded the first, saying: When Esau my brother meets you... you shall say, To your servant Jacob; it is a gift sent" (Genesis 32:17-20). Rabbi [Judah the Prince] and Rabbi Yose bar Yehudah were walking along the road, and they saw a certain gentile coming toward them. They said: He will ask us three things - who you are, what your trade is, and where you are going. "Who are you?" Jews. "What is your trade?" Commerce. "Where are you going?" To buy wheat from the storehouse of Yavneh. Rabbi stood facing the gentile to see what he would ask, and Rabbi Yose bar Rabbi Yehudah waited for him, saying: If he asks one thing, I will say another. They said to them: From where does this custom come? They said to them: From our father Jacob, "Thus shall you speak to Esau when you find him" (Genesis 32:20) - in his greatness.