Jacob Arrives Whole and the Promise of Seven Troubles

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 133:26

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And Esau returned that day on his way to Seir" (Genesis 33:16). And where were the four hundred men? They slipped away one by one on their own, saying, Let us not be scorched by his coals. When did the Holy One, blessed be He, repay them for this? Later, as it says, "and not a man of them escaped except four hundred young men who rode on camels" (1 Samuel 30:17). "And Jacob journeyed to Succoth" (Genesis 33:17). How many years did our father Jacob spend in Succoth? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said eighteen months: a booth, a house, and booths. Rabbi Pinchas in the name of Rabbi Avin said that during all those years Jacob did not cease pouring out drink offerings. "And Jacob came whole" (Genesis 33:18). "In six troubles He will deliver you, and in seven no evil shall touch you" (Job 5:19). If they are six, I stand firm in them; and if they are seven, I stand firm in them. "In famine He redeemed you from death" (Job 5:20): "for these two years the famine has been in the land" (Genesis 45:6). "And in war from the power of the sword": Esau and his chiefs. "You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue": this is Laban, who lay in wait over his money to plunder it. "And you shall know that your tent is at peace": the affair of Reuben and Bilhah, the affair of Judah and Tamar. "And you shall know that your offspring are many": our father Jacob did not depart from the world until he saw sixty myriads of his children's children. "You shall come to the grave in ripe age" (Job 5:26): the Rabbis say, lacking nothing, as it says, "And Jacob came whole." "A song of ascents. Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, let Israel now say" (Psalms 129:1-2). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, Have they prevailed against you? He answered, "Yet they have not prevailed against me" (Psalms 129:2): and Jacob came whole. "The sower in tears" (Psalms 126:5): this is Jacob, who sowed the blessings in tears, saying, "Perhaps my father will feel me" (Genesis 27:12). "Shall reap in joy": "and God give you of the dew of heaven" (Genesis 27:28). "He goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing": he drew out his seed. "He shall surely come home in joy, bearing his sheaves": he came carrying young men and young women.

Themes

JacobProvidenceBlessing

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