The Forbidden Sinew and the Angel Who Wrestled Jacob

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 133:8

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

There we learned: the sinew of the thigh applies in the Land and outside the Land, while the Temple stands and while it does not stand, with non-sacred animals and with consecrated ones, and it applies to domestic beasts and to wild beasts, in the right thigh and in the left thigh. Rabbi Judah says: it applies only to one, and reason determines that it is the right one. And what is the reason? Rava said: because Scripture says "the thigh" (Genesis 32:33), meaning the more favored of the thigh. And the Rabbis hold that this "the thigh" extends the prohibition through the whole thigh, to exclude the outer one, which is not forbidden, as Rav Judah said in the name of Samuel: there are two sinews, the inner one adjacent to the bone is forbidden and one is liable for it, the outer one adjacent to the flesh is forbidden but one is not liable for it. Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said: the reason of Rabbi Judah is derived from here, "in his wrestling with him" (Genesis 32:25), like a man who embraces his fellow and his hand reaches to his fellow's right side. And Rabbi Samuel bar Nachman said: he appeared to him like a heathen, for the Master said, when a heathen joins an Israelite on the road, the Israelite places him on his right. Rav Samuel bar Acha, before Rav Pappa in the name of Rava bar Ulla, said: he appeared to him like a Torah scholar, for the Master said, one who walks at the right of his teacher is an ignoramus. And the Rabbis say: the angel came at him from behind and grasped him at both. And the Rabbis, what do they expound from "in his wrestling with him"? They require it for the other teaching of Rabbi Joshua ben Levi: it teaches that they raised dust with their feet until it reached the Throne of Glory. It is written here "in his wrestling with him," and it is written elsewhere "and the clouds are the dust of His feet" (Nahum 1:3). Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said: why is it called the sinew of nashe? Because it slipped [nashah] from its place and rose. And so it says "their might has failed [nashetah], they have become as women" (Jeremiah 51:30). Rabbi Yose son of Rabbi Chanina said: what is meant by "the LORD sent a word against Jacob, and it fell upon Israel" (Isaiah 9:7)? This is the sinew of the thigh, whose prohibition spread through all Israel. "And he said: let me go, for the dawn has risen" (Genesis 32:27). Jacob said to him: are you a thief or a gambler, that you fear the dawn? He said to him: I am an angel, and from the day I was created my time to sing has not come until now. This supports Rabbi Chananel, for Rabbi Chananel said in the name of Rav: three companies of ministering angels recite song each day, one says "Holy," one says "Holy, holy," and one says "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory" (Isaiah 6:3). "He strove with an angel and prevailed; he wept and made supplication to him" (Hosea 12:5). I do not know who was made master over whom. When it says "for you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:29), this tells you Jacob was made master over the angel. "He wept and made supplication to him": I do not know who wept to whom. When it says "let me go, for the dawn has risen" (Genesis 32:27), this tells you the angel wept to Jacob. "For you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:29): Rava said, he hinted to him that two princes were destined to come from him, the Exilarch in Babylonia and the Patriarch in the Land of Israel. Samuel said: the Torah forbade only what is on the socket, as it is written "which is on the socket of the thigh." Rav Pappa said: this is like a dispute of the Tannaim. If one ate it and there is not an olive's bulk in it, he is liable; Rabbi Judah says, until there is an olive's bulk in it. What is the Rabbis' reason? It is a creature in its own right. And Rabbi Judah, "eating" is written regarding it. And the one who eats the sinew of an unclean animal, Rabbi Judah holds him liable for two, and Rabbi Simeon exempts.

Themes

CommandmentsAngelsPatriarchs

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