The story goes that after Jacob finished praying – really pouring his heart out, connecting with the Divine – he got down to brass tacks. He started organizing. See, Jacob was no fool. He knew he was walking into a potentially dangerous situation. He'd been away for so long, and old wounds can fester.
The very first thing he did was divide everyone traveling with him into two groups. He appointed Damesek and Alinus, the sons of Eliezer – remember Abraham's loyal servant? – and their own sons to lead them. Why divide them like this? Well, the rabbis saw a valuable lesson here. Jacob was hedging his bets. As the old saying goes (and as Ginzberg points out in Legends of the Jews), don't put all your eggs in one basket! Don't conceal your entire fortune in one hiding place, lest you risk losing everything at once.
Then came the matter of the gifts. Jacob wasn’t just going to show up empty-handed. He knew Esau, and he knew his brother's... tendencies. Let's just say Esau had a strong appreciation for material things. So, Jacob prepared a substantial present of livestock. But here's where it gets interesting. He didn't just send it all at once.
He divided the cattle into three droves. Imagine the scene: Esau receives the first drove, thinking, "Okay, this is it. Jacob's being generous." Then, BAM! A second drove appears on the horizon. Surprise! And then, just when Esau's starting to feel really impressed, a third one shows up.
Why the theatrics? Well, Jacob knew his brother's ta'avah, his avarice, all too well. He wanted to make a real impression. It was a calculated move, designed to soften Esau up and maybe, just maybe, pave the way for a peaceful reunion. A little bit of ancient sibling psychology, perhaps?
It's a reminder that even in the most fraught situations, a little strategic thinking can go a long way. And maybe, just maybe, a well-placed gift or two can’t hurt either. We can almost picture Jacob, hoping, praying, and strategizing all at once, as he prepared to face his brother after so many years. What would you do in his place?