Vayishlach (parsha)

Vayishlach (Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁלַח, "And he sent") is the eighth weekly Torah portion, covering Genesis 32:4–36:43. It tells of Jacob's return to Canaan, his wrestling with the angel, his reunion with Esau, the rape of Dinah, and the deaths of Rachel and Isaac.

Messengers to Esau

Jacob sends messengers to Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, saying: "I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now; and I have oxen, and asses, and flocks, and menservants, and maidservants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in your sight" (Genesis 32:5–6). The messengers return: "We came to your brother Esau, and he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him" (Genesis 32:7). Jacob is greatly afraid and distressed. He divides his people and flocks into two camps, thinking: "If Esau comes to the one camp and smites it, then the other camp shall escape" (Genesis 32:9). Jacob prays to God: "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies... Deliver me, I pray You, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and smite me, and the mother with the children" (Genesis 32:11–12). He also prepares a gift: 200 she-goats, 20 he-goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 milch camels with their colts, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 she-asses, and 10 foals, sent in separate droves with a message: "These are a present from your servant Jacob to my lord Esau" (Genesis 32:19).

Wrestling with the Angel

וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ עַד עֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר

"And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day." (Genesis 32:25)

Jacob takes his two wives, two handmaids, and eleven sons, and crosses the ford of the Jabbok. He sends them over the brook and remains alone. A man wrestles with him until daybreak. When the man sees he cannot prevail, he touches the hollow of Jacob's thigh, dislocating it. Jacob says: "I will not let you go, except you bless me" (Genesis 32:27). The man asks his name: "Jacob." He says: "Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, 'he who strives with God'), for as a prince you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed" (Genesis 32:29). Jacob asks the man's name; he says: "Why do you ask my name?" and blesses him there. Jacob names the place Peniel (פְּנִיאֵל, "Face of God"): "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" (Genesis 32:31). The sun rises as he passes over Penuel, limping because of his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh (gid ha-nasheh) to this day.

Reunion with Esau

Jacob lifts his eyes and sees Esau coming with 400 men. He divides the children among Leah, Rachel, and the handmaids, with the handmaids and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. Jacob passes over before them and bows to the ground seven times until he reaches Esau. Esau runs to meet him, embraces him, falls on his neck, and kisses him; they weep. Esau asks about the family and the gift. Jacob says: "To find grace in the sight of my lord" (Genesis 33:8). Esau says: "I have enough, my brother; keep that you have unto yourself" (Genesis 33:9). Jacob insists: "I have seen your face, as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. Take, I pray you, my blessing that is brought to you" (Genesis 33:10–11). Esau accepts. Esau offers to travel together; Jacob says the children and flocks are tender and he will go slowly, meeting Esau at Seir. But Jacob goes to Succoth and builds a house and booths for his cattle. Then he comes in peace to Shechem in Canaan and pitches his tent before the city. He buys a parcel of ground from the children of Hamor for 100 kesitah and erects an altar, calling it El-Elohe-Israel ("God, the God of Israel").

Dinah and Shechem

Dinah, Leah's daughter, goes out to see the daughters of the land. Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, sees her, takes her, and lies with her, defiling her. His soul cleaves to Dinah; he loves her and speaks kindly to her. Shechem asks his father Hamor to get Dinah as his wife. Jacob's sons hear and are grieved and very angry, "because he had wrought folly in Israel" (Genesis 34:7). Hamor proposes intermarriage. Shechem offers any dowry. Jacob's sons answer deceitfully: "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us. But in this will we consent: if you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised, then we will give our daughters to you, and take your daughters to us" (Genesis 34:14–16). Shechem and Hamor agree and convince the men of the city. On the third day, when the men are sore from circumcision, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, take their swords, come upon the city boldly, and slay all the males, including Hamor and Shechem. They take Dinah from Shechem's house and spoil the city — flocks, herds, asses, wealth, and their little ones and wives. Jacob says to Simeon and Levi: "You have troubled me, to make me stink among the inhabitants of the land" (Genesis 34:30). They reply: "Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?" (Genesis 34:31).

Return to Bethel

God tells Jacob: "Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother" (Genesis 35:1). Jacob tells his household to put away strange gods, purify themselves, and change garments. They give Jacob their foreign gods and earrings; Jacob hides them under the oak by Shechem. They journey to Bethel; God protects them. At Bethel, Jacob builds an altar and calls it El-Bethel, because God appeared to him there when he fled from Esau. God appears to Jacob again, blesses him, and says: "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be your name" (Genesis 35:10). God renews the covenant: "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins; and the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, to you I will give it" (Genesis 35:11–12). Jacob sets up a pillar and pours a drink offering and oil on it.

Deaths of Rachel and Isaac

They journey from Bethel. Rachel goes into hard labor. The midwife says: "Fear not, for you shall have this son also" (Genesis 35:17). As Rachel's soul departs, she names the child Ben-oni (בֶּן־אוֹנִי, "son of my sorrow"); Jacob names him Benjamin (בִּנְיָמִין, "son of the right hand"). Rachel is buried on the way to Ephrath (Bethlehem), and Jacob sets up a pillar on her grave. They continue to Migdal Eder. Reuben lies with Bilhah, his father's concubine; Israel hears of it. Jacob has twelve sons. Jacob comes to Isaac at Mamre (Kiryat Arba/Hebron). Isaac dies at 180, "an old man, and full of days," and is buried by Esau and Jacob in the Cave of Machpelah.

Genealogy of Esau

Genesis 36 lists the descendants of Esau (Edom): his wives (Adah, Oholibamah, Basemath), his sons (Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, Korah), and the chiefs (allufim) and kings of Edom before any king reigned over Israel. The chapter emphasizes that Esau separated from Jacob because the land could not bear them both (Genesis 36:6–7).

Major themes

• Struggle and transformation: Jacob's wrestling with the angel and his name change from Jacob to Israel.
• Reconciliation: Jacob and Esau's emotional reunion after 20 years.
• Violence and consequences: The massacre at Shechem and Jacob's criticism of Simeon and Levi.
• Return and renewal: Jacob's return to Bethel and the renewal of the covenant.
• Grief and loss: The deaths of Rachel and Isaac.
• Divine protection: God protects Jacob throughout his journey.

Classical commentaries

Rashi

Rashi explains that the "man" who wrestled with Jacob was the angel of Esau, representing the struggle between Israel and Edom. On Dinah, Rashi says she went out to see the daughters of the land and was taken. On Rachel's death, Rashi connects it to Jacob's vow at Bethel: he vowed to give a tenth, and now God took the "tenth" of his wives (Rachel being the tenth? a midrashic calculation).

Ramban

Ramban explains that the wrestling was a prophetic vision, not a physical fight. The angel of Esau could not overcome Jacob, representing Israel's ultimate triumph over Edom/Rome.

Midrashic interpretations

• Bereshit Rabbah 77:1: The angel of Esau said: "I have to sing a song in heaven on the same night you are wrestling with me" — referring to the destruction of the Temple.
• Bereshit Rabbah 77:3: Esau's kiss was not sincere; some say he bit Jacob's neck.
• Bereshit Rabbah 80:1: Dinah was destined to marry Esau, but Shechem violated her.
• Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer 37: The sinew of the thigh (gid ha-nasheh) is forbidden as a memorial of Jacob's wrestling.

Haftarah

The haftarah (Obadiah 1:1–21) prophesies the destruction of Edom (Esau's descendants) and the ultimate triumph of Israel. "The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble" (Obadiah 1:18).

References

1. Genesis 32:4 – 36:43 (Masoretic Text)
2. Rashi, Commentary on the Torah
3. Ramban, Commentary on the Torah
4. Bereshit Rabbah (Midrash)
5. Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer
6. The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis (Nahum M. Sarna, 1989)
7. Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary (JPS, 2001)
8. Sefaria.org, "Vayishlach" (parasha)