Daf 166a (דַּף קס״ו ע״א)

Rabbi El'azar explains this verse concerning Ya'akov (רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מוֹקִים לֵיהּ לְהַאי קְרָא בְּיַעֲקֹב), for Kudsha Berikh Hu prepared appointed ministering angels to accompany him (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַזְמִין בַּהֲדֵיהּ מַלְאָכִין מַשִּׁרְיָין מְמַנָּן), since Ya'akov came complete with all the exalted tribes, perfected as was fitting (בְּגִין דְהָא אִיהוּ אָתֵי שְׁלִים בְּשִׁבְטִין עִלָּאִין כֻּלְּהוּ שְׁלֵמִין כְּדְקָא יְאוּת), as it is stated (כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר), "And Ya'akov went on his way, and angels of Elohim met him" (וְיַעֲקֹב הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ וַיִּפְגְּעוּ בוֹ מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִים) and so it is taught (וְאִתְּמָר). Now here, once Ya'akov was saved from Lavan and separated from him (וְהָכָא כֵּיוָן דְּאִשְׁתְּזִיב מִנֵּיהּ דְּלָבָן וְהָא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנֵּיהּ), then Shekhinta joined him (כְּדֵין אִזְדַּוְּוגַת עִמֵּיהּ שְׁכִינְתָּא), and holy ministering angels came to surround him (וַאֲתוּ מַשִּׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין לְסַחֲרָא לֵיהּ). At that point (וּכְדֵין), "Ya'akov said when he saw them," etc. (וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָם וְגו'). From these angels he sent to Esav (וּמֵאִינוּן מַלְאָכִין שַׁדַּר לֵיהּ לְעֵשָׂו), and this is the meaning of the verse, "And Ya'akov sent messengers" (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיִּשְׁלַח יַעֲקֹב מַלְאָכִים), actual angels indeed (מַלְאָכִים מַמָּשׁ הֲווּ וַדַּאי).

Rabbi Yitzchak opened and said (פָּתַח רִבִּי יִצְחָק וְאָמַר): It is written (כְּתִיב), (Tehillim 35): "The angel of Hashem encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them" (חוֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ יְיָ סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו וַיְחַלְּצֵם). This has been explained (הָא אוּקְמוּהָ). But in another place it is written (אֲבָל בְּאֲתַר חַד כְּתִיב): "For He shall command His angels concerning you" (כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךְ), many angels (מַלְאָכָיו סַגִּיאִין), whereas here only one angel is mentioned (וְהָכָא חַד דִּכְתִיב): "The angel of Hashem encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them" (חוֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ יְיָ סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו וַיְחַלְּצֵם). Rather (אֶלָּא), "He shall command His angels concerning you" refers to other angels (כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךְ, אִלֵּין שְׁאָר מַלְאָכִין). "The angel of Hashem encamps" is Shekhinta (מַלְאַךְ יְיָ סָבִיב דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא), as it says (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר), (Shemot 3): "The angel of Hashem appeared to him in a flame of fire from within the bush" (וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ יְיָ אֵלָיו בְּלַבַּת אֵשׁ מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה). Thus (וּבְגִין כָּךְ), "the angel of Hashem encamps around those who fear Him," surrounding him from all sides to deliver him (חוֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ יְיָ סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו, לַאֲקָפָא לֵיהּ בְּכָל סִטְרִין בְּגִין לְשֵׁזָבָא לֵיהּ). When Shekhinta dwells within a person (וְכַד שְׁכִינְתָּא שַׁרְיָא בְּגַוֵּיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ), numerous holy angels are all summoned there (כַּמָּה מַשִּׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין כֻּלְּהוּ אִזְדַּמְּנוּ לְתַמָּן).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), when King David was saved from Achish, king of Gat (כַּד דָּוִד מַלְכָּא אִשְׁתְּזִיב מֵאָכִישׁ מֶלֶךְ גַת), he spoke this verse (כְּדֵין אָמַר הַאי), for Shekhinta surrounded him and saved him from Achish and his people, and all those who surrounded him (בְּגִין דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא סַחֲרָא לֵיהּ וְאִשְׁתְּזִיב מִנַּיְיהוּ מֵאָכִישׁ וּמֵעַמֵּיהּ כָּל אִינוּן דְּאַתְקִיפוּ (נ''א דאקיפו) בֵּיהּ). What is written? (מַה כְּתִיב), (Shmuel I 21): "And he feigned madness (וַיִּתְהוֹלֵל) in their hands"—why does it say "feigned madness" (אַמַּאי וַיִּתְהוֹלֵל)? It should have said "he acted insane" (וַיִּשְׁתַּגֵּעַ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ), as it says (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): "Why did you bring this one to act insane before me?" (כִּי הֵבֵאתֶם אֶת זֶה לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּעַ עָלַי). Rather, it returns to that which David first said, as it is written (Tehillim 73): "For I was envious of the arrogant" (אֶלָּא אַהֲדַר עַל הַהוּא מִלָּה דְאֲמַר דָּוִד בְּקַדְמִיתָא דִּכְתִיב, כִּי קִנֵּאתִי בַּהוֹלְלִים וְגו'). Kudsha Berikh Hu said to him: By your life, you still will require this! (אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חַיֶּיךָ עֲדַיִין אַנְתְּ אִצְטְרִיךְ לְהַאי). Thus, when he entered the house of Achish, and they surrounded him, what is written? (כֵּיוָן דְּעָאל לְבֵי אָכִישׁ וְאַתְקִיפוּ בֵּיהּ, מַה כְּתִיב) "And he feigned madness (וַיִּתְהוֹלֵל) in their hands," as those arrogant ones about whom he had earlier been envious (כְּאִינוּן הוֹלְלִים דְּקַנֵּי בְּקַדְמִיתָא). At that moment, Shekhinta came and settled around David (וּכְדֵין אַתְיָא שְׁכִינְתָּא וְשַׁרְיָא סַחֲרָנֵיהּ דְּדָוִד). And if you will say that Shekhinta dwells only in its own inheritance, which is the Holy Land (וְאִי תֵימָא שְׁכִינְתָּא לָא שַׁרְיָא אֶלָּא (באחסנתה) בְּאַחְסַנְתֵּיהּ, דְּאִיהִי אַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא), it certainly does not dwell elsewhere for nourishment (וַדַּאי לָא שַׁרְיָא בְּגִין (דינקין) לִינָקָא מִנָּהּ), but it does dwell there temporarily for protection (אֲבָל לַאֲגָנָא שַׁרְיָא). And here, when Ya'akov came from the house of Lavan, all the holy hosts surrounded him, and he was not left alone (וְהָכָא כַּד אֲתָא יַעֲקֹב מִבֵּי לָבָן כֻּלְּהוּ מַשִּׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין סַחֲרָן לֵיהּ וְלָא אִשְׁתָּאַר בִּלְחוֹדוֹי).

Rabbi Chizkiyah said: If so (אָמַר רִבִּי חִזְקִיָה אִי הָכִי), (Some say: all the holy hosts came there, and Shekhinta was with him [ס''א דכלהו משריין קדישין אתו בההה ושכינתא בהדיה], why is it written (אַמַּאי כְּתִיב): "And Ya'akov was left alone," etc.? (וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב לְבַדּוֹ וְגו'). Rabbi Yehudah said: Because he brought himself into danger, and he saw that danger with his eyes, those angels separated themselves from him (אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּגִין דְּאָעִיל גַּרְמֵיהּ לְסַכָּנָה, וְהֲוָה חָמֵי לְהַהִיא סַכָּנָה בְּעֵינוֹי, אִינוּן אִתְפָּרְשׁוּ מִנֵּיהּ). Thus he said (וּכְדֵין אָמַר): "I am diminished from all the kindness and all the truth" (קָטֹנְתִּי מִכֹּל הַחֲסָדִים וּמִכָּל הָאֱמֶת)—these are the holy angels who departed from him (אִלֵּין אִינוּן מַשִּׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין דְּאִתְפָּרְשׁוּ מִנֵּיהּ).

Rabbi Yitzchak said: To leave him alone with the guardian angel of Esav, who came with divine permission (רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר בְּגִין לְשַׁבְקָא לֵיהּ עִם הַהוּא מְמַנָּא דְעֵשָׂו דְּבִרְשׁוּתָא עִלָּאָה הֲוָה אָתֵי). And these angels departed to recite the heavenly song, as their time had come to praise Kudsha Berikh Hu at that moment (וְאִלֵּין אָזְלֵי לְמֵימַר שִׁירָתָא דְּמָטָא זִמְנַיְיהוּ לְשַׁבָּחָא לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא), and afterward they returned (וּלְבָתַר אַהֲדָרוּ). This is the meaning of what is written (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב): "I am diminished from all the kindness and all the truth that You have done to Your servant," etc. (קָטֹנְתִּי מִכֹּל הַחֲסָדִים וּמִכָּל הָאֱמֶת אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ אֶת עַבְדֶּךָ וְגו'), "and now I have become two camps" (וְעַתָּה הָיִיתִי לִשְׁנֵי מַחֲנוֹת)—the camp of Shekhinta and all Her hosts (מַחֲנֶה שְׁכִינְתָּא וְכָל בֵּיתֵיהּ). (Some say: one camp, as it is written: "This is the camp of Elohim" [ס''א מַחֲנֶה חַד הֲוָה דִּכְתִיב מַחֲנֵה אֱלֹהִים זֶה]). "Two camps" refers to Ya'akov, who was perfected on all sides, from two portions, white and red (לִשְׁנֵי מַחֲנוֹת, דְהֲוָה שְׁלִים מִכָל סִטְרִין מִתְּרֵין חוּלָקִין חִוַּור וְסוּמָק).

Rabbi El'azar said (רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר), it has been taught (הָא אִתְּמָר): That night was under the dominion of the side of Esav (הַהוּא לֵילְיָא שׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דְסִטְרָא דְעֵשָׂו הֲוָה). For at that time, as it is written (Bereishit 1): "Let there be lights," spelled deficiently (יְהִי מְאֹרֹת חָסֵר). Therefore, "Ya'akov remained alone" (וּבְגִין כָּךְ וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב לְבַדּוֹ), since Ya'akov, who is the sun, was left alone (דְּאִשְׁתָּאַר יַעֲקֹב דְאִיהוּ שִׁמְשָׁא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי), for the moon had become concealed from the sun (דְּאִתְכַּסְיָא סִיהֲרָא מִן שִׁמְשָׁא). Yet despite this, the protection (Some say: and despite all this, the protection) (וְאַף עַל גַּב דִּנְטִירוּ (ס''א וְעִם כָּל דָּא נְטִירוּ)) of Kudsha Berikh Hu never entirely left him (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָא אִתְעֲדֵי מִנֵּיהּ מִכֹּל וָכֹל). For this reason, [the angel] could not prevail against him (וְעַל דָּא לֹא יָכוֹל לוֹ), as it is written: "And he saw that he could not prevail against him" (דִּכְתִיב וַיַּרְא כִּי לֹא יָכוֹל לוֹ). He looked to the right and saw Avraham (אִסְתַּכַּל לִימִינָא וְחָמָא לְאַבְרָהָם). He looked to the left and saw Yitzchak (אִסְתַּכַּל לִשְׂמָאלָא וְחָמָא לְיִצְחָק). He looked at the body and saw that it was included from this side and that side (אִסְתַּכַּל בְּגוּפָא וְחָמָא דְאִתְכְּלִיל מִסִּטְרָא דָא וְאִתְכְּלִיל מִסִּטְרָא דָא). Then he touched the hollow of his thigh (כְּדֵין וַיִּגַע בְּכַף יְרֵכוֹ), at the single pillar that supports the body yet remains outside the body (בְּחַד עַמּוּדָא דְּסָמִיךְ לְגוּפָא דְּאִיהוּ לְבַר מִן גּוּפָא). Therefore it says: "The angel of Hashem encamps around those who fear Him, and he rescues them" (וּבְגִין כָּךְ חוֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ יְיָ סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו וַיְחַלְּצֵם). He surrounds him from all sides to deliver him (אַקִּיף לֵיהּ בְּכָל סִטְרוֹי בְּגִין לְשֵׁזָבָא לֵיהּ). And when Shekhinta dwells within him (Some say: near him) (וְכַד שָׁרָא שְׁכִינְתָּא בְּגַוֵּיהּ (ס''א לְגַבֵּיהּ)), numerous hosts and angelic armies accompany Her (כַּמָּה חֵילִין וּמַשִּׁרְיָין אָתוּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ). And from those angels he sent to Esav (וּמֵאִינוּן מַלְאָכִין שַׁדַּר לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּעֵשָׂו). "Ya'akov sent angels" (וַיִּשְׁלַח יַעֲקֹב מַלְאָכִים). Rabbi Abba said: But why did he provoke Esav at all? (אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא וְכִי אַמַּאי אִתְעַר אִיהוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּעֵשָׂו). It would have been better for him to remain silent concerning him (וְטַב הֲוָה לֵיהּ לְאִשְׁתּוּקֵי מִנֵּיהּ). However, Ya'akov said: I know that Esav fears the honor of our father, and would never provoke me in his presence (אֶלָּא אָמַר יַעֲקֹב יְדַעְנָא דְּעֵשָׂו חַיִּישׁ לֵיהּ לִיקָרָא דְאַבָּא וּלְעָלַם לָא אַרְגִּיז קַמֵּיהּ). Indeed, I know that as long as my father lives, I need not fear Esav (וְהָא יְדַעְנָא הוֹאִיל וְאַבָּא קַיָּים לָא מִסְתָּפִינָא מִנֵּיהּ). But now (since my father lives, I desire to reconcile (Some say: reconcile myself) with him) (אֲבָל הַשְׁתָּא (הוֹאִיל דְאַבָּא קַיָּים בְּעִינָא לְאִתְפַּיֵּיס (לְאִתְפַּיְּיסָא)) עִמֵּיהּ), immediately "Ya'akov sent angels before him" (מִיָּד וַיִּשְׁלַח יַעֲקֹב מַלְאָכִים לְפָנָיו).