Yaakov's Dividing of his Camp/1
Yaakov's Dividing of his Camp
Introduction
Conflicting Divisions
Bereshit 32 describes Yaakov's preparations for his encounter with Esav. After hearing that his brother is approaching with 400 men, Yaakov is filled with fear and decides to split his camp into two:
(ח) וַיִּירָא יַעֲקֹב מְאֹד וַיֵּצֶר לוֹ וַיַּחַץ אֶת הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וְאֶת הַצֹּאן וְאֶת הַבָּקָר וְהַגְּמַלִּים לִשְׁנֵי מַחֲנוֹת. (ט) וַיֹּאמֶר אִם יָבוֹא עֵשָׂו אֶל הַמַּחֲנֶה הָאַחַת וְהִכָּהוּ וְהָיָה הַמַּחֲנֶה הַנִּשְׁאָר לִפְלֵיטָה.
(8) Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. And he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two camps. (9) And he said: 'If Esau come to the one camp, and smite it, then the camp which is left shall escape.'
Somewhat surprisingly, at the beginning of Chapter 33, right as Esav arrives, we hear about another division, this time into three:
(א) וַיִּשָּׂא יַעֲקֹב עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה עֵשָׂו בָּא וְעִמּוֹ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ וַיַּחַץ אֶת הַיְלָדִים עַל לֵאָה וְעַל רָחֵל וְעַל שְׁתֵּי הַשְּׁפָחוֹת. (ב) וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת הַשְּׁפָחוֹת וְאֶת יַלְדֵיהֶן רִאשֹׁנָה וְאֶת לֵאָה וִילָדֶיהָ אַחֲרֹנִים וְאֶת רָחֵל וְאֶת יוֹסֵף אַחֲרֹנִים.
What is the relationship between these two separate divisions? From the latter verses, it sounds as if Yaakov's whole household is together; what happened to the original two-camp plan?
Who and Why?
The text does not specify who was to be included in the two original camps. Did Yaakov split his family and possessions evenly between the two or did he keep his wives and children in one camp and his property in the other? Alternatively, the phrase "הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ" refers just to his larger household and does not include his family at all.
The various options bear on the goal of Yaakov's plan. Was Yaakov preparing for flight or to fight? What do his thoughts, "וְהָיָה הַמַּחֲנֶה הַנִּשְׁאָר לִפְלֵיטָה" suggest? Yaakov simply ensuring that all his loved ones were not in one place, so that at least some could survive? Or, was Yaakov setting up one camp for confrontation and the other for active flight?
