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.'
Surprisingly, though, shortly thereafter, when Esav approaches at the beginning of Chapter 33, we read about another division (using the same word "וַיַּחַץ"), this time into three groups:
(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 Yaakov's two different acts of dividing his camp – are they for similar or completely different purposes? Additionally, from the latter verses, it sounds as if Yaakov's entire camp is waiting together in one location to meet Esav, and it is simply a question of the order in which to arrange them. But, if so, 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?
Additional Questions
In order to fully understand Yaakov' plan, one must also take into account his other actions in the chapter, especially as they bear on his relationship with Esav:
- Sending to Seir – If Yaakov was still so afraid of an encounter with Esav, why did he bother to send messengers to him in Seir? He could have just headed back to his father and avoided the whole issue!
- Prayer – After splitting his camp, Yaakov prays to Hashem but receives no immediate reassurance that all will end well. What does this suggest about how Hashem viewed Yaakov's preparations for the meeting?
- Present –
- Crossing the Yabbok
