Difference between revisions of "Yaakov's Dividing of his Camp/2"
m |
m |
||
Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
<li><b>Family versus possessions</b> – Abarbanel asserts that Yaakov placed his family in one camp and his possessions in the other.  Akeidat Yitzchak concurs, but assumes that Yaakov had some men of war accompany each group.</li> | <li><b>Family versus possessions</b> – Abarbanel asserts that Yaakov placed his family in one camp and his possessions in the other.  Akeidat Yitzchak concurs, but assumes that Yaakov had some men of war accompany each group.</li> | ||
<li><b>Maidservants versus real wives</b> – R. Bachya learns from <a href="Bereshit33-1-17" data-aht="source">Bereshit 33:2 </a>that the maidservants and children were in one camp with some of the possessions and hired hands, while Leah and Rachel and the rest of the property were in the other.</li> | <li><b>Maidservants versus real wives</b> – R. Bachya learns from <a href="Bereshit33-1-17" data-aht="source">Bereshit 33:2 </a>that the maidservants and children were in one camp with some of the possessions and hired hands, while Leah and Rachel and the rest of the property were in the other.</li> | ||
− | <li><b>Division of possessions only</b> – According to R. Avraham b. HaRambam and R. D"Z Hoffmann Yaakov | + | <li><b>Division of possessions only</b> – According to R. Avraham b. HaRambam and R. D"Z Hoffmann, Yaakov only split his cattle and servants<fn>According to them, "הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּו" refers to the non-family members who were with Yaakov.  The other sources would read the term to be more inclusive and say that the family is subsumed under the term "עָם" as well.</fn> but kept his entire  family together with him (either in a group of their own,<fn>This is what R. Avraham b. HaRambam implies.</fn> or in the first camp).<fn>This is what R. D"Z Hoffmann maintains.</fn></li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>"וְהָיָה הַמַּחֲנֶה הַנִּשְׁאָר לִפְלֵיטָה" – Purpose of the division</b> – Though all these sources assume that the word "לִפְלֵיטָה" means an escape, they differ regarding the details of Yaakov's plan:<br/> | <point><b>"וְהָיָה הַמַּחֲנֶה הַנִּשְׁאָר לִפְלֵיטָה" – Purpose of the division</b> – Though all these sources assume that the word "לִפְלֵיטָה" means an escape, they differ regarding the details of Yaakov's plan:<br/> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
− | <li><b>Save family</b> – According to Akeidat Yitzchal and Abarbanel, Yaakov was hoping that Esav would attack the camp with his possessions, allowing his immediate family to escape. | + | <li><b>Save family</b> – According to Akeidat Yitzchal and Abarbanel, Yaakov was hoping that Esav would only attack the camp with his possessions, allowing his immediate family to escape.<fn>Akeidat Yitzchak assumes that Yaakov placed the material camp first, hoping that Esav wrath would abate after attacking it. According to Abarbanel, in contrast, the two camps were separated by a river and at a significant distance from one another. Yaakov hoped that Esav would be unaware of the second camp's existence and assume that he had conquered all and leave.</fn>  </li> |
− | <li><b>Save some of all</b> – R. Bachya presents Yaakov as dividing his household more evenly, perhaps because he did not know which camp was to be attacked.<fn>He points to the advice given in Bavli Bava Metzia, that one should never "put all their eggs in one basket" but rather diversify one's investments.  See also <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah76-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah76-3" data-aht="source">76:3</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>.</fn>  Nonetheless, he still placed those most precious to him in the second camp.</li> | + | <li><b>Save some of all</b> – R. Bachya presents Yaakov as dividing his household more evenly, perhaps because he did not know which camp was to be attacked and did not want to risk losing his entire family.<fn>He points to the advice given in Bavli Bava Metzia, that one should never "put all their eggs in one basket" but rather diversify one's investments.  See also <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah76-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah76-3" data-aht="source">76:3</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>.</fn>  Nonetheless, he still placed those most precious to him in the second camp, assuming that they would be safer.</li> |
<li><b>Save possessions</b> – According to R. Avraham b. HaRambam, Yaakov preferred that his loved ones all share the same fate, be it death or salvation.  The division was simply an attempt to save whatever property he could, and was thus divided evenly. </li> | <li><b>Save possessions</b> – According to R. Avraham b. HaRambam, Yaakov preferred that his loved ones all share the same fate, be it death or salvation.  The division was simply an attempt to save whatever property he could, and was thus divided evenly. </li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> |
Version as of 06:17, 26 November 2015
Yaakov's Dividing of his Camp
Exegetical Approaches
Yaakov's Camp Remained Split
Before encountering Esav, Yaakov split his camp as originally planned. This position subdivides regarding whether the goal was to escape from Esav or to confront him.
Flight
Yaakov divided his camp so that at least one portion of his household could flee and escape Esav's wrath.
- Family versus possessions – Abarbanel asserts that Yaakov placed his family in one camp and his possessions in the other. Akeidat Yitzchak concurs, but assumes that Yaakov had some men of war accompany each group.
- Maidservants versus real wives – R. Bachya learns from Bereshit 33:2 that the maidservants and children were in one camp with some of the possessions and hired hands, while Leah and Rachel and the rest of the property were in the other.
- Division of possessions only – According to R. Avraham b. HaRambam and R. D"Z Hoffmann, Yaakov only split his cattle and servants1 but kept his entire family together with him (either in a group of their own,2 or in the first camp).3
- Save family – According to Akeidat Yitzchal and Abarbanel, Yaakov was hoping that Esav would only attack the camp with his possessions, allowing his immediate family to escape.4
- Save some of all – R. Bachya presents Yaakov as dividing his household more evenly, perhaps because he did not know which camp was to be attacked and did not want to risk losing his entire family.5 Nonetheless, he still placed those most precious to him in the second camp, assuming that they would be safer.
- Save possessions – According to R. Avraham b. HaRambam, Yaakov preferred that his loved ones all share the same fate, be it death or salvation. The division was simply an attempt to save whatever property he could, and was thus divided evenly.
- According to Abarbanel when Yaakov met the angels in Mahanayim (32: 2-3) it was revealed to him that Esav was en route and close by. He, therefore, sent messengers to both test his brother's feelings and to let Esav know that he is not coming as a poor brother in need of alms, but as an equal. Alternatively he sent word to appease his brother by showing him honor and letting him know that he did not benefit from the blessings, but rather had to work long, hard years by Lavan to earn his wealth.
- It is also possible that Yaakov had sent word to Edom (to either test the waters or appease him), but without any intention of meeting Esav face to face at this point on his journey.6 Only when he heard that Esav was approaching, did he think about a confrontation.
Fight
The rearrangement of the camp was a military strategy, meant to facilitate the expected battle against Esav.
Change of Plan
Though Yaakov originally intended to divide his camp, he changed his mind before meeting Esav.
No Longer Necessary
After his victory over the angel/man, Yaakov no longer feared his brother and saw no need to rearrange his camp in preparation for the encounter.
- Split only non-family members – R. Avraham b. HaRambam asserts that Yaakov divided his possessions and larger household into two camps but that he kept his wives and children with him, distinct from both.7 He preferred that they all survived together or all perished together.
- Possessions split, children not – According to Netziv, Yaakov and his sons stayed together in one camp with some of the possessions and wives, while the rest of the property was in another camp.8 He assumes that Yaakov trusted in Hashem's promise that he and his children would stay safe and so he felt no need to split them.9
- According to R. Avraham b. HaRambam, the goal was not to enable potential for flight but rather a show of honor; he lined the family up according to their importance much the way dignitaries might be ordered in front of a king.
- Netziv, in contrast, suggests that this was a sign of submission. Since Yaakov had been hurt in the thigh by the angel, he was concerned that this might mean that Esav could still harm him a little, even if he would not be victorious. As such, he placed those less dear to him first that they should absorb whatever blow might be hit.
No Longer Possible
Though Yaakov wanted to split his camp right up to the moment of meeting, the struggle with the angel/man prevented him from being able to do so.