Esau's Two Looks

And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of day.                                                                Genesis 32:25

Rabbinic tradition identifies this “someone” whom Jacob wrestled as the angel of Esau. However, there is a difference of opinion as to the form in which Esau’s angel appeared to Jacob. Some Sages say the angel appeared as a thief, others that he took the form of a Torah scholar (Talmid ḥacham).

The two opinions correspond to the twin threats posed to Jacob (and his descendants) by Esau (and his). As my father explained, the two opinions are not contradictory, but represent different aspects of our struggle to assure our continued existence. At times, Esau, acting in accord with his true nature, engages in a physical struggle with Jacob; at other times, Esau presents a seemingly benign face to engage in a spiritual struggle. The latter has the danger of assimilation, which though perhaps more subtle, is no less dangerous than the physical struggle, and potentially more devastating to Jacob.

My father noted that the second type of threat, the spiritual, Esau appearing as a Talmid ḥacham, is the greater danger. We have God’s assurance that we will overcome all our external enemies, but we do not have such assurance against our internal enemies. Ultimately, ignorance and abandonment of our great heritage is the greatest enemy we face and the most serious threat to the Children of Israel.

Perhaps this is the reason that Jacob prayed to God, “Deliver me, I pray Thee, from the hand of my brother, the hand of Esau.” When Esau is brotherly towards Jacob, there is the danger of assimilation, and when he is the “bandit” Esau, there is the danger of overt attack, Thus Jacob’s prayer seeks Divine assistance in protecting himself and his descendants from the dangers of spiritual and physical annihilation.